steering stablizer

[bellamack]

what does a steering stablizer do..is it worth buying one

 

[xkotyx]

it just reduces the shock on your steering components from any potholes, bumps, grooves, etc... in the road. do you have a suspension lift, bigger tires, or do any rough off roading? if not, you dont need one.

 

[bellamack]

yea bigger tires and medium duty off roading,i seem to have a wondering font end

 

[xkotyx]

yea bigger tires and medium duty off roading,i seem to have a wondering font end

what size are the tires?

 

[ronclark]

Before adding a stabilizer make sure your front end is 100% in shape and keep it in shape other wise its just a band add. it pretty much covers up anything that is lose.

 

[3.0ranger1227]

One would reduce stress on my power steering components, right? After about 45 minutes of romping through the sand in glamis my P/S pump develops a bit of a whine, then that goes away as it cools off again after about 10 minutes stopped with the hood open. I notice that if i let the truck drive itself through the trails while going slow and not holding the wheel, it doesn't start whining. Will a steering stabilizer help this?

 

[4.0B2]

yeah usually its just a bandaid and not a real fix... most of the time you could just find your true issue.. slack in something? i understand that sometimes they do help over 100% proper steering components. just make sure everything is right before you buy one.. if everything is good and still has some play- get one.

 

[3.0ranger1227]

I've got new BJ's everywhere, uniball upper arms, inner BJs replaced with heims. unless its something in the rack idk.

 

[adsm08]

Steering stabilizers hide problems.

 

[holyford86]

A steering stabilizer helps alleviate bump steer, It will not lessen the shock on any steering component. It just dampens movement from hitting bumps when your steering geometry isn't perfect. They do hide problems, basically it will be harder to feel wandering from worn steering/suspension components. The whine from your pump will not be lessened by installing one, your truck will still wander with one. From the sounds of it you would have more of a benefit (atleast in the whining department), to install a power steering cooler, they are a small cooler, resembling a transmission cooler, that is plumbed into the return line of your power steering.

 

[yyc_tbird_sc]

To get rid of the whine, I'd suggest that you put in a power steering cooler. While doing so, flush all the old fluid out and fill with the proper ford spec'd fluid (Mercon IV ATF). Install the cooler on the return line to the pump. This will help the fluid stay cooler and last a lot longer. Your fluid is probably ready to be changed if it's gotten hot a few good times anyhow...

I did this way before I did any suspension stuff to my truck, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I've had no problems from it either, even in -38*C.

I'm with everyone else too about the stabilizer, I've had one in my garage since I got my 4" suspension lift. Never put it in. After I had replaced all the needed joints/bushings on the truck, it didn't need it. Remember too, that the wider the tire, the more it will want to follow the road/ruts and it will act like it's wandering. Be sure your parts are in good condition and the alignment is setup really well.

 

[holyford86]

...flush all the old fluid out and fill with the proper ford spec'd fluid (Mercon IV ATF)...

While flushing out the fluid is a good idea, I have never heard of Mercon IV. The OP's 1987 should take Type "F" ATF in the power steering.

 

[yyc_tbird_sc]

My bad...you're right, the early should be Type F

 

[3.0ranger1227]

mine should probably be the type IV though, right?

 

[holyford86]

mine should probably be the type IV though, right?

Yours SHOULD (IIRC) take Mercon V for power steering fluid