Will I benefit from a steering stabilizer? (Fox vs Bilstein)

[RoadSahara]

Hello everyone, I have a JLU Sahara on 35s and a 3” lift. I drive a lot for work (high ways) and wondering if my Wrangler might benefit from a steering stabilizer? I haven’t experienced the death wobble yet, but I’m wondering if the stabilizer might help with the play in the steering and possibly make the car sway a little less on bumps? I’m currently running 35~psi on warm days, so it’s improved the right little bit, but I wanted to see if a steering stabilizer might help? The one in question was the Fox performance series 2.0 IFP vs Bilstein B8 5100 steering damper. I’m not looking for something too crazy, but something just to improve the steering until winter comes and I change into my all seasons. Thanks!

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[RoadSahara]

Hello everyone, I have a JLU Sahara on 35s and a 3” lift. I drive a lot for work (high ways) and wondering if my Wrangler might benefit from a steering stabilizer? I haven’t experienced the death wobble yet, but I’m wondering if the stabilizer might help with the play in the steering and possibly make the car sway a little less on bumps? I’m currently running 35~psi on warm days, so it’s improved the right little bit, but I wanted to see if a steering stabilizer might help? The one in question was the Fox performance series 2.0 IFP vs Bilstein B8 5100 steering damper. I’m not looking for something too crazy, but something just to improve the steering until winter comes and I change into my all seasons. Thanks!

I forgot to mention, I hardly ever off road. I occasionally drive on the beach, but nothing crazy.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

Simple answer is "probably not". That said, I have an adjustable through shaft design that does help to set it to soft when off-roading, medium for daily driving, and firm for higher speed freeway road trips. Other than that, replacing the stock one with similar design, but a better brand name, doesn't yield much of a noticeable difference.

 

[Roky]

Hello everyone, I have a JLU Sahara on 35s and a 3” lift. I drive a lot for work (high ways) and wondering if my Wrangler might benefit from a steering stabilizer? I haven’t experienced the death wobble yet, but I’m wondering if the stabilizer might help with the play in the steering and possibly make the car sway a little less on bumps? I’m currently running 35~psi on warm days, so it’s improved the right little bit, but I wanted to see if a steering stabilizer might help? The one in question was the Fox performance series 2.0 IFP vs Bilstein B8 5100 steering damper. I’m not looking for something too crazy, but something just to improve the steering until winter comes and I change into my all seasons. Thanks!

An adjustable through shaft will make a difference…..

 

[TravelerTheJLU]

I would say likely not, I just installed the AEV Bilstein with a relocation bracket, I do notice less play, however, there is more variety of straight depending on the crowning and slope of the road. A non-through shaft SS will likely push the center of the wheel off because it it artificially pushing the wheel to one direction and getting it perfectly center is near impossible. Likely if you are experiencing a lot of play in the wheel, something else is the issue, a 3" lift with stock control arms is causing a low caster angle, which will give some play and issues with tracking straight. Alternatively its possible a ball joint is warn and needs to be replaced in which case death wobble will probably start. In my experience a new steering stabilizer may prevent excessive steering wheel movement going over minor bumps however nothing will prevent the wheel from moving over major bumps.
Also I see you mentioned "sway", do you mean the whole car shifting (body roll) or the steering wheel.

 

[KIZEMAN]

I recently installed a Clayton 3.5 with 37's and noticed a big difference in the steering wobble on bumps and curved on-ramps. I upgraded the to Fox 2.0 and it definitely feels more stable and planted. Its only about $230 and should be a direct replacement for you.

I'd say give it a shot - it likely won't be the worst $200 mistake you can make on a Jeep.

 

[jadmt]

I have an AEV (bilstein) and while I had no issues prior to installing it I feel no difference between oem and the AEV. AEV looks sweet tho and I have wasted money on less....

 

[zouch]

if you have “play” in the steering, a Stabilizer will not make that go away.
you’ll need to address that separately first.

technically, you should not need a Stabilizer at all; it will only affect the feel of your steering wheel, and perhaps dampen a bit of the feedback from itregularities on the road.

 

[jadmt]

When was the last time you retorqued your suspension components? People forget they need to every 5000 miles or so especially the front trackbar

 

[c20040215]

No. Save your money.

 

[THAW]

If your 5-year-old, OE stabilizer is in poor condition, a new stabilizer could make a noticeable difference.

 

[alphawolff]

buy the oem 392 or mojave ones, they're like 40$ and a massive upgrade over stock

 

[Erievon]

Installed the Bilstein on wifeys jlu. I think the AEV is the same just with an AEV sticker. I think the stock one was worn out because I was getting a wobble on high speed bumps. This cured it for now (likely a bandaid and the ball joints are starting to go but...this kicked the can down the road a little bit). Steering does seem a little stiffer on center, but being a sport on stock tires it never wandered nearly as much as my Rubi does, as I suspect the sport has a better caster angle being lower.

It's not a pass through or whatever you call it, this looks just like a shock. But I've noticed being positively charged like a shock, it likes to wander to one side ever so slightly, and auto centering after a turn is not as good as it was stock. The stock one seemed neutral, but again, it was allowing wobble so...

All of this to say, you're lifted, do you have longer or adjustable lower control arms or any geometry correction brackets? Have your caster checked before you do anything else.

 

[RoadSahara]

I would say likely not, I just installed the AEV Bilstein with a relocation bracket, I do notice less play, however, there is more variety of straight depending on the crowning and slope of the road. A non-through shaft SS will likely push the center of the wheel off because it it artificially pushing the wheel to one direction and getting it perfectly center is near impossible. Likely if you are experiencing a lot of play in the wheel, something else is the issue, a 3" lift with stock control arms is causing a low caster angle, which will give some play and issues with tracking straight. Alternatively its possible a ball joint is warn and needs to be replaced in which case death wobble will probably start. In my experience a new steering stabilizer may prevent excessive steering wheel movement going over minor bumps however nothing will prevent the wheel from moving over major bumps.
Also I see you mentioned "sway", do you mean the whole car shifting (body roll) or the steering wheel.

Sway as in the car crowns really bad, like even small angle shifts on the road will pull by Wrangler off and correcting makes it worse sometimes.

 

[jadmt]

Not sure what you mean it crowns really bad but again have you re-torqued your suspension parts especially your front track bar....loose front track bar

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