steering stabilizers

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Oct 3, 2007 | 10:36 PM

#31

Brent M.

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my 01 350 4x4 7.3 crew cab had the same problem when i put my 35's on and a 4 inch lift.....i put on a BD suspension dual stabilizer setup,that go side by side,that is they don't 'stack' on top of each other,and it works quite well....they use the stock mount position on the passenger side,and an included bracket for the drivers side and for where they mount in the 'middle'.....any time,through my experience,that you go to a large tire/wheel setup,youre gonna have an inferior ride...period.....but a good balancing from some one that knows there stuff helps alot too.....just MY experience with the same issue......Brent M

Oct 3, 2007 | 11:02 PM

#32

blackhat620

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From: Arizona

Quote:

Originally Posted by RallyMedik

Here is there Press release..I don't see anything about lift requirement.

http://www.roughcountry.com/press_re...stabilizer.pdf

Unfortunately it is just that a press release intended to sell a product. The OP of the thread below still has not answered these questions and he works for the company. The Rough Country unit is just like the Fabtech and Donahoe Racing units that have been out for awhile, and both Fabtech and Donahoe say to only install these on lifted suspension trucks.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/65...ml#post5189012

I can tell you for fact that a well respected 6.0 tech installed this type of setup on a customers 05 SD do to "death wobble" complaints, and the installation was okayed by FMC as warranty work. After installing this type of steering stabilizer on the truck, the track bar hits the stabilizers and drives them into the tie rods, causing binding in sthe steering to occur. This occurs on rough roads on a stock suspension truck.

Last edited by blackhat620; Oct 3, 2007 at 11:06 PM.

Oct 4, 2007 | 06:40 PM

#33

RACERX7775

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From: WARRINGTON, PA

this is it... its all stock suspension with the exception of V code front springs. and its my 01 excursion. not an 05 sd.

Last edited by RACERX7775; Oct 4, 2007 at 06:47 PM.

Oct 5, 2007 | 12:13 AM

#34

blackhat620

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From: Arizona

RACERX7775

Problem is on 05-08 SD the front end was changed to a coil spring setup with a track bar. Your truck has a leaf spring front end and no track bar. The dual setup will not work on stock suspension trucks with coil spring front ends as the track bar hits the steering stabilizer.

Oct 6, 2007 | 03:45 PM

#35

RACERX7775

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From: WARRINGTON, PA

hmmm, i always thought that i had a track bar on my truck???

Oct 6, 2007 | 04:22 PM

#36

blackhat620

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From: Arizona

Quote:

Originally Posted by RACERX7775

hmmm, i always thought that i had a track bar on my truck???

You are correct, there is a track bar(Panhard bar) on the leaf spring 4x4 SD but the front suspension and steering components are mounted and engineered diffrently do to the leaf springs. On a leaf spring suspension a track bar is not the necessity like it is on a coil spring setup. The reason for this is that the leaf springs keep the axle location centered under the vehicle so a track bar has minimal impact on a leaf spring setup. Whereas on a coil spring setup the track bar is what keeps the axle centered under the vehicle as the coil springs will not do this. On the 05 and newer SD with coil spring front suspension the whole front suspension and steering linkage was redesigned, and the front cover on the axle is different to allow the track bar to clear the front axle cover. There is just no room under the 05 and newer SD for a dual horizontal steering stabilizer to be mounted and clear the track bar on a stock suspension SD.

Oct 6, 2007 | 05:09 PM

#37

RACERX7775

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From: WARRINGTON, PA

ok, that sums it up thanks. at least maybe others with the older truck will see that the dual kit can be installed without any trouble.

Oct 6, 2007 | 05:37 PM

#38

blackhat620

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From: Arizona

Quote:

Originally Posted by RACERX7775

ok, that sums it up thanks. at least maybe others with the older truck will see that the dual kit can be installed without any trouble.

Yes i do not recall hearing about any problems with installing dual horizontal steering stabilizer on the leaf spring front SD trucks. Also i do not recall anyone experiencing the "death wobble" on the front leaf spring SD trucks. The "death wobble" seams to only be a problem with the front coil spring (05 & newer) SD trucks. FMC had the same "death wobble" problem on the 70's half ton 4WD trucks with coil spring front suspension. The fix at that time was updated and firmer track bar bushings to eleminate the slop in the track bar. Last i heard FMC was evaluating this fix for the 05 & newer coil sping SD's but since todays FMC engineers where not around back in the 70's this is new ground for them (nothing like reinventing the wheel, so to speak).

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Oct 7, 2007 | 01:21 AM

#39

RACERX7775

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From: WARRINGTON, PA

just to be sure, this DEATH WOBBLE, i never really read what it is, i just heard a ton about the phrase. on my dodge ram 2500, has a 8" lift, when i hit a sudden pothole or sharp bump, the front tires start bouncing uncontrollable until i slow to about 10mph. is this the same symptom as the sd trucks? i have tried new wheels/tires, new shocks, and even had skyjacker warranty me a new set of 8" front coil springs, and it still hasn't fixed it. i only have a single front stabalizer on it. am i right that this is the DEATH WOBBLE?

Last edited by RACERX7775; Oct 7, 2007 at 01:25 AM.

Oct 7, 2007 | 04:08 AM

#40

blackhat620

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From: Arizona

Sounds like it. It can be caused by worn out suspension and steering components, or improper Panhard (track bar) length or alignment. Since you installed an 8-Inch lift, you need to install a new Panhard (track bar) relocation mounting bracket to get the steering component geometry correct. I cannot tell from the picture if the kit you installed had a new bracket for the Panhard bar.

Oct 7, 2007 | 11:17 PM

#41

RACERX7775

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From: WARRINGTON, PA

yes, the lift came with the new bracket. in the pic, its the red piece under the sway bar. and as far as worn out suspension, thats not it. i i installed the lift and thats when it started. but thanks though. ah, hell, i better not talk about my dodge anymore. you know how some people get around here..

Oct 7, 2007 | 11:39 PM

#42

blackhat620

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From: Arizona

Quote:

Originally Posted by RACERX7775

Did you do the install or did you take it and have it installed?
The lift compounds steering and suspension geometry problems. Since you say all suspension and steering linkage components are good and the kit came with a Panhard bar relocation bracket. Next thing i would check is steering linkage alignment, ie drop pitman arm may be necessary. Also check the ball joints and wheel bearing for play and make sure every nut and bolt is tight. Another thing that will make the problem worse is the front end alignment, take your truck to an alignment shop that is experienced with aligning lifted trucks, to much caster can make the problem worse.

Oct 8, 2007 | 02:27 AM

#43

RACERX7775

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From: WARRINGTON, PA

i had to buy the pitman arm seperately. i wonder if i have the wrong one. and when i wheel the truck, i am sure that the allignment is off. ball joints were new when i lifted. thanks. i will try that soon.

Oct 8, 2007 | 02:37 AM

#44

blackhat620

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From: Arizona

Quote:

Originally Posted by RACERX7775

Check with the four wheel drive shops in your area and ask who they like to use for aligning lifted trucks. A good alignment shop that has experience with lifted trucks will be able to help you diagnose bad steering linkage geometry and get the alignment set properly to eliminate bump steer. I was reading the Skyjacker website and for your truck and lift the track bar bracket is supposed to be adjustable and contains and Eccentric Alignement bushing to fine tune the track bar angle, this is definitely something a good alignment shop familiar with lifted trucks could help you with. Improper track bar alignment will lead to bumpstear.

On another note is see you have stacked lift blocks on the rear axle, i would recommend purchasing a one piece lift block of the correct height (skyjacker has them to 4.5 inches) and replace the stacked blocks. Stacked blocks are a definite no go situation they can easily seperate and fail do to torque loads causing serious problems.

Last edited by blackhat620; Oct 8, 2007 at 03:07 AM.

Oct 8, 2007 | 09:26 AM

#45

RACERX7775

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From: WARRINGTON, PA

thanks, i think ill make an appointment at a shop that is about 30 minutes from me. most of the car dealers around here use him and they say that they are the best. and as for the rear lift blocks, i actually think i am going to keep them the way they are. they have been on there for several years and i have beaten the crap out of the truck. i had a set of custom ubolts made and they are 5/8" diameter. they haven't gone anywhere yet. i am probably not going to do anything rougher than what i have done already. and if burnouts on pavement haven't broke anything yet, i think i'm alright. and thats even with the 5.13 gears and detroit lockers. thanks again.