Steering Stabilizer...Will It Help?

[Wingate]

I have an '06 2500 TRX-4. It has stock wheels/tires, suspension. The truck has 22,000 miles and has never been wrecked or abused. But, it seems like ever sice the truck was new, when I'm driving down the road, it feels like the front end won't "settle down" into the road. It seems that i'm ALWAYS putting steering input either left or right, but its constant. There is no slack in the steering components, I had the front end alignment checked, it was perfect, tires look perfect and have been properly rotated, air pressure is correct. I don't have the dreaded death wobble, theres no vibration in the truck ANYWHERE. The only other thought I can come up with would be to alter the factory alignment settings. I wouldn't think this would have to be done due to the fact that its not lifted, and has factory wheels and tires.

I've read the ads for a steering stabilizer in my TDR mag. Geno's sells one by BD, and I've found another one by SSI. Was wondering if anybody has experienced this issue and also if anybody has installed a stabilizer and if it helped.

Any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Coalsmoke]

On my 95 it helped, but I'm not sure about these new trucks. My 08 seems to track just fine.

 

[SierraRam]

If you are stock you should not have that problem. I would check the alignment especially the caster.

 

[Wingate]

The alignment was checked by the Dodge house that I bought the truck from. I wanted to make sure that it was set to factory specs. I was there with the tech. that checked it. Its dead on. I may take it back and see if they can alter the caster angle a little and see if it helps.

The truck is just "twitchy" or "edgy" Granted, I drive a C4500 service truck all the time that has steering slop that could be measured in FEET!!!!. But when I drive my wife's Jeep, I don't have that problem. I talked to another guy I know that has a 3500 DRW 4x4 and he's been complaining of the same issue.

 

[firemansdiesel]

The steering brace will help w/ some wandering and tighten up the feel. Look at PSC for thier brace. I believe it's $169.

 

[Coalsmoke]

Here's a way to find out if the brace will help or not. Going down the road, say 40mph, hold the steering wheel dead still, does the truck dart on its own? If so, the brace might help, but if not then you need to look at other things, like maybe a new steering stabilizer shock, or as mentioned above the caster.

 

[seafish]

Won't a box beam steering brace, like the BD or DSS , help with the longevity of the steering box and other components simply by taking some of the stress off of them, even if it doesn't help with wander??

 

[firemansdiesel]

Won't a box beam steering brace, like the BD or DSS , help with the longevity of the steering box and other components simply by taking some of the stress off of them, even if it doesn't help with wander??

Yes... ... DSS, BD, PSC or Defiant. All will help stock to lifted trucks. Especially trucks w/ larger tires & off road.

 

[Wingate]

Coalsmoke, Yeah, it does EXACTLY that. I can hold the wheel perfectly still and if the truck gets near a low spot in the road, a tiny bump, a small pile of suicidal mosquitoes, the front end... "darts??" Sorry, don't really know how to explain it other than that.

Theres a 4 lane highway out toward my house, that has a slight incline and bend, nothing that you can't take comfortably at 55mph. I can pull the truck close to the inside of my lane and drive thru it, but the truck ends up back and forth from one side of the lane to the other.

After reading these posts, it doesn't sound like I can go wrong by putting one on. If that doesn't fix it, I'll try something else. Thanks to everybody for all the input!

 

[Jefff929]

I was talking with Rip at Source Automotive, he sells the DSS, and he recommends them for all years Dodge trucks.



I have stock suspension, tires, bla bla and it really made a difference on my 2nd gen.

 

[Regcabguy]

An aftermarket shock style stabilizer has got to help also. I'm holding off for Carli's high clearance Bilstein 7100 setup. He's got the lower mount available now too. Thuren's got a gem also.

 

[Coalsmoke]

Wing, then yes, you're definitely on the right track, get a DSS, they are made well.

 

[big61fourby]

I had a very similar problem; seemed like I was always moving the wheel left/right just a bit to keep it going straight. Installed a PSC steering brace a few weeks ago... took out much of the wander. Very good product; highly recommended...

 

[Bob4x4]

Remember also that some tires are more prone to tracking more than others. The steering brace will help protect from damage when sliding into things as well,That was the origional idea behind it's inception. In the snow country you will see many broken gear boxes from the trucks sliding into a snow drift. We see the same thing here in the desert from those rocks that jump out in front of you. I have the Carli high mount steering stabilizer as well as the origional steering brace from SSI,great combo... ... ... ...



Bob