Hi! Little background - I bought my truck with around 36k miles on it roughly 6 months ago. Everything was original except a few tires had been replaced. Truck drove well and I put a few thousand miles on it vising family and so forth before my first problem.

On a return trip, driving the interstate, the original Wrangler AT (left front) dismantled itself and flying tread tore up plastic parts (bumper skins, fender liner) and bent the driver side running board a little.

Anyhow aside from the 50%+ tread, in hindsight I wished that I'd replaced the factory Wrangler ATs that were still on the truck. Live and learn.. Goodyear paid up for my reasonable requests, however...

I (a local Goodyear/Gemini service center) replaced 4 tires with Kelly Safari CSR and a outer tie-rod end, and had all wheels balanced and an alignment. Immediatly it was a pain. Steering wheel no longer centered as it was before and some vibrations around 45 and then at 65-70. I took the truck back to the shop and was told the crown of the road, etc about the steering wheel centering, they rechecked the alignment and said it was on the money. I had no pull left or right, just didn't understand why the wheel was able to look right before the work, going straight and now it didn't. Since I had stuff to do I left it at that and drove more.

Over a week or so I got tired of the vibrations that would set in around 65-70 and set up another appointment. They checked everything again, tweaked some wheel balances and I test drove it. Still not very great riding so I had them replace the remaining 3 tires to match the new ones, upped my contract to a 3 year alignment and lifetime balance of all 7 wheels. I figured that I would eliminate the possibility of the mismatched tires from being an issue. At the end of the day I took it home.

The vibrations continued and I went back and they "roadforce" balanced them all and sent me on my way as I needed to get on the road again. Driving light I lowered the PSI around to ~53 front and ~40 back for the 1200 mile trip. The vibrations continued and I set up yet another appointment (was today) after the 1200 miles back home. They seem to think there may be a bad tire somewhere. It's hard to tell where the vibration originates but after a road test with a rep today he wanted to start at the front..

I've been suggested loading it down, adjusting the PSI and told of the very heavy, 10ply tires I bought, etc. All the time, me making sure they don't hesiate to tell me of something wrong so I can address it. Noone I have spoken with felt the tire coming apart with the flying tread should have bent/broke anything, causing the problem. However I read about driveshaft weights causing vibrations for others and it dawned on me that perhaps a big chunk of tread could dislodge a weight.

I brought this up to them today for good measure. They didn't see any indication of lost balance weights. However, they did tell me the steering dampener should be replaced and one of the front wheels was a little out of balance. The only dampener I could find is by Rough Country. They list two for my truck, indicating one model if the factory damper is one thing and the other for another model factory dampener.

My truck has a #52038476 part here... Sheesh! I called Rough Country and they said it should work if the dimensions are the same.. It's raining here so I can't get it off today and check FWIW.

If you've managed to get this far, please, if you know of a substitue for the Dodge/Mopar #52038476 I'd love to know. Their real proud of the OEM part at nearly a C-note!

I just hope that once I do replace this steering dampener my problems go away, I have a lot of road to drive before the year is out!

BTW: I didn't put it in my sig -- the truck has manual 5-speed and an 8' bed. Something I was told by the Goodyear/Gemini service people back when I was prodding then about the steering wheel being turned while driving straight -- hard to align.

 

Think most steering stabilizers about the same and come with a set of bolts and adaptors to work on most any rig.
I've always bought Heckethorn brand from Napa, about $35.

 

Hi Bill, thanks for the encouragement.

I may have to go that route. I am really not established here with my tools and workspace and hoping to be able simplify things as much as possible by a direct fit/replacement.

 

Well I got in touch with a local BDS distributor and they sent me home with a 'should fit' model BDS55415.

The product may be good but I am not impressed with the dist so far. First the list price direct from manufacturer is $62.40 and I paid $69.99+TAX. Secondly compressed, center of the eyelets, end-to-end the BDS55415 is 14.5" and the OEM 52038476 is 13" -- This is after a guy looked at the truck.

It seems that it'd crunch something if I cranked the wheel all the way...fully cranked to the right there is roughly 1/2" (at most) of the OEM rod exposed.

Going to return the thing and maybe go to the OEM. I sort of think the guys at Goodyear/Gemini are making excuses for not wanting or able to locate a bad tire. The resistance between my OEM and the BDS seems the same when I move them by hand..

I checked the OEM price the other day and it's more rip-off than I expected at $123+TAX.

 

Not sure about a '97 but Carquest had a direct replacement for my '01

Roy

 

I have a rancho on mine, i'll have to see if it has any numbers on it. I think I gave about $55 dollars for it.

 

By changing just the steering stabilizer might not fix the problem as it could be the track bar. By changing the stabilizer will do nothing if it is bad. Just an FYI.

 

No track bar on his truck, its a 2wd. Do the people know that your truck is a 2wd? I didn't know my truck had a steering stabilizer until I crawled under it 2 weeks ago, so I'm betting the parts guys are just assuming its a 4wd.

 

The problem is it appears noone makes an OEM replacement for this truck. I've talked with a few manufacturers and they have nothing in their catalogs.

If I can find a shop to let me go through stock I would be able to match something probably. I have the dimensions but doubt that I could get a parts shop to go measure them.. and it seems dimensions are not readily available in the catalogs. Napa and the local BDS distributor scoffed when I told them I had the dimensions of the OEM written down.

The biggest problem is the OEM stabilizer was only used for 3 years so I am told.. Aftermarket manufacturers didn't want to fool with it I guess.

The kicker is : 2WD, Diesel, NON Solid Axle

..plenty of solid axle 2WD and 4WD OEM replacements available.

I read some TSB that mention the track bar and other parts. At this point it's mostly a matter of if I want to patronize the Goodyear/Gemini shop by following this diversion -- I tend to think there is a tire out of round.

It may be best to find a good replacement and try to modify something on the truck so I don't have to use the OEM part anymore.

 

Go to https://www.dodgeparts.com/oe_parts_...04bde6ae2e325c

Looks like the OEM replacement for your truck is is $74.49!

Here is a moog one @ $78.66

http://www.carjunky.com/shop_cj/bdn/...068f65016.html

The Moog at Sumitt Racing MOG-SSD126 is $51.99.

 

steering stabilizer


Spook try this link they have a good variety. I run a moog with great sucess.

Dave

 

If they don't it's not my lack of conveying that fact to them.

 

The TradeMotion data is incorrect. That is showing Mopar 52038276 actually -- note the 'solid axle' and '4WD' criteria. If you enter manually the 52038476 part it'll show its even higher price.

The MOOG SSD112 is an OEM replacement for Mopar 52038276 (solid axle)

The SSD126 could be it but it appears (at least in the photo here) to not be a OEM replacement -- can't for the life of me see how that would hook up where the old one is.

Since that is the only one so far that 'says' it's a replacement for my truck without any hiccups I tried to dig into Federal-Mogul to find a contact to ask but lost motivation.

 

Hi Dave, Thanks for the link. Like I am finding on the internet it seems parts houses are using data A or data B. Which seem to both be wierd or inconsistent with each other.

IE: After selections of "For vehicle: 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUP 2WD L6 5.9 Liter Turbo Diesel" various 4WD parts are shown

The moog info here is slightly different/less than the TradeMotion info..

Part No.
SSD112
Moog Chassis Prod. Steering Part
Steering Damper: Front Steering; 2 Wheel Drive (4x2); Cylinder Only; Trail Boss; 1 Per Vehicle

TradeMotion says SSD112 is for solid axle only


Part No.
SSD126
Moog Chassis Prod. Steering Part
Steering Damper: Front Steering; 2 Wheel Drive (4x2); With Independent Front Suspension; Kit; Trail Boss; 1 Per Vehicle

This might be the right one. Trick will be finding a local dealer -- I really like to visually compare these with cost free return if it's not right.

One of the sites I found this part on said it requires an additional mounting kit.. More confusing information.

 

You could always put a set of Michelins on it and call it a day.

Nothing beats a round tire...


IMHO I dont think the steering stabalizer is going to solve your problems.


Good luck

Jason