steering stabilizer
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 183
I've said this in every thread about steering stabilizers. The factory one is not in the most ideal position. It needs to be on the same plane as the steering itself. It's why the older Super Duties and any serious off road vehicle has them mounted on the tie rod and axle housing. The Fox ATS is terrible, if you tighten it enough it proves my point because as the suspension travels up and down it will move your steering wheel left and right. Ditch the factory location and install a single or dual setup like I mentioned.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,822
Likes: 1,181
From: Southeast MO
I had a PMF setup on my 2017 F250 and I have the same setup on my 2022 F450. I know others make them also, I just like their products.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 950
Likes: 437
From: Adirondacks
I went with a Kelderman Fox 2.0 dual steering stabilizer on my F250 (so i didn't have to measure anything). Five years of perfect aweome steering and handling so far.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 129
Likes: 66
From: Coastal VA
I changed to a Bilstein steering damper when I swapped the factory shocks to Bilstein 5100s. This was a 2024 F350 Lariat with 4,400 miles, I’m happy with the improved ride and the more steady steering resulting from the change.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 350
Likes: 99
From: Huntsville
Interested in hearing why you made this change with so few miles. Were you displeased with the ride quality or comfort of the OEM shock? And how would you compare the 5100's specifically from a soft or harshness perspective to the OEM shocks?
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 7,955
Likes: 4,039
I did the same thing with an F150 that had FX4. The truck would hop all over the road on cloverleafs if there were bumps. The 5100's made the truck stick to the road without all the wheel hop. Noticeable improvement in ride and handling.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 350
Likes: 99
From: Huntsville
The reason I ask, I replaced the OEM shocks on my '15 F250 with 5100's at roughly 150K miles (when I got the truck). So I never really had a true comparison until now with my '23 F350 with OEM shocks. I can say my wife loves the ride of the '23 F350 compared to the '15 F250 with Bilstein's. Honestly, I do too...and I love Bilstein shocks, we run them on both race cars and they are great shocks. So I am a bit hesitant when it comes time to replace the shocks on the '23.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 183
Stock tires?
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 183
The reason I ask, I replaced the OEM shocks on my '15 F250 with 5100's at roughly 150K miles (when I got the truck). So I never really had a true comparison until now with my '23 F350 with OEM shocks. I can say my wife loves the ride of the '23 F350 compared to the '15 F250 with Bilstein's. Honestly, I do too...and I love Bilstein shocks, we run them on both race cars and they are great shocks. So I am a bit hesitant when it comes time to replace the shocks on the '23.
4600's on my F150's and 5100's on my SDs.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 625
From: McKinney, TX
Not going to change much of anything on pavement.
My 2023 was my first 4WD in many years... here in the Dallas area, the roads are so horrible, my truck is jumping all over the place in the right conditions, something my 2WD trucks never did. The factory shocks are already shot (at 24K) so I'm guessing the damper is, too. A new Bilstein is in my cart... just waiting on funds. It can't hurt.
I do have a question, however...
If the OEM part is a damper, which I agree, why would they charge them with gas? ...unless you have a dual damper setup, with them opposed to each other?
My 2023 was my first 4WD in many years... here in the Dallas area, the roads are so horrible, my truck is jumping all over the place in the right conditions, something my 2WD trucks never did. The factory shocks are already shot (at 24K) so I'm guessing the damper is, too. A new Bilstein is in my cart... just waiting on funds. It can't hurt.
I do have a question, however...
If the OEM part is a damper, which I agree, why would they charge them with gas? ...unless you have a dual damper setup, with them opposed to each other?
FTE Legend
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 31,773
Likes: 9,113
From: Western NY
But if there is any issue with any front end suspension component, no steering stabilizer or dual set will compensate for that... DW is always a threat.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 350
Likes: 99
From: Huntsville
Affirmative! I can say after I replaced my steering stabilizer, shocks, caster+ bushings, the rest of the entire steering parts, and tires, I still occasionally got DW on my ‘15. The ONLY thing that eradicated DW was replacing the passenger lower ball joint and the steering link bar that connects it to the driver side frame.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 7,955
Likes: 4,039
Affirmative! I can say after I replaced my steering stabilizer, shocks, caster+ bushings, the rest of the entire steering parts, and tires, I still occasionally got DW on my ‘15. The ONLY thing that eradicated DW was replacing the passenger lower ball joint and the steering link bar that connects it to the driver side frame.