Steering stabilizer
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 974
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Steering stabilizer
Has anyone installed a steering stablilzer and if so, what brand? Do you like it and did it help at all? My Bronco seems a little squirrely, which seems to be the nature of these vehicles. I am wondering if a steering stabilizer would help at all.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 127
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From: Tallahassee United State of America
Steering stabilizer
Aaron,
I had one on my '78 Bronco (it was still on it the last time I saw it) and it seemed to help. The reason I say this is that I had it replaced about a year before I sold it and noticed the difference in the stability. I don't have one on my '96 but will probably get one in the near future.
Being an "older" - or "senior" - citizen, I didn't have the larger(est) tire on either unit. The '78 had 31.50 x 11 x15 and the '96 is running 265x15.
Richard
I had one on my '78 Bronco (it was still on it the last time I saw it) and it seemed to help. The reason I say this is that I had it replaced about a year before I sold it and noticed the difference in the stability. I don't have one on my '96 but will probably get one in the near future.
Being an "older" - or "senior" - citizen, I didn't have the larger(est) tire on either unit. The '78 had 31.50 x 11 x15 and the '96 is running 265x15.
Richard
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 189
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Steering stabilizer
I just installed the dual stabilzer from Rancho and it didn't make that much of a difference. I have 6" lift and 35" tires on the stock rims. What made the difference was having the steering box tightened up. Now the truck drives like a car, and the best thing is no bump steer. I tried the single but it didn't help much so I went and added the second. Since the tie rod ends were new I figured it must be the larger tires, it turned out to be the steering box.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 189
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Steering stabilizer
The steering box can easily be tightened. There is a screw hole in the front of the steering box that has a large nut that needs to be loosened then you can take a flat head screw driver and tighten the screw inside. Then re-tighten the nut and the steering wheel has less play.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 208
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From: Stockton USA
Steering stabilizer
Be careful about 'adjusting' the steering box cross shaft and pinion without reading up on the procedure in Haynes, etc, first. If you get the adjustment out of 'whack' you can cause undo wear to the box. Haynes says you have to remove the pitman arm, unhook the fluid return line and drain the str box before adjusting. You then have to check the effort to turn the box thru 'top center' with an inch-pound gauge attached to the steeling wheel retaining nut, to adjust the str gear properly...I think the idea is to get all possible resistance to turning the gears inside the box before resetting...just backing off the lock nut and turning the adjustment screw could make it worse...check out the manual first!
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 77
Likes: 2
From: Pacific Wonderland
Steering stabilizer
OK so mine is an 83 Bought new, now has 240,000, and looks, drives, and runs like new! Over the last several years, I have fought with a "mind of its own" steering/stability problem. In an attempt to solve this, (which I pretty much have), I tried about everything! New tie-rods and ends, new ball joints, new wheel-bearings, raidius arm bushings, new springs, rebuilt steering box, and new tires. At some point I tried a "steering stabilizer", and found it to make my problems MUCH WORSE! With the stabilizer, it would'nt return to center! Could hardly keep it between the lines! So I took it off and shelved it (you can have it if you want to try it!) The final thing which made the biggest difference in roadability, (which, believe it or not, was figured out by a dealership mechanic), was to replace the joint in the steering colum; they now make a great U-joint for this! I can once again keep up with anyone else on the road, without having a pannic attack! Hope this helps. P.S. How many miles are on it?
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