Fox Steering Stableizer
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,326
Likes: 18
From: Gilbert
Only .5"??? That's pretty good if you ask me. My steering wheel moves much more than that before the tires turn (the larger tires don't help either). A steering stabilizer won't fix that.
I've had my Fox 50/50 stabilizer on my truck for a couple years now and it's worked great. Only issue I've run into is 1 mild winter in PA and the housing is all rusted, so I'll have to get some clear on it or something.
As for the length, I had to move my mounts as far down the bar as I could and that gave me full rotation left and right (the tires rub on the springs so that's what stops me).
I bought a steering stabilizer relocator as well, moves it right in front of the diff so you don't trash it if you run into something. It was a 10 minute install (had to wait for the compressor to fill the tank), very easy to do. Part was bought from Rubicon Express.
I've had my Fox 50/50 stabilizer on my truck for a couple years now and it's worked great. Only issue I've run into is 1 mild winter in PA and the housing is all rusted, so I'll have to get some clear on it or something.
As for the length, I had to move my mounts as far down the bar as I could and that gave me full rotation left and right (the tires rub on the springs so that's what stops me).
I bought a steering stabilizer relocator as well, moves it right in front of the diff so you don't trash it if you run into something. It was a 10 minute install (had to wait for the compressor to fill the tank), very easy to do. Part was bought from Rubicon Express.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 74
Likes: 2
You could try adjusting the steering gearbox as well.. I assume your truck is a 2005 with low mileage, so I doubt the tie rods are worn out already.. Although, if they are anything like these junky ball joints, then who knows.. 
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
I have < 14K miles on the truck. The dealership said the gearbox was tight. When I'm drive on the hywy, I have to do a lot of steering adjustments to stay in the lane. The tires are inflated correctly.
The steering on my '03 Ram 2500 was spot on. No play at all in the steering. Maybe I'm use to that? I do know it's un-nerving when your in the center hywy lane doing 60-65 MPH with traffic on both sides.
It just must be me because I don't hear anyone else complain about it.
The steering on my '03 Ram 2500 was spot on. No play at all in the steering. Maybe I'm use to that? I do know it's un-nerving when your in the center hywy lane doing 60-65 MPH with traffic on both sides.
It just must be me because I don't hear anyone else complain about it.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 74
Likes: 2
I've come to the conclusion that Fox did not do any research on this product, just tossed a (much longer) shock into a box with a few spacers (no instructions, either), and expect the customer to figure out how to "rig it on". This is after talking to Fox tech support, as well as Kartek off-road.
Keep in mind, the stock shock mount on the tie rod bar is mounted with U-bolts that normally do not fit over the bar, but the bar has 4 grooves machined into it so that the u-bolts can be placed in one spot only. With the Fox damper, you have to relocate that mount, and figure out a way to make those 4 grooves in the bar so that the U-bolts will fit. Also, the spacers included with the damper are not large enough to take up the extra space in between the mounting brackets, causing the damper to hit in various places. Obviously, if you pay a shop to install it, they get the headache of dealing with it, and you would never know the details of how they fixed the issues.
At this point, I'm not sure if I want to fix the problems myself, or return it. My advice to others is to buy a direct bolt on unit, as this was supposed to be (as I was told I was getting by Kartek).
Keep in mind, the stock shock mount on the tie rod bar is mounted with U-bolts that normally do not fit over the bar, but the bar has 4 grooves machined into it so that the u-bolts can be placed in one spot only. With the Fox damper, you have to relocate that mount, and figure out a way to make those 4 grooves in the bar so that the U-bolts will fit. Also, the spacers included with the damper are not large enough to take up the extra space in between the mounting brackets, causing the damper to hit in various places. Obviously, if you pay a shop to install it, they get the headache of dealing with it, and you would never know the details of how they fixed the issues.
At this point, I'm not sure if I want to fix the problems myself, or return it. My advice to others is to buy a direct bolt on unit, as this was supposed to be (as I was told I was getting by Kartek).
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,326
Likes: 18
From: Gilbert
It'll fit, just give it a little ooomph.. I had to pound the small u-bolts over the tie rod bar (up against the tie rod adjustment) and just bolted it right on. The u-bolts will flex enough to get over a spot on the tie rod bar. As for the spacers that came with it, I think I ended up trashing those and setting up my own setup.
I can take a pic later on if needed. Mine will look different though since I have the relocation kit with it, but I did install it in the factory location before the reloc. kit was purchased.
I can take a pic later on if needed. Mine will look different though since I have the relocation kit with it, but I did install it in the factory location before the reloc. kit was purchased.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 74
Likes: 2
After I pounded the u-bolts over the bar, they wouldnt fit into the holes in the bracket, haha. Before I get any further, I'll need to make some new spacers anyway.. Which way did you originally mount the shock body, with the body towards the passenger side, or the drivers side?
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,326
Likes: 18
From: Gilbert
I remember having to "convince" the u-bolt to fit into the bracket. I think I put a pair of vice grips over over the u-bolt after I beat it over the tie rod bar to bend them back. It was a couple of years ago so my memory isn't servin' up the goods. As for the direction it faced, I'm pretty sure the shock body was toward the pass. side of the truck. It's hard to tell in this pic but it looks that way. I do remember having to screw around with different ways to install it because the valve on the shock was in the way.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=52703&width=2
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=52703&width=2
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Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 745
Likes: 34
WOW sorry you are having such a hard time with the install. I had a shop do mine and it came out perfer cost was 40.00 min shop charge. I will try to take a pic of mine and post tonight. Dont give up it will be worth it once its done correctly.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
obviously ford puts the grooves in the bar for a reason (so it will stay in place) i thought fox products were alittle higher quality then that. i dont know about most of you but i wont afro-engineer something that i bought which is supposed to be a direct replacement. hammering u bolts to fit a steering component would not be something i would even think about doing. did the u bolt get damaged? the threads didnt get destroyed? or did you just "drive 'em on" ...
.....crazy
.....crazy
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 74
Likes: 2
I spent an hour or so screwing with it tonight, and although I did get the u-bolts to fit around the steering linkage (where they are not designed to, and it was a PITA), I then ran back into the problem of the spacers not being the correct size, and eventually got it all put on, only to find out that it caused the steering to bind up after compressing the stabilizer about 3 inches. Keep in mind, I'm not new to working on cars/trucks/etc, I've been wrenching for 15 years, and also do product design for an automotive aftermarket company. Either I received the wrong product, or someone over at Fox needs to be reprimanded for designing an "application specific" product that doesn't fit worth a damn. I'd check my box and shock for part numbers, but neither of them have anything resembling a part number on them.
I'll call Fox in the morning and see if I can get this figured out. I use their external resevoir shocks on my truck and I love them, but this steering stabilizer mess is driving me nuts.
I'll call Fox in the morning and see if I can get this figured out. I use their external resevoir shocks on my truck and I love them, but this steering stabilizer mess is driving me nuts.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 74
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by 2000silverbullet
I can take a pic later on if needed. Mine will look different though since I have the relocation kit with it, but I did install it in the factory location before the reloc. kit was purchased.
Thanks!
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,326
Likes: 18
From: Gilbert
Well, maybe they did give you the wrong stabilizer if you really can't get it on there. Mine was kind of tricky but I was able to get it on in about 30 minutes. And contrary to what skinner00 said, it doesn't look "afro-engineered". It didn't damage the u-bolts or strip the threads. It's a heavy duty truck, it can take it....
I got the relocation kit from Rubicon Express, it was inexpensive and works good. It moves the stabilizer from the front of the tie rod bar to the rear of it, right in front of the diff. All it is is a bracket that bolts onto the front to spring u-bolts. I attached a couple of pics, not of highest quality, took with the cell phone.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...112515&width=2
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...112516&width=2
I got the relocation kit from Rubicon Express, it was inexpensive and works good. It moves the stabilizer from the front of the tie rod bar to the rear of it, right in front of the diff. All it is is a bracket that bolts onto the front to spring u-bolts. I attached a couple of pics, not of highest quality, took with the cell phone.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...112515&width=2
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...112516&width=2
Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 745
Likes: 34
Here is mine hope this helps. Mine is a 2003 if that make a differance.
http://members.***.net/cc322/FORDF25...ilizer%201.jpg
http://members.***.net/cc322/FORDF25...%20Bar%202.jpg
I think they added this piece but said it was off another superduty from the factory, mine was missing.
http://members.***.net/cc322/FORDF25...%20Bar%203.jpg
http://members.***.net/cc322/FORDF25...ilizer%201.jpg
http://members.***.net/cc322/FORDF25...%20Bar%202.jpg
I think they added this piece but said it was off another superduty from the factory, mine was missing.
http://members.***.net/cc322/FORDF25...%20Bar%203.jpg
Last edited by cc322; Apr 5, 2006 at 06:47 AM.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 74
Likes: 2
Thanks for the pics guys! On cc322's truck, I see they used the stock front stabilizer mount, but flipped it to the back side of the steering rod for some reason.. Perhaps I'll give that a shot after I contact fox about the other issues.. If all else fails, I'll order that relocation kit, as I assume they designed that to keep the stabilizer out of harms way?
This forum works well, thanks again!
This forum works well, thanks again!