Steering Dampers.

[FOXxX]

Hey ~ I have been looking at dampers for awhile now but have an issue picking them out. I am running into a problem after I installed a 3" lift I have this horrible vibration in my front end when I hit 45 - 55 mph. I still have the original damper on the 94 XJ so I am pretty sure it could be replaced. Are the aftermarket shocks much better than the OEM? Are the more expensive ones better than the not so expensive?

 

[beakie]

taking into account the recent lift, your problem could be "death wobble" silly as it sounds, its a common problem with lifted rigs.

replacing the stabilizer/damper can negate some of the effects, but normally does not resolve the situation (only masks it) if your set on getting a new one just grab whatever is available, I wouldn't worry about cost one way or the other.

now to figure out the "death wobble" vibration problem do a search for that phrase and read some of the threads on the subject.

sometimes its crappy bushings on control arms, mis-aligned trac bar, loose trac bar, loose nuts/bolts in the steering system, old tie rod ends with slop in them, or even a simply alignment can correct the problem.

have a look see at some threads after searching "death wobble" or "steering vibes" and that may help your cause.

 

[alex22]

As beakie said, the steering damper will only mask the problem. When I first bought my jeep it had a little wobble at 55 to 60, when I put the new tires on the wobble went away. The other day I installed a new steering setup and didn't have the clamp for the steering stabilizer to the drag link so I left it off. I got it up to 75 and I had no wobbles at all.

 

[FOXxX]

Ok So look into new bushings and tie rod ends... Sounds logical. I will invest in new ends since they look a bit worn... Thanks forthe advice

 

[beraad44]

since you did just lift it you should go and get a aliment or do it yourself. also did the lift come with a new trackbar? if it didnt then you might want to look into getting a new adjustable one. dont worry about those track bar relocation brackets. most are garbage anyways

 

[FOXxX]

I did have an allignment done after the lift was completed. However it did not come with a new trackbar. Should I get a new bar and have them reallign it again? I was also going to replace all joint connections between the pinion and wheels. Does the track bars come with these connections? And my ignorance is killing me - which on is the track bar? Is that the one that bolts up directly to the frame?

 

[JJacobs]

As beakie said, the steering damper will only mask the problem. When I first bought my jeep it had a little wobble at 55 to 60, when I put the new tires on the wobble went away. The other day I installed a new steering setup and didn't have the clamp for the steering stabilizer to the drag link so I left it off. I got it up to 75 and I had no wobbles at all.

SPOBI!!

 

[beakie]

SPOBI!!

what is the bad info your concerned about?

 

[JJacobs]

It's all right there in quotes...

I'm on a personal crusade to eliminate 'steering damper is a bandaid' from this forum. The trouble is there are too many parrots on the internet.

 

[alex22]

I do plan on putting the damper back on to keep the wheel from being jerked around in my hands too much while driving on a bumpy road or offroad.

 

[Starboard M]

It's all right there in quotes...

I'm on a personal crusade to eliminate 'steering damper is a bandaid' from this forum. The trouble is there are too many parrots on the internet.

Why do you disagree with it? I think it masks things, but acts as a bandaid, eh, kinda sorta.

 

[beakie]

It's all right there in quotes...

I'm on a personal crusade to eliminate 'steering damper is a bandaid' from this forum. The trouble is there are too many parrots on the internet.

so your on a crusade for what reason then?

When I had stock steering on my rig I drove with an old steering stabilizer, then with a new one, it made no difference in handling at all. Any wobble, was there before and after.
No with parallel links I have no steering stabilizer, no bumpsteer, no wobble.

If there is a problem with steering angles, bad bushings, poor alignment, or any of the possible causes of 'death wobble' what effect would a new steering 'dampner' have other than possible hiding the fact there is still a problem?

EDIT: Just saw your post in the 2-3 year old "Cause of DW Thread"
Seems you have your mind made up, but for those who want to CURE the problem... well I don't see how "damping" the problem gets rid of it.

 

[JJacobs]

I guess rephrasing it to 'steering dampers can be a bandaid' seems a lot more accurate to me. Can this forum do polls? I'd be curious how many people with over the knuckle steering need to have a damper on to make their Jeeps ride nice, whether inverted y or t. OTK steering seems to make a big difference in eradicating wobble.

With stock steering, more often than not it's asking for trouble to leave a damper off or run a worn out one. Maybe you'll be lucky, maybe not. I'm certainly not saying the first action when encountering wobble is to throw a new damper on, but to assume they're irrelevant can be costly.

 

[Starboard M]

I guess rephrasing it to 'steering dampers can be a bandaid' seems a lot more accurate to me. Can this forum do polls? I'd be curious how many people with over the knuckle steering need to have a damper on to make their Jeeps ride nice, whether inverted y or t. OTK steering seems to make a big difference in eradicating wobble.

With stock steering, more often than not it's asking for trouble to leave a damper off or run a worn out one. Maybe you'll be lucky, maybe not. I'm certainly not saying the first action when encountering wobble is to throw a new damper on, but to assume they're irrelevant can be costly.

I used to have inverted T OTK steering on my Jeep with no steering stablizer. I had minor bump steer, but it drove fine all the way up to 70 mph with no problems.

I also had stock steering at one point with no steering stabilizer and it drove fine as well. I also busted the internals of a stock TRE and got massive death wobble at anything over 40mph, even with a realitivly new SS. Obviously the TRE was messed up, but the SS didnt do anything to help solve that problem. Did it help dampen some of it? Maybe.



A SS is put on a car/Jeep/truck/etc for other reasons other then masking deathwobble. It does do that, but why put something on that only masks the problem rather then fix it by finding the cause of the problem rather then putting something on that temporarily hides the problem.

 

[POLAR_JEEP_04]

I'm agreeing with breakie.

what does your lift consist of? if you are running the stock track bar I would suggest upgrading. that has been my fix for wobble after a new lift 3 out of 3 jeeps so far. on a side note i would advise staying away from Rusty's offroad track bars look into rubicon express or trek/tnt customs.