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Steering stabilizer discussion?

rivermobster

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So I NEED to replace the steering stabilizers on my my truck. They are toast!!!

I was going to run Bilstien's, but that chatter on the intewebs indicates they ARE GAS CHARGED. Their own Safety Data Sheets indicate they are gas charged as well.

Could this possibly make a one ton truck pull or drift to one side?? 🤷‍♂️

I have dual stabilizers, so i COULD run them in opposite directions I suppose?

What's everyone's experience with this???

Thanks in advance.
 

HCP3

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Fox makes through shaft stabilizers.
 

ChrisV

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Just replace with the same brand that’s on there. This is overthinking…
 

endobear

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I run the Icon on my 02. Pretty sure that it's just a rebranded Bilstein.
Icon used to be Donahoe Racing. When I originally installed the DR stabilizer (20 years ago) it came with a Bilstein dampner.
17354192601346034285887873644019.jpg
 

lbhsbz

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So I NEED to replace the steering stabilizers on my my truck. They are toast!!!

I was going to run Bilstien's, but that chatter on the intewebs indicates they ARE GAS CHARGED. Their own Safety Data Sheets indicate they are gas charged as well.

Could this possibly make a one ton truck pull or drift to one side?? 🤷‍♂️

I have dual stabilizers, so i COULD run them in opposite directions I suppose?

What's everyone's experience with this???

Thanks in advance.
I went through this....and had the same thoughts....but there was no change.

I still felt dirty installing a Fox stabilizer in my jeep, but I did it and and worked fine. Rancho, or whatever the cheap shit is works just as good. If you align it right, you don't need one in the first place.
 

bonesfab

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Quit fucking around and do the ram assist on it. The best money you will spend steering wise on a lifted truck with big tires. Takes the load off the frame at the steering box and it is a active hydraulic steering stabilizer.
 

rivermobster

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Quit fucking around and do the ram assist on it. The best money you will spend steering wise on a lifted truck with big tires. Takes the load off the frame at the steering box and it is a active hydraulic steering stabilizer.

No clue what this is. Fill me in??
 

oldman

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Quit fucking around and do the ram assist on it. The best money you will spend steering wise on a lifted truck with big tires. Takes the load off the frame at the steering box and it is a active hydraulic steering stabilizer.
THIS..

3rd gen 4runner Sassed, Heim steering throughout. w/ Hydro assist, 37's on beadlocks. 80 mph and can steer with 2 fingers.

Good geometry and tight front end components can do wonders, hydro assist was the best stabilizer I've ever done

also Hydro assist is a huge jump in money from a $100 stabilizer
 

rivermobster

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Is this what you guys are talking about??

 

bonesfab

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Is this what you guys are talking about??

Pretty much. I have always done my own kits. I might have a ported box from Lee laying around.
 

oldman

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Is this what you guys are talking about??

There are other ways of doing it, but more or less, yes.
 

oldman

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Serious question,
what problems are you having?
If your having problems the stabilizer is probably not the problem, worn out front end parts are the problem.

I would look at spending money on a front end refresh before a hydro kit.
 

rivermobster

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Serious question,
what problems are you having?
If your having problems the stabilizer is probably not the problem, worn out front end parts are the problem.

I would look at spending money on a front end refresh before a hydro kit.

Other than my current stabilizers have leaked fluid all over my driveway?? Not much! lol

I do need to replace a couple of tie rod ends, but that's not a big deal at all. They are just starting to show some play.
 

oldman

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Other than my current stabilizers have leaked fluid all over my driveway?? Not much! lol

I do need to replace a couple of tie rod ends, but that's not a big deal at all. They are just starting to show some play.
How many miles on the truck?
My thought would be work on getting all the factory parts back to zero miles, the stabilizers you have worked before they wore out. figure out what the specs are on those and go back to them. but if the rig has 100k or so a steering rebuild would not be out of line. and falls in that 2k hydro kit price range.
 

rivermobster

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How many miles on the truck?
My thought would be work on getting all the factory parts back to zero miles, the stabilizers you have worked before they wore out. figure out what the specs are on those and go back to them. but if the rig has 100k or so a steering rebuild would not be out of line. and falls in that 2k hydro kit price range.

A little over 163k. I just replaced the gear box, laying in the dirt in Mammoth this summer! lol Ball joints were done around 100k or so.

You guys are trying to turn a two hundred dollar project, into a three or four thousand dollar project!!! 🤣

But you definitely have my interest, as this thing has Always been a bitch to steer with the truck not moving at all, so that's what has caught my interest in one of these steering ram kits. Jim knows my truck. I'm looking forward to talking to him about it. 👍
 

4Waters

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A little over 163k. I just replaced the gear box, laying in the dirt in Mammoth this summer! lol Ball joints were done around 100k or so.

You guys are trying to turn a two hundred dollar project, into a three or four thousand dollar project!!! 🤣

But you definitely have my interest, as this thing has Always been a bitch to steer with the truck not moving at all, so that's what has caught my interest in one of these steering ram kits. Jim knows my truck. I'm looking forward to talking to him about it. 👍
Well if there is anyone that knows how to spend someone else's money it's Jim🤣
 

oldman

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A little over 163k. I just replaced the gear box, laying in the dirt in Mammoth this summer! lol Ball joints were done around 100k or so.

You guys are trying to turn a two hundred dollar project, into a three or four thousand dollar project!!! 🤣

But you definitely have my interest, as this thing has Always been a bitch to steer with the truck not moving at all, so that's what has caught my interest in one of these steering ram kits. Jim knows my truck. I'm looking forward to talking to him about it. 👍
lol, I'm trying to get info. And everything I've said has been work back to stock. I don't want to spend your money . 🤣

If you know anything about guys with Toyotas we do a lot of garage DIY stuff, not a big list of brand name week end throw a 10k lift kit kinda stuff.

If you liked the truck before I would work on getting it back to that, once you have it at that point then start with upgrades.
 

bonesfab

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A little over 163k. I just replaced the gear box, laying in the dirt in Mammoth this summer! lol Ball joints were done around 100k or so.

You guys are trying to turn a two hundred dollar project, into a three or four thousand dollar project!!! 🤣

But you definitely have my interest, as this thing has Always been a bitch to steer with the truck not moving at all, so that's what has caught my interest in one of these steering ram kits. Jim knows my truck. I'm looking forward to talking to him about it. 👍
It won’t cure idle steering but on the road steering you can’t beat it. I have it on my k30 with 37’s and my k5 with 40’s. Both trucks drive like a dream at 80mph. Even on fucked up California roads. I let the girl in the body shop drive my k5 to shows and she does just fine. Have done more than a few for customers.
 

rivermobster

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It won’t cure idle steering but on the road steering you can’t beat it. I have it on my k30 with 37’s and my k5 with 40’s. Both trucks drive like a dream at 80mph. Even on fucked up California roads. I let the girl in the body shop drive my k5 to shows and she does just fine. Have done more than a few for customers.

My truck rolls down the highway, with or without my toy hauler, at 80mph all day as it sits. It's never had a problem doing that.

I'm just trying to fix a small oil leak! 🤣

If this won't fix the idle steering issue, I'm not spending any money on it.

Thanks mang. 👍🏼
 

petie6464

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Steering stabilizers.. For the guy that wants to show his clueless friends he's also clueless with worthless bolt on items..🪰

That being said I would just go with Fox or whichever one is the most expensive, probably the ultimate Gay set up dual stabilizers so you get the biggest cheer response from your friends. 😄
 

rivermobster

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So they are Definitely gas charged and definitely definitely self extended, when compressed by hand.

They are fairly easy to compress by hand, as opposed to Some shocks that are almost impossible to compress by hand, and although they do extend Slowly, there is absolutely some pressure there.

Would this cause a normal vehicle drift, in the direction the stabilizer is pushing?

I don't really know. Talk on the Internet says yes.

Maybe I'll mount the both to push left, to compensate for the road crown?

All I know for sure is...

I'll be happy when the leaking ones are in the trash!

20250104_130933.jpg
 

Angler

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So I NEED to replace the steering stabilizers on my my truck. They are toast!!!

I was going to run Bilstien's, but that chatter on the intewebs indicates they ARE GAS CHARGED. Their own Safety Data Sheets indicate they are gas charged as well.

Could this possibly make a one ton truck pull or drift to one side?? 🤷‍♂️

I have dual stabilizers, so i COULD run them in opposite directions I suppose?

What's everyone's experience with this???

Thanks in advance.
Have you replaced the stock steering box?

 

rivermobster

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Have you replaced the stock steering box?


Yes, but with a rebuilt stock one.

I've asked a few shops about the Red Head unit, and all of em said the same thing...

Absolutely not worth the money.

The original stock one lasted for 26 years. This current one, will most likely outlast me. 😜
 

ChumpChange

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I run the Icon on my 02. Pretty sure that it's just a rebranded Bilstein.
Icon used to be Donahoe Racing. When I originally installed the DR stabilizer (20 years ago) it came with a Bilstein dampner. View attachment 1464198
Icon manufactures their own stuff in Riverside. Been there many times.
 

Ziggy

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Makes sense. I have 37's on mine with a ten or twelve inch lift.

It's to the point of being ridiculous now.

😜
You're a grownup now, you don't need to try impressing anyone with your 10" lift & 37s.😂😎
My Y2K f350psd wears 34s and front leveling leaf springs.....and a bent stock stabilizer shock that likely Ieaked out 20 yrs ago.
I've never done an alignment, doesn't tug left or right and tracks straight.
 

rivermobster

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You're a grownup now, you don't need to try impressing anyone with your 10" lift & 37s.😂😎
My Y2K f350psd wears 34s and front leveling leaf springs.....and a bent stock stabilizer shock that likely Ieaked out 20 yrs ago.
I've never done an alignment, doesn't tug left or right and tracks straight.

💯👍🏼
 
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