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anyone ever install a steering stabilizer on their solid axle truck. I installed a power steering kit on my 52 3/4 ton with stock (well 1/2 ton axle) and was thinking a stabilizer might be a nice upgrade. If you did, where did you get it or what did you use if you had to make it.

I was also thinking of adding a CPP front sway bar.

thanks

check out a Volkswagen steering dampner,it might be exactly what you need

yeah if its the images I get when I go to google images, thats what Im thinking of. At the local auto yard I see alot of trucks and suv's with them.

I added one to my 54 truck.. had to modify the NAPA Universal mount bracket but it works fine. If you're running wider tires and especially radials, it saves a lot of wear and tear on the steering box. Just used a piece of angle iron to make the bracket to mount the one end to the straight axle. Have some pics in my album.

Dave

Moog part #SSD12, 1950-1959 w/beam axle.

sweet, I don't know why I was thinking one end would mount to the frame rail and the other (as it does) to the steering cross link (whats the technical term?). Didn't realize it would mount to the axle its self, I guess that would make more sense (I blame it on the head cold). ()()()()()

They work good with power steering but I tried one on my 58 with manual steering & didn't like it. It was almost scary. Its called a steering stabilizer. Maybe the VW one would not be as firm & work better. I have the sway bar kit & it is great.

To my way of thinking steering stabilizers are a cover up for a more serious problem. Usually some kind of a shimmy,in the frontend. And yeah the wider the tires the more shimmy you are gonna get.If your truck steers good and does not shimmy ,I wouldnt bother with a stabilizer.Just my opinion.

If you're expecting a steering stabilizer to cure a sloppy front suspension you're going to be disappointed. However, if you have a good tight system, the stabilizer will help to absorb road shocks that will eventually result in a sloppy steering box. Add to that oversized tires that increase the mass, and a stabilizer will dramatically extend the life of your steering/suspension.

To me it's pretty cheap insurance.

Dave

I haven't got the truck on the road yet but was figuring it would be a good thing to add. I installed a cpp power steering kit and will be installing a sway bar soon too. Was thinking it would be a good mod to do from the beginning.

here is mine installed on my 57.

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/...00/?action=view&current=DSC01436.jpg

i got mine from classic parts.

http://www.classicparts.com/1947-59-Steering-Stabilizer-Kit/productinfo/76-991/

leonard

cool thanks

it will be on my list of mods to do

just got my power steering kit installed
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/rockfan1815/power%20steering/100_0613.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/rockfan1815/power%20steering/100_0614.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/rockfan1815/power%20steering/100_0615.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/rockfan1815/power%20steering/100_0617.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/rockfan1815/power%20steering/100_0618.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/rockfan1815/power%20steering/100_0627.jpg

I need to finish welding in a patch panel where the stock box went through the inner fender and then paint it. Im wheel less in the front until I get the money up for a set of Cragar SS wheels. The rest of the disc brake kit is going to go on when I get the wheels. Don't want the rotors rusting.

can't test it until I install the alternator. Waiting on the bracket to get here. I have to adjust the main belt (crank, water pump, p/s pump) and then the alternator mount which runs off of the 2nd groove on the p/s pump pulley.

i just installed one on my 65 stepside and took alot of the bump steer out> it makes it a little nicer to drive on bumpy country roads>

how convinent that this thread is going now. I just got my 49 back on the road. I also did one of the those cpp style power steering convertions. I orginally planned on setting up cross steer type geo. to stop the bump steer inherit in the short stock drag link but it ended up being more involved then I had time for. The cpp drag link is also super short and as expected, the bump steer is still nasty. I am going to try to remedy it myself with a damper.

Good luck, but a stabilizer won't change incorrect geometry. Bump steer is caused by the wrong length and/or angle of the drag link, so all a stabilizer will do is resist the steering linkage movement, not keep it from happening. Better increase your life insurance coverage while you're at it!
Jerry

drummin52, is you power steering pump from a supplier, or is it out of a newer truck ?

thanks.

leonard

Sorry I forgot about this thread


the power steering pump is out of a 80's dodge full size pickup

hey chris
nows the perfect time to change those old style ball joynts to modern ones
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/draglink_adjustable.html

don't forget to weld those two 7/8'' nuts at the ends

http://www.classicparts.com/1947-59-Tie-Rod-Ends-1_2-Ton-pair/productinfo/76-005/

anyone know what production vehicle these would be from, if they are just a production vehicle item. Probably would be cheaper just getting them locally.

thanks for the tip Jim


now what is all involved in changing these out? I imagine they just don't bolt in once removing the old ball stud.

I am wondering if anyone can comment on the Skyjacker 7100 Steering Stabilizer? It seems the various vendors here are using the Monroe RS97345, but this one is about $20 less..... http://www.skyjacker.com/product.php?ProdID=14994

Hey 57 vroom

Co-incidentally I just ordered the "Rough Country" stabilizer for my 51 panel.
Part # 87365.
I'll install it this week and report back, but looks like the SkyJacker piece is very
similar.
Since I put huge 265 75R-16s on the new disc brake kit w/ power steering
(new 1 inch tie rod & modern tie rod ends, too)
I felt it needed a bit of "disipline" down there.
mike

Hey Squire,

Thanks for the reply, and looking forward to hearing how the install goes and what you like/ don't like about it. I am assuming there is not a lot of difference to the axles between your '51 and my '57 considering these are universal kits from what I can tell.

Should get it on today if it doesn't get to be 105 in the Garage again!!

Everything is new and modified "down there" so, hoping I can get the rig dialed in
close enough to get it to my mecahnic buddy with a front end machine and get the
stuff centered and the toe in set correctly....

more later
m

@ Squire,

Just wondering if you managed to beat the heat and get that installed yet? Would love to see some pictures and your take on what went well, should be different, etc.

Hey Vroom,

Installed the Rough Country unit yesterday and was able to take it for a short low speed ride.
First, the kit came with two different sized square "U" bolts to attach the axle side bracket. They are grade 8 material but were not threaded far enough for the bolts to secure the bracket, so I had to shim it out about 3/4" with some stock I had laying around. A message to Rough Country about supplying the correct length for a Chevy went ignored.....
Anyway, I installed it with no issues.
Keep in mind my truck is freshly restored and modified with a CPP power steering conversion, tie rod, and tie rod ends; and CPP power disc conversion
on the spindles. I have only "eyeballed the toe-in and
preliminary steering box adjustment.
On the short ride I noticed a bit more comforting "feedback" from the road, than without the stabilizer.
The CPP kit yields a LOT of power assist and is effortless to steer. It still wandered slightly at time, but I am attributing that to lack of alignment and more precise steering box adjustment. I'll try to take some pics and post here.

mike

I've run the Rough Country unit now for ten years. The sales agent said that the unit was invented by a WWII Army serviceman that wanted to "domesticate" the many WWII Jeeps coming back into civilian use.

I do agree that king pins, tie rods and their articulating ends, steering box, should all be in good condition. With radial tires now with 60K miles in a daily driver I can honestly say it was one of the best and cheapest improvements I have made to my '49 1/2 ton.

@ Squire...

Any chance to post or send a few pics of the installation? Thanks!

Here you go, Vroom

pretty straight forward. You'll see I used an old
spring shackle to shim out the square u bolt that attaches the bracket to the axle.

Mike
http://gallery.me.com/squire001#100101

UPDATE

I found out I had toed-in the front wheels a bit too much. Corrected that and the whole set up works great.
nice and smooth and virtually no "wandering" of the steering.

mike