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Steering stabilizer causing steering wander?

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Old Apr 9, 2007 | 10:41 AM
  #1  
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Steering stabilizer causing steering wander?

I read somewhere (don't remember where) that someone had thought they figured out that the front steering stabilizer was the possible contributor to some of the steering wander?...anyone remember this or can validate it?

My memory is that they removed the front stabilizer and it kept things straight and not a "fight"...made sense to me...could the stabilizer be applying some slight pressure or push to the steering linkage causing the drift/wander? My Ex wants to wander to the drivers side...anyone have any thoughts of running without a stabilizer and what the down sides would be?

joe.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2007 | 11:36 AM
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It certainly won't hurt anything for you to pull it and see if it stops the wandering. Might as well try it.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2007 | 11:40 AM
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Monsta,

That's what I was thinking...not hard to do...was wondering if anyone had done it...that's all!

Thanks for the thoughts!

joe.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2007 | 04:53 PM
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Some steering stabilizers (mostly aftermarket) have a slight positive charge in them to counter bigger tires/more contact area. When you have larger tires the truck tends to wander down the crown of the road to the right, it's just physics. The positive charge slightly pushes the steering to the left to counter this effect.
 
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Old Apr 10, 2007 | 06:04 AM
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If the X can function w/o the steering stabilizer, then what is its main purpose? Is it mainly for off-road situations?
 
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Old Apr 10, 2007 | 06:15 AM
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Originally Posted by cjspack
If the X can function w/o the steering stabilizer, then what is its main purpose? Is it mainly for off-road situations?
now that is how I SHOULD have asked my question...LOL!...hopefully someone can answer it!

Thanks for forming a GREAT question!

joe.
 
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Old Apr 10, 2007 | 12:06 PM
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I`ve been told the sterring stab. is to keep the wheels from shaking/shimmying back and forth after they strike an irregularity in the road! without it the tires would shake violently left to right. hence the term "damper". you would never be able to turn the wheel fast enough to even feel the stab. doing it`s job. only violent impacts! (potholes).
 
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Old Apr 10, 2007 | 12:37 PM
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1 Excursion Camper is correct in what he said.

It's there to absorb shock and impact from the road. It helps by 1. Keeping you steering where from being violently jerked left or right. Also 2. by limiting the impact energy transmitted from the road to your steering components it lengthens their lifespan.

I don't see how a stabilizer could push the steering either way. It's a neutrally biased system, usually fluid only, with equal valving both directions. To my knowledge I don't believe they are gas filled because they don't have the need.

But like Monsta can't hurt to try. Possibly the internals ( valving )are bad causing it easly move one direction and not the other??
 
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Old Apr 10, 2007 | 12:51 PM
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They're also there to dampen the effects of bump steer on trucks.
 
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