I'm looking at kelderman and have a naive question. Is it just a bracket or an actual steering stabilizer? I looked on the website and it's listed as a bracket with the option of adding the fox stabilizer.

 

You can just order the bracket to use with stabilizers of your choosing or you an order a package with the bracket and two different options that they offer for stabilizers.

 

so im reading various threads about folks installing dual steering stabilizers and have ran into problems of one type or another. so having jumped thru hoops on some problematic installs, i wanted to post some lessons learned.

Q - . no instructions, bad instructions, etc
A - 1st option is to ask (email) seller if they have better instructions or if they have an install video. second option is to google for an install video.

q - there are no torque values in the instructions
a- email seller. seller will say just tighten them. best bet would be to use standard torque values from internet mechanics standard torque value chart.

q - hardware too short, hardware too long, do I use the spacer or not?
a - email seller for clarification

q - in one picture of the instructions the shock is mounted on top of the bracket, in a later picture its mounted below the bracket...which is it.
a- email seller, most of the time they will tell you to follow the instructions and if you dont, they are not responsible for damage.

q - instructions say you must have X inches from across outer rod ends....and you must have Y exposed shafts....and you must have Z shaft travel...but no matter what you do...doesnt happen.
a - contact seller via email. seller will tell you follow instructions or warranty is viod.

q - its installed but there is less than 1/16 clearence between the shocks and the track bar.
A - email seller. seller will say clearence is clearence 1/16 is just as good as 1/2 as long as it clears.

q - Im getting excessive wandering...looks like the optional boot is binding between the shock and track bar since their is only 1/16 clearence
a - contact seller via email. seller will say removed the boot and it wont bind.

q - the pictures show the shock body at the inside and the shafts on the outside...but if I do that..I only get 1/16 clearence between shock body and shaft
a - email seller. seller will say flip it around and put the shock body on the outside.....yes that means dont follow the instructions.

q - when I turn I get a feed back sensation
a - you didnt install correctly..go back and re-install and follow instructions

q - your website says the shocks must have 10" of travel. I measured the shocks you sent me and they only have 8.6" of travel. you sent me the wrong shocks.
a - email seller. seller will say according to the records the pick was of xyz123. dont know where you got abc456 shock, we didnt send you those.

q - center bracket has a crack on both sides of the fold...is this covered under warranty
a - email seller. seller will say...it cracked becuase you did not install correctly...we dont have too, but since we are good guys...we will replace it.

q - its been over a month that I sent my cracked bracket in....eta on shipment of replacement
a- email seller. seller will say...yeah..about that.

q - I still did not get my replacement bracket
a - yes..we have been swamped with orders...sorry
q- you have been swamped with orders because I have recommened your product on every forum I participate in for the last 5 years
a - we will get the bracket out soon

q - so I now realize the reason I have been having all the problems I have been emailing you about is becuase the shocks you sent me are too short.. whats the resolution.
a - had you told us that within 30 days we would have sent you replacement s and consider your shocks new....but at this point all we can do is offer you replacements at our costs...best we can do.

lessons learned

a) ask for part numbers that are needed so that when you get your shocks..you can check to confirm they are correct. they will not take them back once mounted.
b) save all you emails with problems and questions. try to get the install and issues resolved within 30 days. if not resolved within 30days, things will never be resolved and just go ahead and file a claim with you credit card and send everything back.
c) take static measurements at the full turning range....measure full travel with out shocks...then measure full travel with shocks ....the only way you are going to know if you lost steering travel.

feel free to add

 

I’m not sure why but for some reason I don’t want a dual stabilizer anymore.

 

Pmf dual stabilizers with the cheap bilsteins. Everything fit well, easy install, two hours max and that's if you're super careful. I put another brand on my 2011 when I developed death wobble, solved the problem. This time I went PMF, even a better quality install, Price is right, I'll never get death wobble on my 2018 as long as I keep fresh stabilizer shocks on it. And once you start getting death wobble it stretches and wears the crap out of everything super fast.

 

 

Don’t let that scare you. You can order just the bracket (so you can add your own shocks), or you can get the Fox or Kelderman shocks added to the purchase. There is enough info on the forum now that installing the Kelderman kit should not be so bad.

 

For me the Kelderman is the nicest kit, it bolts to all factory locations which means no measuring or chance for error, the instructions are not there greatest but its really not that difficult and there are plenty of posts on this site that clarify.

 

make sure you have 10 inches of shock travel to start with before the install as well as the measurements indicated in the instructions.

after many months of problems and reporting problems from day one....I measured the shocks I was provided in the kit and learned the shocks weee incorrect....this resulted in the bracket cracking.

the install instructions don’t specify the shock travel...but the website does.

 

I have. PMF setup and I had zero issues with install and it works perfect. Id say you cant go wrong with either the PMF or Kelderman. I’m sure somewhere on some forum someone is complaining on how hard it is to open a gallon of milk.....

 

the reader should decide if something is a gallon of milk complaint, a one off, or an indication of a trend.

i have read at least 4 threads in the last month that said something to the effect....I’m not happy with brand x Becuase of this or that.

in my case...I have install dual steering stabilizers in the last 4 trucks I have owned over the last 12 years using the same brand which I will call brand y.

the first 3 installs went well.. once you master the ubolt system of installs and understand the measurements.

the last install was a disaster from day one. Clearance problems. Wandering, which were immediately reported with no resolution. Ultimately lead to cracking of the bracket. Upon examination of the parts provided ....their was a discrepancy in the shocks they sent with the kit...they were 1.25 inches two short. Resulting in obtaining the instruction measurements of 5” at straight line.....but unbeknown to me...that left only 3.75 inches of travel during turns. The only way you will catch that during an install is to rig up a centerline reference point and do before and after wheel travel measurements.

ultimately the brand y provider said...well...we might have made a mistake sending you the wrong shocks...but since you didn’t catch that during the install..,all we can do is offer you replacement shocks at cost. So 600 for the initial kit, and 250 more for the correct shocks. All becuase either a parts picker picked the wrong shocks...or the thought was the shorter shocks would work so send him those.

the point of the story is to check what you get. The instructions do not say you must have 10” of shock travel...but the website does. Save yourself a lot of headaches and check the shocks when you receive them. Your not going to know by looking at them that they sent you Dodge Ram 1500 shocks instead of superduty ones.

you can discount this recommendation as a gallon of milk complaint...but as someone who had worked on trucks, cars, boats, motorcycles, airplanes ...I will say for the most part I have not had any aftermarket problems over the last 47 years that I have had a drivers license for the exception of this 1 issue due to improperly picked part during order fulfillment.

save yourself some headaches and possibly rebuying shocks and make sure you were sent the correct ones.

im going to post this story when ever someone says...hey...buying some dual steering stabilizers...what do you think. That’s what forums are for.

 

The "Kelderman" is a set of "brackets" and mounting hardware with the shock choice left to you.
I have recently installed the Kelderman brackets and Fox 2.0 shocks and there is a stark improvement in the trucks feel and ride. The instructions kinda suk but nothing that you cant get figured out in a few minutes.

 

Thank you for all responses.
If Kelderman is a bracket and we can add let's say Fox shocks then do we have a choice of a stabilizer as well?

I have a 2020 F450. Can someone PLEASE help me with part numbers for the fox shocks and stabilizer. I am thinking of a 2.5 inch ready lift front leveling kit. Thank you. This is so confusing at least for me

 

Please excuse the ignorance but I have never really noticed a steering issue. I had an 02 PSD and never had issues with that either. Wondering what I am missing. Are you guys keeping the factory stabilizer and installing 2 new ones? Is the stabilizer on the Tremor any different than the other models?

Thanks!

c

 

Dual stabilizer works with stock suspension?