The Bloemfontein-based franchise has been among the also-rans of the southern hemisphere championship for several seasons, but a mid-season recovery also claimed the scalps of the Brumbies and Golden Lions.
The Cheetahs turned around a 17-16 half-time deficit to dominate the second half and owed their victory to heroic defence, opportunism on attack, and 23 points from young fly half Sias Ebersohn, who missed just one of eight kicks at goal.
It did not help the home team that injury-prone Springbok flanker Heinrich Brussouw had to come off with a hamstring strain midway through the opening half, but peroxide blond Kabamba Floors proved a superb replacement.
The Crusaders were hit by injuries with leading try scorer Sean Maitland among the absentees, but the Christchurch-based outfit welcomed back its most famous stars, fly half Dan Carter and flanker and captain Richie McCaw.
Carter contributed 12 points before being replaced by Matthew Berquist 12 minutes into the second half while McCaw was constantly involved in the forward exchanges as he made only his third appearance of the season.
"It was a great day for Cheetahs rugby. We have been through some tough times so all credit to the guys and our coaches," said exhausted hooker and captain Adriaan Strauss.
"Defence is an area where we have improved a lot although we did give Crusaders a few easy gaps. Although we had a 13-point lead I didn't feel confident of victory until the final minute."
McCaw said: "We spent too much time at the wrong end of the field and made mistakes. Lacking some players through injury is no excuse as this affects all teams. Consistency is the key to Super success and we need to find it."
Victory left the Cheetahs mid-table with 29 points - 11 fewer than the New South Wales Waratahs which currently occupy the final play-off place.
The Crusaders stayed third, six points adrift of leaders Queensland Reds.
Sias Ebersohn kicked a penalty before a brilliant Robert Fruean midfield break sent Zac Guildford over for a try that Carter converted and the All Blacks pin-up boy added a penalty soon after.
Back came the Cheetahs with Robert Ebersohn, the 22-year-old twin brother of Sias, dotting down after Crusaders failed to deal with a kick ahead and a successful conversion left the teams level at 10-10 with 18 minutes gone.
Sias Ebersohn landed a couple of penalties before Carter ended a 12-phase pounding of the Cheetahs try-line by diving over and he converted to give the seven-time champions a one point advantage at the break.
Another Sias Ebersohn penalty was followed by a try from the pivot which he converted before Berquist cut the gap to six points with 18 minutes remaining before a now frenzied crowd.
Flanker Ashley Johnson, who looks like an 1980s pop star with his mob of jet-black hair, had the final say with an intercept try which Sias Ebersohn converted to finish with 23 points - one less than his haul last weekend.
Cheetahs: 33 (R Ebersohn, S Ebersohn, A Johnson tries; S Ebersohn 3 conversions, 4 penalties)
Crusaders: 20 (Z Guildford, D Carter tries; Carter 2 conversions, penalty; M Berquist penalty)
-AFP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, new-zealand, south-africa
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