The Ford Barn

imacrazy · 01-27-2017, 05:04 PM

Does the steering stabilizer help in some way in keeping the car from wandering?
I do know that radial tires will help in this situation. I guess what I am asking,Is the stabilizer worth the money?

Bill

JDupuis · 01-27-2017, 05:13 PM

Bill, the stabilzer, is mostly added to cars to prevent shimmy. Radial tires "grip" the road better. A wandering front end is usually a sign of wear, or not correct alignment. You might just need to adjust the toe-in. Hope this helps. Jeff

Mitch//pa · 01-27-2017, 05:22 PM

Do a search steering stabilizer....
Its a band aide fix for a shimmy..
If u have wander check your entire frt end completly incld the sector to drag link connection, steering box etc
Air ur tires to spec.. set the toe

Tom Wesenberg · 01-27-2017, 07:31 PM

I'm thinking the original purpose of a steering stabilizer was to keep the shocks of hitting a pothole or rock on off road vehicles from traveling up to the steering wheel. My 71 Scout has a steering stabilizer shock for this purpose, but it didn't stop my front wheels on the same vehicle from going into a wild shimmy while driving on a smooth road.

As Mitch said, at best it would be a band aid fix. I'd put my money toward fixing the problem, rather than trying to cover it up.

Jacksonlll · 01-27-2017, 08:38 PM

It is a band aid. Tighten up everything and make damn sure your toe_in is correct.

Y-Blockhead · 01-28-2017, 12:41 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I'm thinking the original purpose of a steering stabilizer was to keep the shocks of hitting a pothole or rock on off road vehicles from traveling up to the steering wheel. My 71 Scout has a steering stabilizer shock for this purpose, but it didn't stop my front wheels on the same vehicle from going into a wild shimmy while driving on a smooth road.

VW bugs with trailing arm front suspension had steering damper also. I'm sure other cars had them from the factory also.

JonC · 01-28-2017, 07:59 AM

I believe their use is to control wheel shudder when you hit something like a pot hole. A lot of people will put them on to solve a problem, they would be better to cure the issue instead.

Fred K-OR · 01-28-2017, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imacrazy

Does the steering stabilizer help in some way in keeping the car from wandering?
I do know that radial tires will help in this situation. I guess what I am asking,Is the stabilizer worth the money?

Bill

I agree that the cure mentioned above is better but I do use them on both my rigs and they seem to help some to make it easer to stay on roads with rutty surfaces.

H. L. Chauvin · 01-28-2017, 02:09 PM

Hi Ima,

All good replies on effects of loose front end assemblies ..... and per your tire comment,

"I do know that radial tires will help in this situation."

Many vintage car Forums are loaded with remarks on how steering was also immensely improved after any type of "new" tires were installed to replace the sometimes 40+ year old hard rubber tires that were not capable of flexing and caused wandering.

01-27-2017, 05:04 PM	#1
imacrazy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 163	Steering Stabilizer Does the steering stabilizer help in some way in keeping the car from wandering? I do know that radial tires will help in this situation. I guess what I am asking,Is the stabilizer worth the money? Bill

01-27-2017, 05:13 PM	#2
JDupuis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Maryhill Ont Canada Posts: 834	Re: Steering Stabilizer Bill, the stabilzer, is mostly added to cars to prevent shimmy. Radial tires "grip" the road better. A wandering front end is usually a sign of wear, or not correct alignment. You might just need to adjust the toe-in. Hope this helps. Jeff __________________ Let's let pylons, be pylons!

01-27-2017, 05:22 PM	#3
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Steering Stabilizer Do a search steering stabilizer.... Its a band aide fix for a shimmy.. If u have wander check your entire frt end completly incld the sector to drag link connection, steering box etc Air ur tires to spec.. set the toe

01-27-2017, 07:31 PM	#4
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Steering Stabilizer I'm thinking the original purpose of a steering stabilizer was to keep the shocks of hitting a pothole or rock on off road vehicles from traveling up to the steering wheel. My 71 Scout has a steering stabilizer shock for this purpose, but it didn't stop my front wheels on the same vehicle from going into a wild shimmy while driving on a smooth road. As Mitch said, at best it would be a band aid fix. I'd put my money toward fixing the problem, rather than trying to cover it up.

01-27-2017, 08:38 PM	#5
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Steering Stabilizer It is a band aid. Tighten up everything and make damn sure your toe_in is correct.

01-28-2017, 07:59 AM	#7
JonC Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Central NY Posts: 629	Re: Steering Stabilizer I believe their use is to control wheel shudder when you hit something like a pot hole. A lot of people will put them on to solve a problem, they would be better to cure the issue instead.

01-28-2017, 02:09 PM	#9
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: Steering Stabilizer Hi Ima, All good replies on effects of loose front end assemblies ..... and per your tire comment, "I do know that radial tires will help in this situation." Many vintage car Forums are loaded with remarks on how steering was also immensely improved after any type of "new" tires were installed to replace the sometimes 40+ year old hard rubber tires that were not capable of flexing and caused wandering.