Remove Steering Stabilizer before rock crawling? Any downsides?

[Dusty Dude]

The plan is to relocate the SS in the future when the track bar and drag link get replaced. In the meantime, I thought it might be a good idea to remove the SS at the trailhead, and then reinstall when leaving to avoid damage.

Good/bad idea?

Sponsored

 

[Reinen]

You'll discover very quickly why SS exist. Rocks & terrain can twist your tires and rip the wheel out of your hands. This sudden wrenching to maximum turn is bad for the steering system and bad for whatever hands/fingers you have inside the steering wheel.

The main purpose of the SS is to limit how fast the steering wheel can be turned. This is very necessary when rock crawling.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You'll discover very quickly why SS exist. Rocks & terrain can twist your tires and rip the wheel out of your hands. This sudden wrenching to maximum turn is bad for the steering system and bad for whatever hands/fingers you have inside the steering wheel.

The main purpose of the SS is to limit how fast the steering wheel can be turned. This is very necessary when rock crawling.

Being the guy who slid off a 4.5-foot boulder, and the steering wheel caught my arm, ripped it out of the socket, and tore 3 of the 4 rotator cuff tendons off the bone, along with the labrum and bicep, I will agree with you. This is with my Teraflex Falcon SS set on firm. I think without a SS, it would have ripped my arm off.

I am 3 months post-surgery and still have 6-8 months of recovery left. The second I was released to do light-duty driving, I went directly to the shop and had a full PSC installed. I am released to go off-roading, on minor trails the middle of next month. It seems like it's been 2 years...

 

[C.Sco]

A better idea is get a relocation kit, which flips it up out of the way, over the steering tie bar.

 

[AnnDee4444]

Keep your thumbs out of the steering wheel.

https://www.offroad-ed.com/michigan/studyGuide/Positioning-Your-Hands-Correctly/401023_162309/

https://www.motortrend.com/features/1607-how-not-to-lose-your-thumbs-on-a-steering-wheel/

 

[C.Sco]

Keep your thumbs out of the steering wheel.

https://www.offroad-ed.com/michigan/studyGuide/Positioning-Your-Hands-Correctly/401023_162309/

https://www.motortrend.com/features/1607-how-not-to-lose-your-thumbs-on-a-steering-wheel/

 

[Reinen]

Being the guy who slid off a 4.5-foot boulder, and the steering wheel caught my arm, ripped it out of the socket, and tore 3 of the 4 rotator cuff tendons off the bone, along with the labrum and bicep, I will agree with you. This is with my Teraflex Falcon SS set on firm. I think without a SS, it would have ripped my arm off.

I am 3 months post-surgery and still have 6-8 months of recovery left. The second I was released to do light-duty driving, I went directly to the shop and had a full PSC installed. I am released to go off-roading, on minor trails the middle of next month. It seems like it's been 2 years...

Ooof! Here I was thinking I learned the hard way by getting a fracture in my hand. (YJ steering wheel arms are like blunt knife edges) Doesn't even come close to your story. Heal well!

And yeah people, steering stabilizers are important.

 

[Graphite JL]

I'm on the other side of this one, I didn't run a steering stabilizer on my Jeep for years and never had an issue.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I'm on the other side of this one, I didn't run a steering stabilizer on my Jeep for years and never had an issue.

Ooof! Here I was thinking I learned the hard way by getting a fracture in my hand. (YJ steering wheel arms are like blunt knife edges) Doesn't even come close to your story. Heal well!

And yeah people, steering stabilizers are important.

Probably a lot of factors involved.

Big rocks, inability to turn 40s at 10 psi, old athlete with lots of old shoulder injuries.

I also likely need to change my driving position. I have a bad habit of sitting way back and down low and relaxed. I probably need to get "up on that wheel".

At least I am out of the sling and brace now which was 24/7 for 6 weeks. Range of motion is slowly improving and doing some minor strength training.

This picture is right before it happened.

 

[Graphite JL]

I did lots of rocks with mine, but t was running 35s, not 40s. I also drove it everywhere, the only time I had any wobble or steering wheel vibration was when something in the front end wore out.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I did lots of rocks with mine, but t was running 35s, not 40s. I also drove it everywhere, the only time I had any wobble or steering wheel vibration was when something in the front end wore out.

Yep, I never had an issue until I did...

The leverage difference between a 35 and a 40 is marked. I can easily turn my Rubicon X on 35s, in the rocks.

Now $130,000 later, I am almost released to do baby trails.

 

[melendez69]

A fantastic dated reference........................

Sponsored