My truck did not come with a factory steering damper. I have a few questions related to dampers.

1. Are they for use primarily on 4WD trucks?
2. What do they do?
3. Is one needed on a 2WD truck (primary truck use: towing, dirt/gravel roads, bad pot holes everywhere in my town, etc.)?

NOTE: I found a NEW OEM kit on ebay for $100: NEW OEM FRONT SUSPENSION DAMPER KIT 1999-04 FORD F250 F350 SD 4X2 #F81Z-3E650-AA

Thanks!

 

Anyone shed some light on this topic????

 

Ok, a steering dampner is basically a shock absorber that attaches to the steering and it is primarily used in off road applications to help absorb shock/impacts that the wheels receive that is transferred to the steering wheel.

 

I have an 04 2wd. Came with a steering damper from Ford. It definitely helps with steering especially on rough stuff. The Ford one lasted for about 75K miles. Then i replaced with one from Summit for about $60.

 

 

I bought one for my 01 PSD a few months ago. I was replacing my replacement Monroes all the way around with Monroe Magnums, and I thought what the heck why not get the steering damper.
So I bought that kit off E-Bay and had it installed.

I had one put on my 92 Explorer 4wd many years ago, and I liked how it seemed to absorb the steering jolts.

 

I understand how it absorbs the shock of quick jolts of steering wheel during off road use......but does the damper tighten up steering wheel during right/left normal steering wheel turns...typical street/hwy driving? In other words, is steering wheel slightly more difficult to turn after installed?

 

make sure that kit will fit the front axle you have under your 2wd. They made a couple different ones IIRC. My truck has the twin I-beam front and didn't come with the dampener (not even sure where it would mount after looking at it)

 

My understanding is that all 2003 4X2s were twin I beam. It did not state any axle differences....it is several year super dutys that were 4X2.

 

Lets see some pictures when you get it installed then. As LOOnatic said some of the 2wd trucks did come with them stock...I had heard that before also. Probably on the higher trim models. I know Bilstein makes an upgraded one.

https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/bilstein-5100-series-steering-damper-2wd/

 

Oddly enough my truck is a base model XL truck but it came with "heavy service " front end package and i think thats why it came it. I have seen xlt and lariats without it so not sure Fords logic.

 

 

Yes, that's exactly the one I purchased. It says for RH and LH installations.....does that mean for RH/LH steering? If so, I never thought about RH driven Super Dutys overseas....I typically think about sedans/vans.