2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Help w/ steering stabilizer change....

[Rogue Ram]

Bought the Rancho 5000 steering stabilizer (5404)... ... it came with three plastic bags of parts: one contained the steel sleeves that go inside the eyes on the shock; the other two contained new bolts and nuts... . one of the bolts is tapered, the other isn't, and is set up for a cotter pin... my rig is a 99 4x4 , and I see no cotter pins on the OEM set up.



Am I supposed to change out the OEM bolts and nuts and go to a cotter pin set up???? Can I just reuse the OEM hardware? I neglected to look in the box when I bought it, and of course, Rancho did not put ANY instructions with it and there are none on their website.



Any help is appreciated, don't want to get into this and have it not work so haven't touched anything yet.



Regards,



Rogue

 

[AggieJustin]

You can reuse the OEM bolts when putting the new stabilizer on. Rancho includes the other hardware so that the shock can be mounted on other applications that use cotter keys and tapered pins.



Putting the new stabilizer on a '99 is a fairly straightforward R&R job.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Stabalizer

Sounds like the hardware is for a 2wd truck. On 2wd truck the end that goes to the steering linkage has a tapered bolt in it. The other end has a bolt that goes through a bracket, the damper then another bracket with nut. On 4X4 truck, both ends fit into bracket with bolts through them. The manual neither shows or mentions cotter pins on 4X4. bg

 

[PLaFrombois]

Is that Rancho #5404 listed for the Dodge? I've talked to a couple of places that sell Rancho and they said there wasn't anything listed for that model. Will using that model # change anything regarding the offset and front end? I have a bad stabilzer and am looking for something to replace. Paul

 

[rnolen]

i went to change out my steering stabilizer on my 97 and could not get the old one out. I ordered a monroe and it came with nothing. I am going to use the old hardware on mine, as soon as I get it out. Let me know if you are able to get it out and how. Some people said to just pound on it and it will come out, but I worked and worked and not success.

Thanks

RUss

 

[Rogue Ram]

I was guessing they threw in all the hardware to fit whatever Dodges the unit is designed for. The Rancho application guide on the 'net shows nothing past 1998... . the fourwheel drive shop I bought this from showed it fit my rig, however. And, previous threads show guys using this part number for trucks like mine... ... ... I will call Rancho in the morning to confirm the situation.



Russ & Paul: I will post back what they say and how installation goes. I anticipate installing it on Tuesday night..... there are numerous threads on this subject, but until "I" actually get in there, I can't relate to all of it just yet. I'll let you know.



Thanks all,



Rogue

 

[rnolen]

I will stand by and wait. I am going to try mine next weekend again.

Thanks

russ

 

[illflem]

pounding doesn't always get it

A pitman arm puller is almost essential to remove the tapered bolt.

 

[krs]

A pitman arm puller is good, and heating with a propane torch helps a lot too. That tapered thing gets harder to remove as the truck ages.

 

[Rogue Ram]

Illflem,



Hate to be ignorant on this one... ... but visualizing the tapered bolt, how would the puller get it out? Would you have to get just enough of the head of the bolt out for the puller to slip behind it? Guess I am visualizing gear pullers... ... ..... ??



Rogue

 

[illflem]

The pitman puller has fixed jaws that slip behind the stabilizer and push the bolt out from the nut end. They are designed so that after you torque down on the puller you can wail on the puller bolt with a hammer. A regular puller's jaws would slip off.



Leaving the tapered bolt's nut on loosely will keep the puller bolt from slipping off and centered. The nut may also help make the tapered bolt reusable but don't count on it. These stabilizer bolts can be a real bear, a job that looks like 10 minutes can easily turn into an hour. Heat helps. When the bolt finally breaks loose it can sound like a gun shot, wear safety glasses!



Pitman arm puller



#ad

 

[Rogue Ram]

OK, now I see how it works. On my rig, both bolts, the one towards the passenger side, and the one in the middle, both look to be the same. Is one or both supposedly tapered on a 99?? As I first posted the supplied hardware doesn't look a lot like what the OEM stuff does. Didn't get to call Rancho today, but will call tomorrow, maybe they can fax me something just to clear it all up. I'll borrow a puller tomorrow also... ..... this should be entertaining!

 

[big barney]

My 1999 was a piece of cake. I just reused the existing bolts. No pittman arm puller is needed. The only problem I had was the metal sleeves. I had to take one out of the old stabilizer and stick it in the 5404. Other than that it can't get any easier.



Goodluck

Curt

 

[Rogue Ram]

IT DOESN'T WORK........

according to Rancho!!! Gave them the specs on the truck, and the rep told me the on-line catalog is right: they don't make a steering stabilizer that is "supposed" to gone any 3/4 4x4 Ram, 99 and on up! He said that explained the reason the bolts didn't look right.



IMHO, that's not to say you can't "make it fit" because it appears you can..... but I don't know what's diff between a 98 and a 99.



In any case, call me a chicken, but the 5404 is going back, and I ordered up the Heckethorn through Rough Country that's made to go on here.



If the Heckethorn gets here by Saturday, I'll post back on getting it put on.



Sighhhhhh



Rogue

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by rnolen

i went to change out my steering stabilizer on my 97 and could not get the old one out. I ordered a monroe and it came with nothing. I am going to use the old hardware on mine, as soon as I get it out. Let me know if you are able to get it out and how. Some people said to just pound on it and it will come out, but I worked and worked and not success.

Thanks

RUss

I replaced mine with the Monroe using the old hardware. I had to use both a torch and a puller to get the tapered bolt out.

 

[krs]

Rogue Ram,



Both of ours are the Heckethorn because it is the only single strut version I found. The included hardware is different than OEM and may be configured to fit the one or two years that don't have the tapered bolt, but it does have a bolt and tapered bushing that works fine. You'll get a yellow boot on a white shock.

 

[Rogue Ram]

Thanks Kshine... . one question, which end has the evil tapered bolt? The passenger side, or the bolt in the middle? I was thinking that both would be changed out, but guess not... . ???



R

 

[PLaFrombois]

Rogue

What was the model # for your stabilizer? I've checked and all I could find was for a '99 1/2 ton, even when they had it listed under 3/4 ton.

Thanks Paul

 

[wmorden]

Dumb question...

Other than obvious leakage, how do you tell the stabilizer is bad and needs to be changed? Can you feel it in the steering somehow?

 

[illflem]

A defective steering stabilizer will cause wheel shimmy. Leaking oil is one way to check another is to remove one end, the easy one without the tapered bolt, then compress and extend the cylinder, it should be smooth with no jerks with the same amount of force required for the entire stoke in both directions.