Running without a steering stabilizer

[TXSUT]

For mostly highway use with some mild offroading, with 37x13.5x18 tires, how much would you miss the steering stabilizer? Any real danger in not having one mounted?

Thanks,

Pete

[timgco]

yep, I wouldn;t do it!

[TXSUT]

Originally Posted by timgco

yep, I wouldn;t do it!

Care to explain why you wouldn't?

[timgco]

Originally Posted by TXSUT

Care to explain why you wouldn't?

Well, I blew one out a couple years back while off roading in Moab. IT was the stock one.

It sucked trying to hang out to that steering wheel off road and when removed was even worse. When off road there are times your tires will grab a rock and take the wheel ddamn near out of your hands. Now remove that stabilizer and give the smae scenario. You can pretty much kiss your wrists bye bye. At highway speeds, those bg 37's grab grooves in teh road. Your stabilizer helps with not transfering "most" of it to your steering wheel. Without, your truck will seem like it's out of alignment.

...theres my experience. IT SUCKED!!!!

Out of curiosity, why are you considering running without one? If yours in gone, I would go with the Rancho setup. I have used the Rnacho one on every H2 I have had since the stock one blew out and not one issue since. There is a considerable difference off road too.

[TXSUT]

Thanks for the info. That's what was worrying me...getting the wheel yanked out of my hands, be it from road surface changes or even in mild offroading. I know that's what it's there to prevent, was just wondernig about the real effects.

When I had my mechanic install the Cognito pitman support bracket, he told me that he had to remove the Fabtech HD stabilizer I had installed (by 4-Wheel Parts) because it was hitting the bracket. He also told me that the mounting points for the OEM stabilizer had been removed, so there was no going back to the OEM stabilizer. I just haven't had time to go get the problem rectified at 4 Wheel Parts, so I have been running around without a stabilizer. Not a big deal at the moment, as I do most of my daily driving in my Nissan Frontier and the H2 stays in the garage.

Thanks again, Tim!

[timgco]

Originally Posted by TXSUT

pitman support bracket, he told me that he had to remove the Fabtech HD stabilizer I had installed (by 4-Wheel Parts) because it was hitting the bracket. He also told me that the mounting points for the OEM stabilizer had been removed, so there was no going back to the OEM stabilizer. I just haven't had time to go get the problem rectified at 4 Wheel Parts, so I have been running around without a stabilizer. Not a big deal at the moment, as I do most of my daily driving in my Nissan Frontier and the H2 stays in the garage.

Thanks again, Tim!

Damn!! I didn;t know the OEM mounts were cut for the Fabtech one!!!

I know the Rancho one bolts up easily and long as you have that puller tool. Keep us posted. I'm not sure if others have the same setup as you. If anything it will be info for others that want the same mods down the road.

[H2R]

I always check my mods installation rules from these companies so I dont end up making something not reversable. A mechanic with a torch or a saw is a dangerous thing.

[dochummer]

Doesn't rancho have a bracket available for the stabilizer? When you do a search for the part number, I recall that it always showed a picture with a bracket...

[ROX]

The Rancho steering stabilizer is a direct replacement. It just bolts on where the stock one came off. I put one on long miles ago, and haven't had any trouble with it.

Keep the cognito parts. They'll last a long time.

So the mechanic just cut off the stabilizer to install the pitman kit and left it like that? Bummer! You could start with a new mechanic.

[TXSUT]

Originally Posted by ROX

So the mechanic just cut off the stabilizer to install the pitman kit and left it like that? Bummer! You could start with a new mechanic.

No, he called me before he did anything, to describe what he was up against, and he only removed the Fabtech stabilizer...he did not cut anything off. It was 4 Wheel Parts who cut the OEM mounting points off to install the Fabtech stabilizer a couple years ago. And now, talking to 4 WP about it, they tell me that they can not fab something up to mount a new stabilizer, that I have to get that done elsewhere. 4 WP has seen the last of my business.

[TXSUT]

Originally Posted by timgco

Damn!! I didn;t know the OEM mounts were cut for the Fabtech one!!!

I know the Rancho one bolts up easily and long as you have that puller tool. Keep us posted. I'm not sure if others have the same setup as you. If anything it will be info for others that want the same mods down the road.

Okay, I confirmed with Phil (Trail Duty) that the very early Fabtech stabilizers required cutting off the OEM mounting bracket. Shortly thereafter, they switched to a stabilizer that was a direct replacement for the OEM stabilizer. I don't know the exact dates of the swith-over, but I'm pretty sure I ordered my Fabtech heavy duty pitman/idler/stabilizer package sometime mid-2005.

[DrG]

Originally Posted by timgco

I know the Rancho one bolts up easily and long as you have that puller tool.

What puller tool?? Please explain.

What about using the stabilizer unit from Fabtech?



Would those brackets on the ends help??

David