Since upgrading to 315/75/16 tires, I have notice a more pronounced jerk of the steering wheel whenever I hit a good-sized rock, pothole, curb, what have you. While I try to avoid as many of these as possible, they still reach out and grab me... especially in the woods. I can't help but think this isn't great for the steering or suspension in the long run, and have been thinking about adding a steering stabilizer to smooth things out some, steering-wise. Has anybody else here done this with their 4x2? Any suggestions or input will be appreciated!

Thanks.

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-JonC-
*Silver 2000 4x2 F150 Supercab
*4.6L Triton V8
*315/75/16 Pathfinder ATR's
*16 x 8 Panther Custom 108's
*K&N GenII FIPK
*Custom Cat-back w/ Flowmaster 50 Series
*Fabtech 6.5" "Ultimate" suspension lift
*Smittybilt nerf bars
*Extang Black Max soft tonneau
*Stull billet grille
*Clear corners

 

go for it! i put one in my truck and it helped smooth the steering out a lot (both on and off road). i forgot how much i paid for mine but i have the rancho single stabilizer, in my opinion, worth the money...

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1989 F-150 XLT Lariat: 2WD 5spd 5.0[*]3" Body Lift[*]33x12.50.15 BFG on 15x10 AR Rims[*]Flowmaster cat-back dual exhaust

 

What exactly does the steering stabalizer do? JonC you finally got the big tires, lol. Got any pics of it now?

 

JonC,

I noticed the same thing when I got my big tires...especially the ruts in the freeway (studded tires suck). I put a Rancho RS5000 steering stabilizer on and what a relief. Works awsome and I highly recommend it.

Lok

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1997 F-150 Supercab 4X4,Royal Blue,4.6 V-8, Tow Package,3.55 LS,
K&N FIPK,Performance Accessories 3" body lift,Superchip,
Gibson Supertruck Exhaust,Smitty Nerf Bars,
16X10 Eagle 589's, 315/75-16 A/T's,
Alpine CD,Alpine 5 Channel Amp,PPI 5 X 7's,
Boston 10" Sub.



Pics at: http://www.f150world.com/loknload/

 

Yup, finally went with 315's! Looks much better and power & performance are still pretty good. Haven't been up to Big Bear since that change, though... will have to see what that drive up the mountain is like with the bigger rubber on and stock gearing.

No pics yet... waiting for the weather to clear up for a while so I can get the ruck cleaned up for new pics.

The steering stabilizer is basically a shock absorber for your steering. Not quite sure how it mounts, but it looks pretty simple and like something I could easily handle. Cost is pretty reasonable, generally under $100 I believe. Hoping for some more advice from some 4x2 owners who have them.

 

Was just at Big Bear this weekend, a bit warm though, too bad I wont be able to get up there this weekend with all this rain thats suppose to hit. You're running the 3.55 gears? The mounting is beyond me on this one, cause i see how it works on solid axles, IFS I havent the faintest.

 

Yup, stock 3.55's... probably go to 4.10 this summer. Power difference going from 285 to 315 was negligible, but the road to Big Bear could tell me different! Going up this weekend IF somebody will plow out my driveway. Don't want to spend the whole weekend shoveling!

I'm curious about the mounting with IFS also, but I see that Rancho has an application for 2000 4x2, so... we'll see.

 

i installed the rancho stering stablizer on my dads 4x4 expedtion and one on my friends f150 supercrew 4x4. they work great and should be a must if u off road.
do u guys off road big bear?
my friend and i been though all the trails in big bear. there are a few cool ones i want to try when there is still snow.
if anyone is going up there to off road e-mail me Chris_Chu80@yahoo.com i can show u some nice places to off road.

 

Chris... We go out to Holcomb Valley occasionally and also cruise the forest roads up there past the end of Sand Canyon where our cabin is. Probably a little too snowy for much wheeling this weekend! Ordered a stabilizer kit from Heckethorn today, should have it in about 4 or 5 days. Cost was $59 and change... not too bad!

Ilmagill... latest pic is in my signature below. Just took it about 5:00 this evening when I was taking some pics of the 285/75/16's I'm trying to sell. The truck's pretty dirty from the rain and all, and my driveway isn't the best backdrop, but it's the latest version of my baby. Billet grille, clear corners, 315's and all!

Later!


------------------
-JonC-
*Silver 2000 4x2 F150 Supercab
*4.6L Triton V8
*315/75/16 Pathfinder ATR's
*16 x 8 Panther Custom 108's
*K&N GenII FIPK
*Custom Cat-back w/ Flowmaster 50 Series
*Fabtech 6.5" "Ultimate" suspension lift
*Smittybilt nerf bars
*Extang Black Max soft tonneau
*Stull billet grille
*Clear corners


[This message has been edited by JonC (edited 03-07-2001).]

 

thats one nice ride...definetely like the bigger tires.

 

Heckethorn steering stabilizer arrived yesterday... I'd be out under the truck putting it on right now, but they forgot to send the rubber boot with it! Made a phone call and one is on it's way right now. Looks like a pretty simple installation, I'll let you know after it's done.

Thanks for the answers and input!

-JonC-

 

I put one on, ordered it from JC Whitney, forgot the price, know it was under $75.00, very easy to install, works great also.

 

So how hard of an install is this?? I would like to do it but want to make sure I can do it myself. Also, does anyone have some pics of what it looks like installed???

 

LOK N LOAD,

Can you please tell me the type of paint you used to paint your plastic pieces under the hood? I would like to know all the details as I have screwed up some of my plastic componets and they now look like crap so I was thinking of painting them but seeing how it is a hard plastic I was not sure the paint would adhere to it so can you tell me what you did with regard to sanding if applicable Primer and Paint and the exact names of the product you used?

Thanks,
Richard D.

While your here check out my gallery:
https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=2479

 

Been around vehicles far too long to trust any of mine to 4wp...

And considering my truck has Weld Mountain Crushers on it, my truck probably had been there long before I bought it....