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Steering stabilizer

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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 06:51 PM
  #1  
DieselVol's Avatar
DieselVol
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From: Lakeland, TN
Steering stabilizer

I've been noticing some wobble and am looking at putting the Rancho dual stabilizer kit on. I called Rancho today, and despite their website saying I needed kit RS 98510, was told I need kit RS98509. He said the 510 was for F350s. All my research says the opposite.
Further, he said that since my truck is neither lifted nor leveled, that the bracket would likely hit the steering arm on big bumps. Since he was wrong (I think) about the kit number, I wonder if I can believe the bracket issue either. Anybody got any experience with this kit that can shine some light?
 
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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 09:38 PM
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F250 and 350's should use the same exact bracket and set up;as far as the bracket hitting goes i have read this before and i have seen people with non lifted trucks use them with no issues and vise versa. I rarely see them hit though so i wouldn't be overly worried about it, does your truck have a plow package or anything?
 
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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 09:47 PM
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Originally Posted by xmontex4
F250 and 350's should use the same exact bracket and set up;as far as the bracket hitting goes i have read this before and i have seen people with non lifted trucks use them with no issues and vise versa. I rarely see them hit though so i wouldn't be overly worried about it, does your truck have a plow package or anything?
No, just a standard suspension. I went out and looked a few minutes ago. The center of the axle (where the center of the axle bracket would come out) is well above the tie rod. I also saw on a video where the axle bracket needs to clear the tie rod by 1/4". If I can angle downward to just clear the tie rod with that bracket, I would have a lot more room above to clear the steering arm. Is that ok?
 
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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 09:57 PM
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I have kit 509 and if I hit a big hole or rough train tracks the bracket will rotate on the axle and hit the track bar . I have tighted the bracket so tight that I have bent it. They have replaced the bracket once and the stabilizers twice.
 
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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 10:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Will Bite
I have kit 509 and if I hit a big hole or rough train tracks the bracket will rotate on the axle and hit the steering arm. I have tighted the bracket so tight that I have bent it. They have replaced the bracket once and the stabilizers twice.
Well that don't sound good.
 
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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 10:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Will Bite
I have kit 509 and if I hit a big hole or rough train tracks the bracket will rotate on the axle and hit the steering arm. I have tighted the bracket so tight that I have bent it. They have replaced the bracket once and the stabilizers twice.
Just looking at it, the 509 appears to add a second damper in the stock location. Is that right?
 
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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 01:40 AM
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I was looking at going with a stabilizer as well since my truck doesnt currently have one. However I am curious why you want a dual over a single on a stock height truck? It seems from everything i read duals are for lifted trucks with 38" tires and up.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 05:21 AM
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Putting a stabilizer on now won't fix your wobble issue, it will just mask it. I would first fix the wobble.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 06:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Bently_Coop
I was looking at going with a stabilizer as well since my truck doesnt currently have one. However I am curious why you want a dual over a single on a stock height truck? It seems from everything i read duals are for lifted trucks with 38" tires and up.
Everything I find says that stabizers are for 35" and up. My tires are 19.5", 34.5" and weigh in at over 150 lbs mounted. Not sure what matters more, height or weight, but I bet mine weigh as much as any 38s out there.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 06:16 AM
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Originally Posted by redford
Putting a stabilizer on now won't fix your wobble issue, it will just mask it. I would first fix the wobble.
How do you fix wobble?
 
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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 06:19 AM
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Originally Posted by DieselVol
How do you fix wobble?
You replace the worn components in your front end that are causing the wobble in the first place.

Wobble in the coil spring vehicles front suspension is somewhat normal and is attributed to a design flaw. Wobble in the leaf spring vehicles is not a normal condition and indicates you have a problem.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 06:56 AM
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Originally Posted by redford
You replace the worn components in your front end that are causing the wobble in the first place.

Wobble in the coil spring vehicles front suspension is somewhat normal and is attributed to a design flaw. Wobble in the leaf spring vehicles is not a normal condition and indicates you have a problem.
Well mine is coil and has new upper and lower ball joints. I may just be over sensitive to looseness and really don't need to do anything.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 09:23 AM
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is your truck 2wd? if not it should be leaf sprung if is older than 05. Also dual stabilizers on non lifted trucks i heard do help if you have 35"+ tires i have only read that not experienced it though so i cannot add much more than what i have read.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by xmontex4
is your truck 2wd? if not it should be leaf sprung if is older than 05. Also dual stabilizers on non lifted trucks i heard do help if you have 35"+ tires i have only read that not experienced it though so i cannot add much more than what i have read.
Mine is a 4wd conversion from an '06 donor truck, so it is a coil spring suspension. It is slightly lifted in the front due to where they had to weld the shock towers on. I had to get an extra leaf added in the back to get the truck back to level.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 10:36 AM
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Wobble is often cured by changing the track bar. The rubber bushing gets weak and allows tiny movement which causes the wobble. Worked for me...

Brian
 
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