The big striker's 31st minute leveller at the Alexandra Stadium proved a sweet finish as he was on trial at the Cheshire club last summer but failed to win a contract.
Since joining the Seagulls, the former Reading and Bristol City man has proved to be something of a cult figure.
And he bundled the ball home after Neil Cox had kicked Dean Hammond's header off the line.
Crewe started the brighter of the two sides and leading scorer Luke Varney finished off a solo run with his 25th goal of the season after shooting under goalkeeper Scott Flinders.
But Varney was to later mess up three one-on-ones against the inspired Flinders in an absorbing second half in which Brighton looked the most likely to snatch the win.
Nicky Maynard also went close for Crewe early on when he sliced through two weak challenges only to be denied by Flinders, who came off his line swiftly to make a brave block.
Crewe's early promise faded and they were caught out at consecutive corners when Hammond got free headers in.
But the second one was made to count with Savage swooping in the goalmouth melee to notch the equaliser.
And Savage could have provided further embarrassment four minutes before the break when Danny Woodards made a mess of a high ball. The right-back could only head the ball into Savage's path, but he pulled his volley wide of the far post with only Ben Williams to beat.
Alexis Bertin went close for Albion in the 50th minute with a crashing left-footer which veered inches wide of the far post, while Crewe substitute Mike Higdon wasn't too far off when he lashed a half-volley wide after Varney brought down a long goal-kick.
But then Varney skied the ball over when he was put through on the left and it was Brighton who were applying the late pressure when Jake Robinson fired a 20-yard effort on to the far post before home keeper Williams scrambled substitute Gary Hart's effort off the line after Savage was again involved.
But with three minutes left, Varney was offered another chance to win it when he broke quickly, but shot straight at Flinders' body and then found the on-loan Crystal Palace keeper denying him again at point-blank range in stoppage time.
Williams, meanwhile, preserved Crewe's point with an acrobatic save from Cox as the midfielder's shot headed for the far corner.