This afternoon I got my latest mod for the Savage in the mail...a set of GPM steering blocks (#SAV1021-SIV) and C-hubs (#SAV1019-SIV). I have heard good things about their durability, which is the main reason I got them, since I'm running offset wheels and all. The price was also hard to beat...I got them both for about $44 shipped.
Everything looks fairly well made, and both parts are completely bead-blasted, giving them a matte finish. Both items came with new kingpins, so now I have an extra set just in case. The C-hubs also came with upper hinge pins with an E-clip at each end...I opted to use screws instead.
The first thing I did was weigh what I was replacing, just for giggles.
The stock parts... 1.6 oz.
The GPM stuff replacing it... 2.2 oz.
Upon test-fitting the two together, I saw a lot more clearance everywhere compared to the plastic parts as far as steering throw. The hub and upright barely touch at the inside of the C-hub.
As you can see in these pics, the GPM parts give considerably more steering throw out of the box...I had been wondering about this from pictures of them, and the side-by-side comparo tells all.
To get the maximum amount of steering throw, I went a little further. I beveled the inner edges of the C-hubs where the steering blocks contacted them. Look closely and you can see where I removed a little metal.
The grind job was a success...I gained even more steering angle.
The rest of the install was fairly standard. The only thing I didn't like is that the bearings don't fit tightly at all in their bores. A few drops of blue Loctite inside each bore before I put the bearings in took care of that, though.
Here's the finished pics. I may have to get CVDs up front now...there's enough throw in the steering to bind up the dogbones. For now, I'll just be careful setting my steering EPAs. I must say, they match the Integy rear carriers pretty well, LOL!
Everything looks fairly well made, and both parts are completely bead-blasted, giving them a matte finish. Both items came with new kingpins, so now I have an extra set just in case. The C-hubs also came with upper hinge pins with an E-clip at each end...I opted to use screws instead.
The first thing I did was weigh what I was replacing, just for giggles.
The stock parts... 1.6 oz.
The GPM stuff replacing it... 2.2 oz.
Upon test-fitting the two together, I saw a lot more clearance everywhere compared to the plastic parts as far as steering throw. The hub and upright barely touch at the inside of the C-hub.
As you can see in these pics, the GPM parts give considerably more steering throw out of the box...I had been wondering about this from pictures of them, and the side-by-side comparo tells all.
To get the maximum amount of steering throw, I went a little further. I beveled the inner edges of the C-hubs where the steering blocks contacted them. Look closely and you can see where I removed a little metal.
The grind job was a success...I gained even more steering angle.
The rest of the install was fairly standard. The only thing I didn't like is that the bearings don't fit tightly at all in their bores. A few drops of blue Loctite inside each bore before I put the bearings in took care of that, though.
Here's the finished pics. I may have to get CVDs up front now...there's enough throw in the steering to bind up the dogbones. For now, I'll just be careful setting my steering EPAs. I must say, they match the Integy rear carriers pretty well, LOL!
That's funny. I have a complete RC18T with only gpm parts, maybe except for the front bumper. Again no problems.
