• Welcome to ClassicBroncos! - You are currently viewing the forums as a GUEST. To take advantage of all the site features, please take a moment to register. It's fast, simple and absolutely free. So please join our community today!
    If you have problems registering or can't log into your account, please contact Admin.

do you run steering stabilizer shock?

Pa PITT

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Messages
11,279
Loc.
Stephenville TEXAS
at work we replace the SS and trac bar all the time for death wobble ...
and yes the big new trucks will get the shakes.
 
Joined
Jul 20, 2009
Messages
6
Loc.
Tulsa, OK
I use 2 shocks on my SS w/ manual steering.

P1010067.jpg
 

Viperwolf1

Contributor
electron whisperer
Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
24,344
I had the original on when I bought the Bronco but it leaked. I took it off intending to replace it but I couldn't find one that would fit (diameter too big) with my winch under there. That was 1993 and I still don't have one.
 

DirtDonk

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Messages
48,911
Stabilizer didn't help with any of my DW's.
Only time I ran across where stabilizers were able to control a bad case of DW was when buddy showed up in his just-bought '70. The truck had a heck of a shimmy and, upon inspection, we found that the PO had put two separate shocks (and just regular shocks to boot!) in such a way as they would literally bind up the linkage. You could watch the tie-rod and drag-link bend when you steered it through part of it's movement! Yikes.
Took 'em off and couldn't even drive it! Hit about 20 mph and all hell broke loose.
Put one back on and it didn't help. Put two on (correctly this time) and it didn't help. Put new tracbar bushings and it didn't help. The only thing that kept the DW's at bay temporarily was the two shocks binding the linkage.
He had wondered why it was so hard to steer (even with power steering) when he drove it home for the first time. Probably whole the reason the PO sold it in the first place.

Paul
 

oldgabe

New Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2001
Messages
76
Loc.
Lewiston
These things come stock on super duty pickups, do you think the engineers are putting them on for looks? I have hit deep ruts and large rocks in my all 4 of my broncos through the years and my brothers jeep, and I have always been thankful for the SS. I Love my hands and always want them to be operational. Even with an SS that wheel will come around FAST and when it hits, it can break things (like bones). My vote is to keep em on and keep em working. And in some cases it may help with the Death wobble....... who knows
 

Pa PITT

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Messages
11,279
Loc.
Stephenville TEXAS
.....This is several months later than my 1st post on this issue .. I no longer work for Dodge .. Almost a year now.. IT 06-26-10.. but we put a lot of SS on the 2500 &3500 4X4 DODGES to stop the DW on them.. After I've gotten my my 4BT agoing again and The Turkey CUT THAT front cross member out and I replaced it just a little further back I am again running a new SS nothing special HD just a shock and I've not got into a DW yet.. But I rode that dead horse in more than one of my cowboys ride .. And I'm sorry I still think It's the cheapest item to fix that issue....
 

Broncobowsher

Total hack
Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
35,507
I remember reading some old (60's) racing stuff. They would pound the needle bearings flat in the steering box in off-road racing. Add the damper and it took the impacts and protected the steering boxes so that they would live.

When I put power steering on I added a fresh damper to the steering. Those power steering boxes are expensive and the frames are also known for cracking.

Several years later I was running one of the trails I had run several times before. But during the day I noticed the steering wheel would do a hard spin from time to time. Never did that before. Checked things over, didn't notice anything wrong. Kept driving. Only when I clipped one tire would it snap in that direction. On the street I never noticed anything different. Several weeks later I noticed the frame side of the steering damper bracket broke off. Didn't have time to deal with it, kept driving it on the street. Still drove perfect. Finally got around to fixing the bracket up again. Could tell no difference on the street or highway. Really couldn't tell a difference on the trail either, except the steering wheel didn't snap hard.

Considering that it is there to dampen sudden steering movment, it appeared to work great for me. I never cracked the frame around the steering box and the steering box stayed nice and tight. I figure that damper was cheap insurance for the frame and steering box that probably paid for itself over time.
 

Viperwolf1

Contributor
electron whisperer
Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
24,344
I have one on again too. Thanks to Bax for the brackets.
 

Green76

Jr. Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2008
Messages
233
Loc.
Sherman, Texas
Does anyone know where I can find a bracket to fit my Stone Crusher Steering? It's bigger diam. than the stock tie rods.
 

Buldozer

Bronco Virtuoso
Joined
Oct 17, 2007
Messages
3,065
Loc.
God's Country
I always run one just to help take the impacts on the trail.....I don't think it really serves much of a purpose on the street if your system is in tip top shape. If it is somewhat worn ,however, I can see how it could help with DW. I had a buddy back in the mid 70s that had the DW really bad in his bronco and we had a heck of a time getting it out and he claimed the steering dampener was a big part of that problem.
 

DirtDonk

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Messages
48,911
Bigger u-bolts maybe? New holes in the bracket itself and some u-bolts that fit a larger rod might do it, IF there's enough material left on the bracket to drill out that is.
Or just bending the existing ones around the larger tube perhaps?

Paul
 

thumping

Full Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2003
Messages
891
Loc.
Jacksboro Tn
Bigger u-bolts maybe? New holes in the bracket itself and some u-bolts that fit a larger rod might do it, IF there's enough material left on the bracket to drill out that is.
Or just bending the existing ones around the larger tube perhaps?

Paul

Yep, you'll need to get a couple of u-bolts that have a 1-1/4" I.D. for the larger tubing. Then you can squeeze the ends together and slip the stock bracket back on...if you so chose to.

HTH, Anthony.
 

broncomitch

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jan 17, 2008
Messages
2,384
Loc.
west jordan, utah
get power steering :)

i would get a box off a toyota.

but i didnt have one back when i first built mine (had 35's), my steering wheel would come around so fast and hard it cut up my hands and sprained wrist's.

powersteering was the best thing i ever done...c6 is a close 2nd lol
 

BCH BRCO

Sr. Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2007
Messages
457
Not to hi-jack, but has anyone ever repaired a '66 manual steering gear box that leaked oil out of it?? How do you stop an oil leak? Seals, "O" ring??
 
Top