4X4 Steering damper necessary?
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Morgan Hill, CA
4X4 Steering damper necessary?
I was doing a bit of off-road driving in my 2001 F-250 (s/c V-10 5 speed esof) and i hit my steering damper on something and bent it. I did not notice any difference in the steering. In fact, I only saw the damage about 3 weeks later. The dealer wants $103 installed, and I am thinking of just removing and trashing it. Any one out there running w/o one?
mike
mike
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: QUINCY U.S.A.
4X4 Steering damper necessary?
GO ON-LINE YOU CAN PICK UP A TOP OF THE LINE DAMPER FOR 40$.ITS JUST TWO BOLTS AND THERES PLENTY OF ROOM UNDER THERE.THE FIRST THING I DO WITH A NEW FORD IS CHANGE THE SHOCKS AND DAMPER. THE STOCK ONES BITE!
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
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From: Washington State
4X4 Steering damper necessary?
To make it even worse, they (ford) didn't even put a boot on it! It's hanging out there just waiting for sand and rocks to bang up the piston rod! Good grief.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,553
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From: Corpus Christi, TX
4X4 Steering damper necessary?
Hmm...wouldnt a boot trap dirt, moisture and mud inside with the shaft? I'm just thinking this cause if I remember correctly, the damper is almost parallel to the ground, so wouldn't water and gunk lie in the valleys of the boot folds? I'm just piping up because I cam across this same issue when I was going to install new rear shocks, to boot or not to boot.
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
4X4 Steering damper necessary?
>Hmm...wouldnt a boot trap dirt, moisture and mud inside with
>the shaft?
The idea behind a boot is to STOP dirt, moisture and mud from getting inside. With it sealed on both end, you won't get anything inside.
I'm just thinking this cause if I remember
>correctly, the damper is almost parallel to the ground, so
>wouldn't water and gunk lie in the valleys of the boot
>folds?
I'd rather have it in the folds than caked up the piston rod. It washes off easy too. What would be the big deal anyway if it was in the boot fold?
>I'm just piping up because I came across this same
>issue when I was going to install new rear shocks, to boot
>or not to boot.
As I motorcycle rider, I believe in boots over exposed piston rods (forks sliders being piston rods) however asthetically it doesn't always work out on my bikes but on my truck it does. IMHO, when in doubt, boot it. You can always remove it if you don't like the look.
>the shaft?
The idea behind a boot is to STOP dirt, moisture and mud from getting inside. With it sealed on both end, you won't get anything inside.
I'm just thinking this cause if I remember
>correctly, the damper is almost parallel to the ground, so
>wouldn't water and gunk lie in the valleys of the boot
>folds?
I'd rather have it in the folds than caked up the piston rod. It washes off easy too. What would be the big deal anyway if it was in the boot fold?
>I'm just piping up because I came across this same
>issue when I was going to install new rear shocks, to boot
>or not to boot.
As I motorcycle rider, I believe in boots over exposed piston rods (forks sliders being piston rods) however asthetically it doesn't always work out on my bikes but on my truck it does. IMHO, when in doubt, boot it. You can always remove it if you don't like the look.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,553
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From: Corpus Christi, TX
4X4 Steering damper necessary?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 15-Feb-02 AT 09:28 PM (EST)]Hehehe, I just thought about that as well, the steering damper isin't going to go from full compression to full extension very often unlike a shock when off-roading. And now that I think about it even more, that sucker would be mighty caked up after a good clay mud romp. There have been a few times where the boot drain holes get clogged up with crap, and water actually gets trapped inside the boot, rusting out the piston. Then again, this happened on a mud runner, not a normal truck like everyone has here.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,859
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From: USA
4X4 Steering damper necessary?
To Boot or not to boot! HMMMMMM!
Isn't that damper ther also as safety precaution (sort of )for
tire blowout at highway speeds ?
to help control steering ?
I would not leave it off!
Just my .02
Rich
Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out Mr Mayor of Truckville
Isn't that damper ther also as safety precaution (sort of )for
tire blowout at highway speeds ?
to help control steering ?
I would not leave it off!
Just my .02
Rich
Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out Mr Mayor of Truckville
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From: west hazleton united stat
4X4 Steering damper necessary?
I have noticed that some trucks have dampers and some don't, i guess it depends on the package. My truck does not have one and when i first got it I didn't like all of the steering imput that i got over rough terrain.However i did get used to it and now i dont even notice it. Unless you do alot of off road driving IMO its not needed.
As far as keepimg control in the event of a front blow-out it may help a little but its driver skill and a little luck that keeps you straight.
2001 F-250 SD 4x4 V-10
As far as keepimg control in the event of a front blow-out it may help a little but its driver skill and a little luck that keeps you straight.
2001 F-250 SD 4x4 V-10
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 360
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From: USA
4X4 Steering damper necessary?
Well my take on the boots issue is that the dam things will never be as clean as the day you install them and second they just don't do much to keep junk out but they do a great job at holding it in there.
Besides they look kinda silly.
Just my $.02.
Will-
Besides they look kinda silly.
Just my $.02.
Will-
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Morgan Hill, CA
4X4 Steering damper necessary?
Thanks for all the replies; I guess I'll order an aftermarket one and slap it on there. The reason I wondered if I could trash it is that the thing sits Ridiculously low and right in front of the axle! I'll probably hit it on something again, but thats the way it goes!
mike
>I have noticed that some trucks have dampers and some don't,
>i guess it depends on the package. My truck does not have
>one and when i first got it I didn't like all of the
>steering imput that i got over rough terrain.However i did
>get used to it and now i dont even notice it. Unless you do
>alot of off road driving IMO its not needed.
>As far as keepimg control in the event of a front blow-out
>it may help a little but its driver skill and a little luck
>that keeps you straight.
>
>
>
>
>2001 F-250 SD 4x4 V-10
mike
>I have noticed that some trucks have dampers and some don't,
>i guess it depends on the package. My truck does not have
>one and when i first got it I didn't like all of the
>steering imput that i got over rough terrain.However i did
>get used to it and now i dont even notice it. Unless you do
>alot of off road driving IMO its not needed.
>As far as keepimg control in the event of a front blow-out
>it may help a little but its driver skill and a little luck
>that keeps you straight.
>
>
>
>
>2001 F-250 SD 4x4 V-10
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 33
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From: North Beach USA
4X4 Steering damper necessary?
I had to bring this back up since I'm thinking of taking my shock and steering dampner boots off. Do the keep in the sand and water or keep them out. I would think that if they get dirty it would be easier to rinse them off with the boots off. I only run on the beach (saltwater) so not having boots would probably allow me to keep them cleaner. Anyone else???
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 256
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From: St.Augustine Beach,Florida
4X4 Steering damper necessary?
hey i live in florida and i go to the beach just about everyday. i have boots on all 7 of my shocks. i dont go in any water or mud. i keep them on so the sands doesnt get on them and it works great. hey badlees you drive through the salt water at the beach?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
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4X4 Steering damper necessary?
I don't know about the looks but who cares. I know they can be remounted with a crrossover system so that it does not hang low and get bashed but you will have to ask someone else. Maybe Donahoe. He owns one of the best shops in Cal.IMHO, of course