ExactCenter vs. Fox steering stabilizer... huh?

[dragoneggs]

Hoping to get edjumacated here. I have a '22 JLR and am looking to improve both the on road and off road handling characteristics. I feel my short wheelbase ride wants to wander side to side when I am casually driving.

I will also be towing my JLR behind a Class C RV and want to optimize that hookup. Bottom line, I want to understand the mechanical differences. Plus/minus for both... and hear what experienced users have to say about the subject.

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[Dyolfknip74]

Hoping to get edjumacated here. I have a '22 JLR and am looking to improve both the on road and off road handling characteristics. I feel my short wheelbase ride wants to wander side to side when I am casually driving.

I will also be towing my JLR behind a Class C RV and want to optimize that hookup. Bottom line, I want to understand the mechanical differences. Plus/minus for both... and hear what experienced users have to say about the subject.

There are a lot of threads on this subject. Most are from the inventor of the Exact Center explaining in detail how the shock works. Google "exact center+JLWranglerforum" and ATS+JLWranglerforum" and you will find all the information you need.

Good luck.

 

[BDinTX]

I believe traditional stabilizers only resist movement like a shock absorber.
The Exact Center is like two pneumatic springs facing each other. It will always try to find that center point.

I installed one on each of my JLURs, one 2.0T, the other a 3.0T diesel.
Neither had what I would consider "bad" handling, but the diesel was noticeably better, I'd even go so far as to say it handled well. My goal was eeek out some improvements on the 2.0T and I did the other to keep both of them the same. Both were the 110 lb stabilizers.

Before installing on the 2.0T steering wheel was pretty easy to turn. Other owners with the same engine or the v6 have reported the steering become tighter after install. That was my experience as well, turning the wheel required more force.

Before installing on the diesel, the steering wheel was already tighter than on the 2.0T. After installing it became slightly "easier", turning the wheel required less force. The steering wheel tightness is more similar between the two.

Return to center is significantly better on both in a good way.
Wandering is a little better on both, more so on the 2.0T, less so on the diesel but it started from a better place. I wouldn't say the improvement on either was HUGE but I wasn't having serious problems either. I'm also not disappointed in the purchase.

I used a Clayton stabilizer relocation bracket. Their clamp on the tierod comes very close to my ARB diff cover. A different tie rod bracket like the Fox might be a better choice. Different diff covers will have different clearances, I'd expect the factory one would have close to 1/4" better space. Pay close attention here, turn your wheel all the way to the left and check.

I can't comment yet on the difference offroad and will probably never have input on flat towing.

EC seems to have a pretty reasonable "try before you buy" policy so I think it is definitely worth a shot. Just be realistic about your expectations of what steering on a very short wheelbase vehicle can be,.

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