steering stabilizer
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Bay Area, CA
steering stabilizer
Hey Everyone, I have a 99 CC 2wd PSD DRW, and I had major front end wobble. I added a ford steering stabilizer, and it went totally away.....YAY. I noticed lately its been coming back, and today I noticed oil all over down there, in that specific area! Ive only had this thing 6-9 months at the most, How long should they last? Thanks for the help guys 
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I think you just masked the problem in the first place, front end wobble is not normal, period. When you do correct the problem it would be a good idea to replace the Ford steering stabilizer with a Rancho, it's heavier duty, and cheaper.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Dryden, ON, Canada
Yup, you've got something else wrong, my 00 drove no different without it or with it, I didn't know I was driving without it for a while... I had to have some steering linkage replaced on my truck for a safety, and I just had the shop do it... Around town here, it's pretty large truck friendly, but, about a month later, I made a trip into the city, first tight left turn it wouldn't cut as far as I was used to it going at first, then it went after I gave it a bit of a yank... Drove it around a couple more days in the city and then came home before I looked underneath and realized that I had actually broke the eye off of the shaft when I gave the wheel that little yank. Drove no different at all.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
If the stock stabilizer leaked it's guts, it's dead - my '01's leaked within 2 months and was gone at 6 months just like yours.
Get a Rancho and be done with it - you should be able to get one that fits the stock mounts (mine took a little grinding not to hang up on the Rancho).
Get a Rancho and be done with it - you should be able to get one that fits the stock mounts (mine took a little grinding not to hang up on the Rancho).
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There are two different Rancho's, one is a replacement for the stock stabilizer, and one is for trucks not originally equipped with a stabilizer, which is available with, or without mounting hardware.
The second one is much larger than the stock replacement, and I purchased mine without the hardware, preferring to purchase that from Ford. I thought it would be a straight forward install, but I didn't realize it wouldn't fit due to it's greater length. Plan B, I had to make the drag link bracket fit further down on the drag link.
Everything worked out fine, and my stabilizer looks like it's on steroids compared to the stock stabilizer.
The second one is much larger than the stock replacement, and I purchased mine without the hardware, preferring to purchase that from Ford. I thought it would be a straight forward install, but I didn't realize it wouldn't fit due to it's greater length. Plan B, I had to make the drag link bracket fit further down on the drag link.
Everything worked out fine, and my stabilizer looks like it's on steroids compared to the stock stabilizer.
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Elder User
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From: Bay Area, CA
Originally Posted by BFR250SD
Get the steering fixed first. The stabilizer is masking a bigger problem.
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From: Phenix City, AL
Could be bad bushings, could be a loose bolt, could be a bad alignment, could be a lot of things. I would start with those first and make sure it's not a quick easy fix first. With 66K, I would have to say it's a worn part though, likely bushings.
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From: Bay Area, CA
Originally Posted by BFR250SD
Could be bad bushings, could be a loose bolt, could be a bad alignment, could be a lot of things. I would start with those first and make sure it's not a quick easy fix first. With 66K, I would have to say it's a worn part though, likely bushings.
What I have noticed is the tires are wearing round. Is that normal for a dually?
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Jack it up your self, crawl underneath and start tugging on the suspension. Have someone wiggle the steering wheel back and forth, observe and listen for anything loose. Place a 4x4 under the tire while it's jacked up, and lift on it to see if there is anything sloppy (ball joints)
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From: Phenix City, AL
This just hit me. Get it up on a side lift, so the weight is off the wheels. Check the steering shaft and the u-joints with it. This is a wear area that can be overlooked. Sometimes you won't notice it with truck on the ground.
With the tires, are you talking the the outside edges are wearing round (as in low air pressure wear) or wearing unevenly on one side or the other.
With the tires, are you talking the the outside edges are wearing round (as in low air pressure wear) or wearing unevenly on one side or the other.
Last edited by BFR250SD; Sep 25, 2005 at 09:57 PM.
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Elder User
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From: Bay Area, CA
Ill try to lift it, Im not sure if my jacks will raise it that much. I dont think either place had it in the air, but Im not 100% sure though. As far as the tire wear, yea the outer edges are rounded, and the center of the tire is higher than the edges. Make sense? Thanks again for all the advise and suggestions.