Steering Stabilizer
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 2
From: Bartlett, TN
Steering Stabilizer
I have just recieved a big shipment of "stuff" from Sacramento Vintage Ford and ***! One thing I saw in the SVF catalog was a steering stablizer that I thought I had to have. My 54 has a lot of bumpsteer! It is basically a shock absorber that clamps between the tie rod and the I beam. Is there anyone out there still using the straight axle that has one of these? Upon further thought it looks like it could make the already hard manual steering harder. Is this going to be the case? I still have time to send it back and get my @$90 back!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
Steering Stabilizer
Glenn
I am pretty sure you'll notice a big improvement in the severity of the bump steer. They certainly help a lot on newer straight axle 4x4s. I can't comment on the potential increased steering stiffness though.
I am pretty sure you'll notice a big improvement in the severity of the bump steer. They certainly help a lot on newer straight axle 4x4s. I can't comment on the potential increased steering stiffness though.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 2
From: Bartlett, TN
Steering Stabilizer
I don't know why ****** came out ***!
I'm sure I'll keep it. I don't have much bumpsteer, but as much as they like to work on the Interstates here in the Memphis area, it will come in handy. I'll bet my softball team thinks I need the workout anyway.
I'm sure I'll keep it. I don't have much bumpsteer, but as much as they like to work on the Interstates here in the Memphis area, it will come in handy. I'll bet my softball team thinks I need the workout anyway.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,440
Likes: 0
From: Ventura County, CA
Steering Stabilizer
Prior to swapping out for an IFS, my '59 had the straight axle front end. I added a steering stabilizer (aka, shock absorber). It helped the steering and did not make it harder to steer. $90 sounds very high. Check *** Trucks for same and a cheaper price then determine if it's worth your time/effort to send back to SVF.
Daryl
Daryl
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,730
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From: Waynesville, OH
Steering Stabilizer
Hey Daryl and folks, I know it's a pain to have the FTE software filter out certain vendor names. There are reasons for it that I won't go into here. Please contact folks off-line if you want to discuss those vendors.
I think we've all expressed how much we like this place and the tremendous amount of information and friendship we get here. Ken Payne and Kenny have both been pretty patient with us about this issue, and I'd hate to lose their good faith, and our fun place to gather on-line.
I think we've all expressed how much we like this place and the tremendous amount of information and friendship we get here. Ken Payne and Kenny have both been pretty patient with us about this issue, and I'd hate to lose their good faith, and our fun place to gather on-line.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,440
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From: Ventura County, CA
Steering Stabilizer
Just trying to help; don't mean to take anything away from MotorHaven, et al. Seems like my last posts of recent have upset people, so think I'll refrain from responding in any capacity for a while.
Butch n Me
Butch n Me
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
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From: Enjoying the real world.
Steering Stabilizer
Has nothing to do with MotorHaven. Its a private matter between FTE and them, and if I sold potato chips for a living that company still wouldn't be allowed here.
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,730
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From: Waynesville, OH
Steering Stabilizer
Originally posted by DS59F100
Just trying to help; don't mean to take anything away from MotorHaven, et al. Seems like my last posts of recent have upset people, so think I'll refrain from responding in any capacity for a while.
Butch n Me
Just trying to help; don't mean to take anything away from MotorHaven, et al. Seems like my last posts of recent have upset people, so think I'll refrain from responding in any capacity for a while.
Butch n Me
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
Steering Stabilizer
Originally posted by DS59F100
Just trying to help; don't mean to take anything away from MotorHaven, et al. Seems like my last posts of recent have upset people, so think I'll refrain from responding in any capacity for a while.
Butch n Me
Just trying to help; don't mean to take anything away from MotorHaven, et al. Seems like my last posts of recent have upset people, so think I'll refrain from responding in any capacity for a while.
Butch n Me
We don't know all the details of what is going on here. It may not be our business. When the language filter screens something out. We just have to accept it and not try to trick it. You just stay right here on FTE. You're part of our warped little eFamily.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, So Carolina
Steering Stabilizer
Back to the topic at hand, gents.
While I think $90 is about 2x what I paid for my stabilizer, I would call it an indispensable adder to staight axle daily drivers. No I did not notice one bit more steerign effort (but with that steering wheel diameter and its leverage you can handle whatever little bit it is).
My bump steer was mostly eliminated, and the center play (that we all have to greater or lesser degree) was FAR less annoying. Think of it this way, if there is 10 degrees of play, without the stabilizer the truck wanders from "stop" to "stop" every 5 seconds and you're sawing away trying to herd your truck down the road like a cow. With the stabilizer , it slows that travel maybe in half--- far more relaxing!
While I think $90 is about 2x what I paid for my stabilizer, I would call it an indispensable adder to staight axle daily drivers. No I did not notice one bit more steerign effort (but with that steering wheel diameter and its leverage you can handle whatever little bit it is).
My bump steer was mostly eliminated, and the center play (that we all have to greater or lesser degree) was FAR less annoying. Think of it this way, if there is 10 degrees of play, without the stabilizer the truck wanders from "stop" to "stop" every 5 seconds and you're sawing away trying to herd your truck down the road like a cow. With the stabilizer , it slows that travel maybe in half--- far more relaxing!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
Steering Stabilizer
"With the stabilizer , it slows that travel maybe in half--- far more relaxing!"
And if you tear all that noise out and put in an IFS of your choice, you can actually remove one hand from the steering wheel and adjust the radio volume with practically no fear of wandering into the other lane and getting crushed by a semi.
And if you tear all that noise out and put in an IFS of your choice, you can actually remove one hand from the steering wheel and adjust the radio volume with practically no fear of wandering into the other lane and getting crushed by a semi.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, So Carolina
Steering Stabilizer
We're not needing to adjust radios 'fenders, kuz us beam axxel heads dont have a chance of hearing them above 40mph when the 3.92 plus rears spool our Y blocks up to 110 db---ya cant hear in that cab with windows down (cowl open!).
I'll take the chance with 2 hands to fend off the semis versus worrying about the whole frame hinging at the firewall where the torch chopped it, gouging into the tarmac and flipping a zebrano wood bed over top of my BUTT(aplogising only to the carefully crafted and witnessed IFS's)
I'll take the chance with 2 hands to fend off the semis versus worrying about the whole frame hinging at the firewall where the torch chopped it, gouging into the tarmac and flipping a zebrano wood bed over top of my BUTT(aplogising only to the carefully crafted and witnessed IFS's)