Steering stabilizer..
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
Steering stabilizer..
Hey all, I'm looking at putting a steering stabilizer kit on my '88 E150CW.... It's napa part number NSSA1930..... Anyone here use a similar kit? Thoughts, advice?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,321
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From: MI
save your money. I have yet to ever have a need for a steering stabilizer for vehicle that did not have oversied agresive tread tires. not one of the 1 ton work vans that I have personally logged close to 400,000 miles on, have I felt a need for a stabalizer either.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
This thing has a/t 6 ply tires all the way around, and drive like it's on marbles.... We've checked or changed most of the front end parts, and the alignment is correct. It just wanders all over the road. It's been about 5 years since I drove this thing, so learning to respond to it is going slow.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
Indeed it does, my dad is an old timer and has worked on this front end for many hours to get it as good as it is. It was much worse. He said it's "the nature of the beast" and a stabilizer will help.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: arcata, ca
i put power steering on my van and a stabilizer really helped calm it down. i am no engineer but it feels like the power steering on these vans is a little bit to sensitive.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
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From: Maryville
A steering dampener is for the jerk eperienced when you hit a pot hole and that is all, it's a shock to absorb feedback. I can't tell you how many 4x4 owners think they need them beacuse play or slop in the steering and what not, worn tie rod ends, bushings or steering box is generally the cause, a dampener will not fix this.
The camber set up on your front end will affect the way it feels when steering or just driving straight ahead, it also affects tire wear, so the designated setting is a happy medium between the two. If you discuss it's driving characteristics with the person aligning it, maybe they can adjust it to correct it.
If you're experiencing bump steer when hutting pot holes or on rough terrain, add one, if not, try to find the worn component causing it.
The camber set up on your front end will affect the way it feels when steering or just driving straight ahead, it also affects tire wear, so the designated setting is a happy medium between the two. If you discuss it's driving characteristics with the person aligning it, maybe they can adjust it to correct it.
If you're experiencing bump steer when hutting pot holes or on rough terrain, add one, if not, try to find the worn component causing it.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2003
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Today was the first time ever in a Ford Van that I even thought about a stabilizer.
It was on a wash board road. I was VERY surprised how the tires and steering wheel bounced back and forth.
Funny thing is, I just had the steering box and one tie rod end replaced under warranty.
Before that I had been on roads like these today, and the only thing it did was get loud fom the rear end suspension!
It was on a wash board road. I was VERY surprised how the tires and steering wheel bounced back and forth.
Funny thing is, I just had the steering box and one tie rod end replaced under warranty.
Before that I had been on roads like these today, and the only thing it did was get loud fom the rear end suspension!
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
Maples, there is no SLOP, or looseness in the wheel. The steering is very responsive. It wanders, the front end is almost impossible to align, so the damper would indeed help as it would keep the wheels from moving at will.
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