The Traxxas T Maxx is a one-of-a-kind RC monster truck. It comes with a huge thrashing potential.
But the T Maxx steering servo delivers the opposite performance. You might even think about upgrading it to get rid of the misery.
Hence, you might be thinking, “ How can I start my T Maxx steering servo upgrade?”
You can start with upgrading the gear set and motor. Upgrading to a brushless motor and metal gear set will increase strength and durability. Also, it will help with the power and torque. You can also use a longer or shorter output shaft accordingly. You can use a smaller casing for less weight.
That’s just a short briefing. We have a complete guide for upgrading your T Maxx servos.
Keep on reading to know more.
Is it Worth Upgrading T Maxx Steering Servo?
Traxxas is a renowned name in the world of RC vehicles. Their T Maxx steering servo is used widely in RC cars and crawlers.
However, no matter how popular the servo is, it has its downsides. The servo has a horrible turning radius. It requires a lot of space to turn the car. This can be problematic in certain cases.
Also, The servo has a bad name for sluggish acceleration. This can prove to be crucial in racing situations.
There are rumors that the servo is not compatible with all vehicles. This is a huge negative point for the product.
However, you can upgrade the servo according to your needs and the cost is reasonable. It is as simple as upgrading a Traxxas blast.
Hence, we can say that it is worth upgrading the T-Maxx steering servo.
5 Drawbacks of T Maxx Steering Servo
Like any other product, the t-maxx has drawbacks. It lacks acceleration and torque, requires a high-capacity battery, and is incompatible with some devices.
We have discussed the drawbacks in detail in this segment. Hopefully, this will help you with your upgrade decisions.
Bad Turning Radius:
The T-Maxx servo has a horrible turning radius. You can not turn your RC car in a standard space. You will need to slide your car around for making a normal turn.
So, why turning radius is so important?
A bad turning radius can have a huge negative impact on the performance. While turning your car during racing, you will face problems and it will take time.
Also, the bad radius will affect the corner in and out performance.
Sluggish Acceleration:
The acceleration on the T-Maxx steering servo is very sluggish. It takes a while to hit the power band.
The speed builds up gradually but picks up after a while. But when you are racing or bashing, this can be very awful.
You will want a car that can kick speed fast, not slow. A slow acceleration means you have already lost the race.
Inadequate Torque:
The servo also lacks torque. You will feel it when steering in short grass when moving at about 1/2 throttle. Torque is very important for bashing and off-roading.
A good torque figure helps you get over uneven surfaces very easily. Without adequate torque, your vehicle will struggle in climbing or off-roading. It will lose traction and slip down.
Requires High Capacity Battery:
There is a bad reputation of T Maxx servos regarding this. It requires a high voltage and ampere battery. Otherwise, the power and torque figures are very low.
The Traxxas T Maxx servo requires at least a 7.4V 1500mAh battery for regular operation. So, if you are using a battery lower than this, you will see it underperforming.
This also impacts the overall cost of the car and build. Why use a high-power battery when you can upgrade the servo itself?
Compatibility Problem:
There is a known proverb that “Traxxas only fits Traxxas”. And it is true for the T Maxx too. The t-Maxx is well compatible with Traxxas parts only.
If you are going to use other branded parts, you might face some difficulties with compatibility. You will not want this with your servo. Hence, the question of upgrading comes to mind.
Compatibility Factors for T Maxx Steering Servo
While upgrading a steering servo, there are some factors that need consideration. These are crucial for upgrading the servo and will affect the performance. Here we have discussed the key factors in detail.
Size:
Different types and sizes of cars are made for different sizes of servos. So, the first thing to think about is how big your car’s servo mounting hole is.
“Standard” is the most common size of a servo. Also, size is a matter of concern when choosing a servo.
A standard-sized servo is about 40 mm long, 38 mm tall, and 20 mm wide (width). A lot of 1/10 and 1/8 scale vehicles use these.
Torque:
More torque should come from your servo the bigger and heavier your RC car is. It is important to choose a servo that is strong enough. It needs to handle the size and weight of your car.
A normal 1/10 buggy or short truck should have around 10 kg of torque. A 1/10 on-road car will be fine with around 8kg torque. Heavy 4WD trucks, like most 1/8 and larger vehicles, need 15kg or more torque.
Speed:
A sluggish servo will ruin the car’s steering feel. Faster servos make cars smaller, lighter, and faster.
On-road cars need servos that respond in 0.1s or less to move properly. A 1/10 buggy servo should be under 0.15s for off-road cars.
Any automobile should react in 0.2s or less, thus you don’t need the fastest servos.
Voltage:
Commonly, servos run on 6 volts. However, if you want to use 2S battery without BEC, you need a 7.4 V servo.
These servos can operate on lesser voltage, but their performance will suffer.
The product description lists torque and speed for various voltages.
Gears:
There are two types of gear for servo motors. Metal gears increase the durability of a servo a lot. It is recommended for most RC cars.
For small and light cars, plastic gears can be used.
However, regardless of gears, it is recommended to use a servo saver. Also, you can buy servos with separate gear sets. This will come in handy while upgrading.
Motor:
Servos have DC, coreless, and brushless motors. DC motors are cheap and appropriate for less demanding tasks.
Coreless motors are more powerful, reliable, and precise. Brushless motors deliver maximum power, torque, reaction, efficiency, and longevity.
Recommended T Maxx Steering Servo Upgrades
Here is a list of recommended T-Maxx steering servo upgrades for your convenience;
| Aspect | For Climbing | For Bashing | For Racing |
| Motor | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Gear | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Servo Arm & Horn | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Servo Casing | ✓ | ||
| Output Shaft | ✓ | ✓ |
Upgrading T Maxx For Racing:
Upgrading your servo for racing requires more power output and torque. Also, you will need a good turning radius.
For racing, you should upgrade to brushless motors. It has the best power and reliability and changes direction more quickly and precisely.
To get decent power, you can use Traxxas 1/10 3500kV velineon motor and ESC set.
Also, you can upgrade to metal gears for better power delivery and robustness. You can switch to smaller casings to save up weight and space. Weight plays a crucial role in racing. Do not forget to use a servo saver at all times.
Here is a guy who won the RC of the day with his Traxxas T Maxx:
Upgrading T Maxx For Climbing:
Climbing requires a lot of torque and traction. Hence upgrading the gears, servo arms, horns, and the output shaft is recommended.
Upgrading to a metal gearset will increase the torque figure. Also, using a 25T metal servo arm set will ensure the torque gets delivered properly.
You can also waterproof the servos if you are doing off-roading on mud or watery surfaces.
Upgrading T Maxx for Bashing:
Upgrading the servo for bashing will require a robust and strong build. For this, you need to switch to metal gears and a solid servo case.
You can use this Traxxas 2081 Servo Case and Gasket kit for this purpose.
Also, you need to pick metal servo arms and horns. You can use a gearhead for increased power output. You can use shorter output shafts for bashing hard on opponents.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is The Traxxas Maxx Waterproof?
Yes, the Traxxas Maxx is waterproof. It is equipped with Traxxas innovative waterproofing technology. The components are protected from water and mud and will work without any breakage. However, you need to maintain the parts for the best performance.
Does Traxxas Maxx Have Telemetry?
Yes, the Traxxas Maxx is equipped with telemetry. You need to download Traxxas Link app on your smart device for this. New features require a Traxxas Link Wireless Module. Telemetry displays speed, rpm, ESC temperature, voltage, and over-the-air updates without extra sensors.
Does The Traxxas Maxx Have TSM?
Yes, the Traxxas Maxx has TSM. The Maxx comes with Ready-to-Race with a TQi 2-channel transmitter and a telemetry-ready 5-channel receiver. This is bundled with Traxxas Stability Management® (TSM). The electronic stability system helps with loose soil, smooth concrete, ice, and snow.
Conclusion
That will be all from our side on T Maxx steering servo upgrade. Hopefully, now you can upgrade your T Maxx servo according to your need.
Don’t forget to use servo lube once in a while. Do let us know in the comments about your upgrade.
See you soon.
