T.O.M,
my MT-2 came witha 13t savage clutchbell, and a 52t Savage spur gear, I'm not sure everyone else's, you could just count the teeth, mine is listed that it came with a 12t. So hence my decision to go with the 11t. As far as the hinge pins go, they have a postitive and a negative side, they are very strong! (the positive) and they will not bend, hence the negative, you WILL snap A-Arms. The flip side is A-Arms are cheap. I have thought about going to the aluminum A-Arms, but, if you have an accident and I always do, something is going to give. My thought process here is break a $5 arm or bend a $30 arm? I went ahead and bought 4 sets of them from tower and let my LHS know this was a part I was going to need at some point. The amazing thing is I have not broken one since I got the replacements. Maybe its mental?? anyway here is the part listing for Tower.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFYT1&P=Z

the set up you have described is exactley what I have, I think it provides good flex and strength, I hit a curb at top speed (long story) and bent the purple brace on the rear diff. I pulled out the pliers re-shaped it and continued to bash and have been for 3 weeks now.