Steering stabilizer idea

MJ'sBlkBII · 04-09-2012, 02:36 PM

To start I have used the search function and can tell you I am not trying to cover any issues with the steering system. I just had the alignment done with new caster bushings so all of my previous issues are all but gone. The difference is astonishing! My truck is running 235/75-15, has no lift, the geometry is correct and level, it runs straight, and next to no bump steer other than running some grooves and some shoving from cross winds. The tie rods, ball joints, wheel bearings, and other sundry bushings are in good repair.
What I am looking for is a way to stiffen or take some of the lightness out of the steering. I don't like how light and touchy it is with out being responsive. Will a simple single stabilizer kit like MOOG SSD95 accomplish this?
I had a Wrangler for a rental (free upgrade) for a week and was really impressed with the difference in the steering. It had one from factory, so I am drawing some conclusions.
Thanks, y'all.

Bennybooster · 04-09-2012, 04:06 PM

Its worth a try

chrwilkins30 · 04-09-2012, 08:08 PM

Skyjacker has them cheaper. Just fyi.

rangerbum · 04-09-2012, 09:48 PM

You won't need more than a single, but it is nice to have. Steering feel is important, and its a good mod to improve it. I've driven alot of rigs with them and the conclusion I draw is its nice to have the more and more tire you put on it.

I like the feel my truck has with 235/75r15s and no steering stabilizer personally, but if I had 4wd I'd probably go for one too. Being a 2 wheeler bump steer doesn't cause much problem for me lol.

**kryptonitecb** · 04-09-2012, 10:13 PM

I don't have one and when I offroad it doesn't bother me. Just make sure you're thumbs aren't in the wheel or it can bite you when a rock grabs a tire.

Sent from road while ignoring traffic

rangerbum · 04-10-2012, 12:00 AM

Yeah, on rangers it tends to not get too bad. Some rigs are designed in a way that really requires one. See tons of fullsize dodges with them from factory. Ever wheeled one that didn't? gonna have a bad time. My xj had one, it drove great off road, then when I got my Grand Cherokee that didn't, it not only nearly stole my hand in the wheel the first time I off roaded it, but the harsh countersteer took the front tires from being out of the ruts, to dead center. Put the whole thing highcentered like you wouldn't believe. Made me have to regrease everything. And took 6 hours to dig free.

But rangers have a good steering system out of the gate.

nooch450 · 04-13-2012, 05:17 PM

If you think your steering box is loose you can tighten it... but if you tighten it to far you will wear it our faster... Check what has give, replace the sloppy joints if you have any and add the stabilizer. You can improve anything...

cdawall · 04-17-2012, 03:27 PM

A stabilizer isn't going to fix wheel lightness. All ti is going to do is help bumpsteer and even then it isn't going to prevent it all it will do is help. Trust me smack it into a rut and it will still yank the wheel out of your hand.

nooch450 · 04-20-2012, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdawall

A stabilizer isn't going to fix wheel lightness. All ti is going to do is help bumpsteer and even then it isn't going to prevent it all it will do is help. Trust me smack it into a rut and it will still yank the wheel out of your hand.

A stabilizer will not prevent bump steer at all... it will just slow down fast jerks in the wheel. And yes the wheel will still get yanked when you go into a rut but it wont be as harsh...

All the steering stabilizer is is a shock absorber with equal valving both ways...

And it does exactly what it is named, absorbe shock.

Excuse my horrible grammar....

MJ'sBlkBII · 04-29-2012, 10:33 AM

I tried it out anyways just to satisfy my curiosity. Y'all were correct. While it did help with the lightness and getting pushed around, it was to such a minor degree that the idea can only be called a bust. Think 1% improvement, or 1 mpg gain per tank when it is more pheasable to just check your tire pressure.
On the other hand! It did show that I have more play in the steering box than I originaly thought, so there was some measure of benefit to this. Even if it does means more work to come.
Thanks for the help and insight, y'all!

04-09-2012, 02:36 PM	#1
MJ'sBlkBII Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Harker Heights, TX Year: 1990 Model: Bronco II Engine: 2.9 V6 Class: 4X4 street Used For: Stress inducing/ relieving Posts: 183 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	Steering stabilizer idea To start I have used the search function and can tell you I am not trying to cover any issues with the steering system. I just had the alignment done with new caster bushings so all of my previous issues are all but gone. The difference is astonishing! My truck is running 235/75-15, has no lift, the geometry is correct and level, it runs straight, and next to no bump steer other than running some grooves and some shoving from cross winds. The tie rods, ball joints, wheel bearings, and other sundry bushings are in good repair. What I am looking for is a way to stiffen or take some of the lightness out of the steering. I don't like how light and touchy it is with out being responsive. Will a simple single stabilizer kit like MOOG SSD95 accomplish this? I had a Wrangler for a rental (free upgrade) for a week and was really impressed with the difference in the steering. It had one from factory, so I am drawing some conclusions. Thanks, y'all. __________________ "It's a work in progress. A lot of work, little progress." -Shasta, wife 1990 BII: 2.9, M5OD-R1, D35 Flowmaster 40 w/ 2.5" pipe, Explorer springs, lift glass hatch, 265/70-15
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04-09-2012, 04:06 PM	#2
Bennybooster Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Medford, Oregon. Year: 1996 Make: Ford Model: Ranger Engine: 3.0 Class: 4x4 offroad Used For: Driving over stuff Posts: 3,117 Rep Power: 19 iTrader: (1)	Its worth a try __________________ Built not bought 1 Ton, Caged Ranger build
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04-09-2012, 08:08 PM	#3
chrwilkins30 Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Mishawaka, Indiana Year: 1988 Make: Ford Model: Bronco II Engine: 2.9 Class: 4X4 Used For: running over hondas Posts: 1,714 Rep Power: 9 iTrader: (1)	Skyjacker has them cheaper. Just fyi. __________________ 88 bronco II\|3inBL\|4in SJ lift\|1354M\|8.8/d35 w/4.56 R&P\|M5od swap\|Ex leaves\|35 km2\|classic Locks\|Bushwacker Flares\|JD tire carrier Still NeedSliders\|winch\|snorkel\|F250 towers\|4.0 MY BUILD WTBShifter Bezel like thishttp://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...gershifter.jpg
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04-09-2012, 09:48 PM	#4
rangerbum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kalispell, Montana Year: 1997 Make: Ford Model: Ranger 5 Speed flareside Engine: 2.3L Class: 2wd Used For: making sure my wallet doesnt become a burden Posts: 1,327 Rep Power: 16 iTrader: (0)	You won't need more than a single, but it is nice to have. Steering feel is important, and its a good mod to improve it. I've driven alot of rigs with them and the conclusion I draw is its nice to have the more and more tire you put on it. I like the feel my truck has with 235/75r15s and no steering stabilizer personally, but if I had 4wd I'd probably go for one too. Being a 2 wheeler bump steer doesn't cause much problem for me lol. __________________ 97 Ranger 2.3 5spd 2wd suspension built to go fast, and not look back. 85 Bronco II 2.8 4x4 5spd 3" lift, custom welded aluminum roof rack, mazda b series wheels, 31x10.50s, push button ignition.
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04-09-2012, 10:13 PM	#5
kryptonitecb Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fort Worth, TX Year: 1994 Make: Ford Model: Ranger Engine: 4.0 Class: 4x4 Used For: daily driver, trail ready Posts: 990 Rep Power: 8 iTrader: (1)	I don't have one and when I offroad it doesn't bother me. Just make sure you're thumbs aren't in the wheel or it can bite you when a rock grabs a tire. Sent from road while ignoring traffic
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04-10-2012, 12:00 AM	#6
rangerbum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kalispell, Montana Year: 1997 Make: Ford Model: Ranger 5 Speed flareside Engine: 2.3L Class: 2wd Used For: making sure my wallet doesnt become a burden Posts: 1,327 Rep Power: 16 iTrader: (0)	Yeah, on rangers it tends to not get too bad. Some rigs are designed in a way that really requires one. See tons of fullsize dodges with them from factory. Ever wheeled one that didn't? gonna have a bad time. My xj had one, it drove great off road, then when I got my Grand Cherokee that didn't, it not only nearly stole my hand in the wheel the first time I off roaded it, but the harsh countersteer took the front tires from being out of the ruts, to dead center. Put the whole thing highcentered like you wouldn't believe. Made me have to regrease everything. And took 6 hours to dig free. But rangers have a good steering system out of the gate. __________________ 97 Ranger 2.3 5spd 2wd suspension built to go fast, and not look back. 85 Bronco II 2.8 4x4 5spd 3" lift, custom welded aluminum roof rack, mazda b series wheels, 31x10.50s, push button ignition.
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04-13-2012, 05:17 PM	#7
nooch450 Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New Jersey Year: 1991 Make: Ford Model: Ranger XLT Engine: 4.0 OHV Class: 4x4 Extreme Used For: Spending money on that I dont have... Posts: 316 Rep Power: 7 iTrader: (0)	If you think your steering box is loose you can tighten it... but if you tighten it to far you will wear it our faster... Check what has give, replace the sloppy joints if you have any and add the stabilizer. You can improve anything... __________________ My 1991 Ranger XLT 4x4 Prerunner / Woods Runner Build...
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04-17-2012, 03:27 PM	#8
cdawall Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ellsworth AFB Year: 2005 Make: Ford Model: Ranger Edge Engine: 4.0L V6 Class: 4x4 Used For: trails/daily driver Posts: 493 Rep Power: 7 iTrader: (0)	A stabilizer isn't going to fix wheel lightness. All ti is going to do is help bumpsteer and even then it isn't going to prevent it all it will do is help. Trust me smack it into a rut and it will still yank the wheel out of your hand. __________________ Wheeler '05 Ranger Edge SAS'd, 5.38's, D60/D60U, 38.5" TSL SX's, build thread
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04-29-2012, 10:33 AM	#10
MJ'sBlkBII Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Harker Heights, TX Year: 1990 Model: Bronco II Engine: 2.9 V6 Class: 4X4 street Used For: Stress inducing/ relieving Posts: 183 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	I tried it out anyways just to satisfy my curiosity. Y'all were correct. While it did help with the lightness and getting pushed around, it was to such a minor degree that the idea can only be called a bust. Think 1% improvement, or 1 mpg gain per tank when it is more pheasable to just check your tire pressure. On the other hand! It did show that I have more play in the steering box than I originaly thought, so there was some measure of benefit to this. Even if it does means more work to come. Thanks for the help and insight, y'all! __________________ "It's a work in progress. A lot of work, little progress." -Shasta, wife 1990 BII: 2.9, M5OD-R1, D35 Flowmaster 40 w/ 2.5" pipe, Explorer springs, lift glass hatch, 265/70-15
	Tweet

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