So I had a steering stabilizer, track bar and steering shock installed on my truck. I was told many times how great it was and had even read about it in the magazine.

Am I missing something, because I don't notice much of an improvement at all.

I thought it would fix up the play in the steering wheel, make the truck drive more in a straight line, and fix the "death wobble" which, from what I understand, occurs when you go over some sharp bumbs and the steering shakes back and forth.

Nadda. Disappointed.

Is there something else that should be done?

I'll go look under my truck to see that they actually did install these things!

 

The track bar is the only thing you listed that might have an affect on the steering play. The damper does not.

If you want to reduce the play in the steering wheel you have to adjust the steering box, take a look at the ball joints, the steering linkage and the track bar.

Death wobble is not "caused" by these things is is controlled by these things. The cause is out of balance tires, bent wheels, bumps in the road, out of round tires, things like that. The damper is there to keep it from starting. Excess play in the steering system fails to keep it under control.

 

You lost me in your response raspy. What is death wobble? Is it not the back and forth shaking in the steering as you go over bumps? That's what the guy told me at NADP. (I hate sounding like a nube)

Furthering this, what are the upgrades one does to the front end (not the suspension) and can you tell me the reasons why each component might be installed/upgraded?

 

It is sometimes refered to a shimmy and the bumps may start it but it can continue on after the road is smooth.
I think Raspy's response was spot on.
Jim O

 

reading too fast, or too tired...got it.

...I guess I'll have to take my truck in to do an alignment, rotate the tires and at that time have them look at the items you mention to see if they are "spot on".

And maybe I expect too much from the truck...

I've just read so many times how the steering stabilizer and track bar is just the cat's *** in improvement. By the read of things, it sounded like there was more to be had in adding these mods than I got out of it. But again, maybe something else is wrong - I assumed NADP would have seen any "issues" though...

 

If this link works it'll show you what death wobble looks like.

http://www.thurenfabrication.com/dwctd.wmv

 

HOLY CRAP!!!!! That's Death Wobble???? I knew it was bad, but that is CRAZY!! I HATE it when that happens... I've already replaced a control arm, ball joints and shocks... What else can i replace / adjust to Fix the Death Wobble....