1st Gen. Ram - All Topics Discussion for all Dodge Rams prior to 1994. This includes engine, drivetrain and non-drivetrain discussions. Anything prior to 1994 should go in here.

Front end steering shock damper question to those who installed them aftermarket

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-23-2015, 09:00 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
bigragu's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,867
Received 535 Likes on 391 Posts
Front end steering shock damper question to those who installed them aftermarket

What are the life expectancy of these? How can you tell when they've gone bad?
Old 06-23-2015, 10:03 PM
  #2  
Registered User
 
torquefan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 4,449
Received 44 Likes on 39 Posts
Generally, I will remove it from the vehicle and try to compress it by hand. If it's failing, there will be no resistance as you compress it the first little bit, then you'll feel resistance.
Old 06-24-2015, 07:55 AM
  #3  
Registered User
 
mknittle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 4,918
Received 600 Likes on 437 Posts
Originally Posted by torquefan
Generally, I will remove it from the vehicle and try to compress it by hand. If it's failing, there will be no resistance as you compress it the first little bit, then you'll feel resistance.
Same here.
Old 06-24-2015, 10:43 AM
  #4  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
bigragu's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,867
Received 535 Likes on 391 Posts
Thnx. Will check into
Old 06-24-2015, 10:51 AM
  #5  
Registered User
 
bobva's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: granite falls washington
Posts: 840
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
When I see a SS on the truck. I assume something else is worn out.

Like KP BJ TRE DL,,,,, ETC.

I just remove SS throw in the trash were they belong and fix the problem.
Old 06-25-2015, 10:55 PM
  #6  
Registered User
 
RamGuy84's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ca.
Posts: 236
Received 19 Likes on 14 Posts
Originally Posted by bobva
When I see a SS on the truck. I assume something else is worn out.

Like KP BJ TRE DL,,,,, ETC.

I just remove SS throw in the trash were they belong and fix the problem.
Never Assume that can cause Problem's
Old 06-28-2015, 08:37 PM
  #7  
Registered User
 
TRENDZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
I installed one on my D350 while rebuilding the entire front end. I did a few things out of the ordinary with the front end. I added a sway bar, triangulated the front frame horns, added the stabilizer, and modded the lower control arms/ strut rods for a bit more caster.
The truck has 19.5 wheels and tires, and is the nicest steering first gen I've ever driven. (including when they were new)
Old 06-29-2015, 03:17 PM
  #8  
Registered User
 
sooty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: hesperia ca.
Posts: 1,259
Received 25 Likes on 21 Posts
if their leaking at all, they are shot, just so you know, the Monroe is lifetime guaranteed, ive had rancho on mine forever, still good, but new black nitride shafts leak inside a year, so once again, Monroe.
Old 06-29-2015, 03:38 PM
  #9  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
bigragu's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,867
Received 535 Likes on 391 Posts
Lifetime on the Monroe's no matter who you originally bought them from? Do I have to call Monroe or the NAPA to get an exchange, should they go bad?
Old 06-29-2015, 09:45 PM
  #10  
Registered User
 
sooty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: hesperia ca.
Posts: 1,259
Received 25 Likes on 21 Posts
nope, just show the receipt, or oreilleys keeps your purchase on record by contact the old school way.
Old 06-30-2015, 07:24 AM
  #11  
Registered User
 
mknittle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 4,918
Received 600 Likes on 437 Posts
Originally Posted by TRENDZ
I installed one on my D350 while rebuilding the entire front end. I did a few things out of the ordinary with the front end. I added a sway bar, triangulated the front frame horns, added the stabilizer, and modded the lower control arms/ strut rods for a bit more caster.
The truck has 19.5 wheels and tires, and is the nicest steering first gen I've ever driven. (including when they were new)
A lot of the funky steering in these trucks comes from frame flex ahead of the front wheels.That is why the reverse rotation steering gear swap helps so much.
Old 06-30-2015, 08:25 AM
  #12  
Registered User
 
bobva's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: granite falls washington
Posts: 840
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by mknittle
A lot of the funky steering in these trucks comes from frame flex ahead of the front wheels.That is why the reverse rotation steering gear swap helps so much.
Winner we have a winner.

Thats for the 4WDs

Now For the 2wd & Cross Overs you owners need to get rid of the JUNK out of the factory stock steeriing boxes and replace them with stock GM boxes or Red Head remans. Then you can throw your silly steering stabilizer damper in the trash were they belong.

These are the best bang for the buck also Power Steering Brace For both 2&4 WDs
Old 06-30-2015, 06:22 PM
  #13  
Registered User
 
TRENDZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by bobva
Winner we have a winner.

Thats for the 4WDs

Now For the 2wd & Cross Overs you owners need to get rid of the JUNK out of the factory stock steeriing boxes and replace them with stock GM boxes or Red Head remans. Then you can throw your silly steering stabilizer damper in the trash were they belong.

These are the best bang for the buck also Power Steering Brace For both 2&4 WDs
Two problems with this comment.
First, that bracket does reinforce the mounting of the gear box, but it doesn't stop the frame horns from flexing. Watch a first gen front bumper in relation to the fender while having someone else steer back and forth...
Triangulating the horns stops this movement.
Second, a stabilizer is ALOT cheaper than a gear box. It prevents jarring to the steering gear and a few of the steering linkage parts. It also assists the factory components that are marginal with stock wheels and tires. We ask a lot out of these tired old girls, nothing wrong with helping them out.
Your hatred of stabilizers is a bit over the top.
Old 06-30-2015, 10:30 PM
  #14  
Registered User
 
NJTman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Land of the Toxic Avenger
Posts: 6,769
Received 1,637 Likes on 1,112 Posts
Originally Posted by TRENDZ
Your hatred of stabilizers is a bit over the top.
I disagree with this..

His hatred is not of steering stabilizers, but of the concept of putting a bandaid on a problem, and calling it fixed.




Old 06-30-2015, 11:02 PM
  #15  
Registered User
 
bobva's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: granite falls washington
Posts: 840
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by NJTman
I disagree with this..

His hatred is not of steering stabilizers, but of the concept of putting a bandaid on a problem, and calling it fixed.





Thank you NJT

These old girls could use some good quality surgery. Not some lousy Obama care.


Quick Reply: Front end steering shock damper question to those who installed them aftermarket



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:08 AM.