DO I NEED A STEERING STABILIZER?

[Deleted User 38384]

I'm kicking around the idea of removing the steering stabilizer, if only just because I can...

I've looked into it quite a bit over the last week, I'm not really seeing any reasons why I shouldn't do this...

Give me some reasons why this is a bad idea?

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[Mocopo]

I destroyed my steering stabilizer on some rocks. The jeep drove like crap because the internal valving was destroyed. I removed the stabilizer and it drove way better. I contemplated not putting another one back on at all since it seemed to drive just fine, even if a little "loose" on the steering.
A week later I got in a Fox stabilizer. Installed it, and instantly decided that having a stabilizer is the way to go. It's not that the jeep drives terrible without one. It just drives so much better WITH one.

Edit: also, bump steer. Having a stabilizer is likely "safer" because it will reduce bump steer on and off road.

 

[Reinen]

It's a bad idea because rocks/terrain can force your front tires to turn quickly. Without a steering stabilizer this force will go straight into violently spinning the steering wheel. Any fingers inside the wheel when this happens can get whacked and bent in ways you don't want. I broke a bone in my hand this way in a YJ. The JL steering wheel is safer in this regard, but it can still do bad things.

A steering stabilizer will resist this force and will keep the steering wheel from suddenly and violently spinning into fingers & thumbs.

It does take a rather particular set of circumstances for this to happen, but once it does you'll understand why a steering stabilizer is important.

 

[John VonJeep]

Ditch the steering stabilizer, the sway bar, and both track bars and report back.

 

[Aussicon]

Take all your shocks off too. It will flex like a champion.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Interesting. Yeah I had an accident in my old Toyota Camry on the highway, turned it into the x games. Did a couple spins, steering wheel kept getting away from me. I realized the next day how much my thumb was hurting. After that did a little research, and never put my thumb inside the steering wheel again. Always on the outside. I actually have a dead man's knob on my steering wheel so that I can take sharp turns quickly without having to put my fingers inside the steering wheel to get better grip. That being said, the steering wheel getting away from me definitely would be a problem.

In the JL, last two times I've gone off-roading, the steering wheel does get away from me a little bit when I'm climbing up rocks. Not a lot mind you, but I do feel like without the steering stabilizer this would be much worse.

@John VonJeep I already completely removed my sway bar including the end links. Completely gone, no more, bolts and everything, just an empty space where my sway bar was.

I do have some level of concern that with the reaction no steering stabilizer would add to the steering wheel, and couple that with the body roll I get from no sway bars, it may cause dangerous steering at Highway speeds. I already drift all over the road on Windy days, don't know if I want to add steering issues at 90 miles an hour.

 

[Ratbert]

You know you're in "holy fuck" territory when @Tredsdert utters these words:

I do have some level of concern

 

[Roky]

It’s a bad idea, but I’m not gonna talk you out of it….

 

[Deleted User 38384]

It’s a bad idea, but I’m not gonna talk you out of it….

You know realistically what will probably happen is sometime next year when I purchase a higher quality steering stabilizer, I'll probably put in my order remove my current steering stabilizer and run without it for a week or two until my order arrives. And hey if I like the way it feels, then I'll just not install the steering stabilizer for a while.

 

[AnnDee4444]

Make sure your ball joints & all other bushings are in good condition, and it should drive fine.

I'm not recommending this, but If you really want to get creative I've heard of a "poor man's 3-link", which is just deleting one of the upper control arms. I would remove the one closer to the frame-side panhard (track bar) mount for the best less worse stability.

Edit: also, bump steer. Having a stabilizer is likely "safer" because it will reduce bump steer on and off road.

That's not bump steer, that's death wobble.

 

[Matanzas]

Damaged steering stabilizer causes death wobble

 

[AnnDee4444]

Damaged or missing steering stabilizer causes death wobble

So how do the billions of cars produced without a steering stabilizer not have death wobble?

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Damaged or missing steering stabilizer causes death wobble

While it can be one of the causes of death wobble, it is far from the only cause. It's usually a multitude of things combined.

 

[Matanzas]

So how do the billions of cars produced without a steering stabilizer not have death wobble?

Edited out 'missing' to reflect my experience

 

[Canyonero JL]

So how do the billions of cars produced without a steering stabilizer not have death wobble?
[/QUOTE

So how do the billions of cars produced without a steering stabilizer not have death wobble?

Most vehicles don’t have solid front axles, but independent front suspension.

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