i own a 1995 f150 4x4 shortbox . it wants to wander all over the road i took it to a front end shop and had it checked out but they said it is ok . they told me i should install a steering stablizer on it . has anybody out there tried one of these on there truck and had any improvement with there steering ?

 

There has to be a reason your truck is wandering all over the
road. I would get a second inspection at another alignment
shop. I have a rancho rs5000 steering stabilizer on my
79 ranger lariat 4x4. It seems to help.

Glenn

 

I have dual-steering stabilizer shocks on my 1986 F-150 and the truck doesn't wander a bit. I would also get it lined up somewhere else because the camber on your front wheels can make the truck wander really bad.

 

Just about the only off-road/suspension experience I have had is from reading magazines, so I'm not an expert. However, just about ever last truck I have ever read about has had steering stabilizers, I guess they have to do some good.

Logan

 

that's true, huh? I even remember reading in one of those mags how "steering stabilizers were just a cover up" and "nothing is the substitute for a good alignment" then in that same mag there are feature trucks with them on. I don't hear them talkin trash when their cover truck has Two stabilizers, and any other truck (and not even the super-huge testosterone-mobiles , mind you) with a pictorial has one too. They even TAKE NOTICE OF THEM. Bunch a hypocrits...

1989 F-150 : 5.0, shorty headers, Flowmaster cat-back, K&N filtercharger intake, March pulleys, "Multi-brand" performance ignition, soon to be Mass-Air...doesn't know she's not a Mustang

 

I have the exact same truck. I installed a rancho 5000 stabilizer, and it helped a bit, more noticable off road though.
At the moment, it pulls really hard to the right, but I need control arm bushings, which will come soon, along with Eibach 1.5 inch lift springs.

 

True, steering stabilizers are not a cure, however they do have there place, that being to absorb shock to the steering system and keep the wheel under control and in your hands and all fingers and both thumbs on them too. In doing this, they will help "slow" the input from the tires to the wheel when the going gets rough, but this also works the other way around, remember that your power steering pump is going to have to deal with this also. Larger tires can use these the most due to the extra leverage and weight of 'em. I would tend to lean towards another alignment shop also, then once it is corrected, if you still feel the need for one by all means go for it. I also think that the SWB suffers from this more than the LWB trucks, but can be overcome sometimes just by trial and error, not what you wanted to hear I'm sure. But, while most will conform to the specs, trucks are like people, each one has it's own personality, you may just have to find out what yours likes in the way of alignment.

 

What sized tires did you read about when you read steering stabilizers were un-necessary? Everything I have read points out that steering stabilizers help steer larger, heavier tires.

Logan

 

check out the posts under 250 death wabble in the off road and 4x4 thread above.