Steering Stabilizer

[rikhek]

Was not happy with the steering wheel "shimy" I had on my 99 new body style Silverado 4X4 w/295/75/16 BFGs.  The shimy was not due to alignment issues or out of balance wheels/tires.  It was something I felt when paying attention to the "feel of the wheel" going down the road.  It was not a "shake and wobble" issue, it was subtle.  I was concerned of unnecessary wear of front end components.

 

As such, I installed a sterring stabilizer this weekend and the results are fantastic.  The install took about an hour and it's a super improvement for only $50.00.  The shimy is completely gone and the steering in general feels more controlled or "tight".

 

As I've not read anything about steering stablizers on the new body styles I thought I'd share the info.  Something to consider.....

 

Rick

[woyster_00z71]

I have a shimmy on my '97 with 31x10.50R15 BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO's.  It occurs between 35 and 50 mph for the most part.  Sometimes it does it and sometimes it doesn't.  I thought it was the tires because I found a blown belt in one of the front tires but since replacing the tires, the shimmy remains.  Is this something a steering stabilizer would correct or is something else wrong, i.e. steering gear, pitman arm, etc?  I don't want to install something that only hides a different problem but I am sick of the shimmy and shake.  New tires, balance, and alignment didn't help.

 

Thanks, B.J.

[DanaliHD]

I had the exact same problem with my '01 z71, brought it back to the dealer and they replaced something in the steering column, don't know what.  My '02 2500hd is starting to do the same thing after only 7000mi.  Where did you get the steering stabilizer?

[rikhek]

Please note the "shimy" I mention was subtle.  It occurred at just about any speed above, say, 20 mph at which point you're going fast enought for the truck to get "in it's groove".  Maybe "shimy" is the wrong word to use, it might better be described as an oscillation felt only when touching the wheel.  Passengers couldn't notice it and the driver would'nt notice it unless they are intuned to this kind of thing.

 

I installed a stabilizer on my old truck, a 93 Z71 with positive results, thought the oscillation wasn't as bad on that truck.  I really did it on the old truck as it seemed like a good idea.  On the "new" truck it "felt" like it needed it.  My humble opinion is that with the size and weight of the tires on these trucks and the relatively "weak" front ends the installation of a stabilizer can only help.  On my 99 it needed it and it helped quite noticably.

 

The ONLY company I found anywhere that made a stabilizer for the new body styles was Heckethorn Products, Inc, a subsidiary of Rough Country or vise versa.  They sell it for $50 via their internet site. THIS INCLUDES SHIPPING AND A SHOCK BOOT, YOUR CHOICE OF COLORS.  Their site is:

 

http://rough.roughcountry.com/

 

IMPORTANT - their web site lists stabilizer #87326 for the following applications:

 

99-00 PICKUP,  ½, 3/4 TON, TAHOE, YUKON & SUB COMPLETE KIT

 

 

I spoke to them and they assured me this kit fits 2001 - 2002 vehicles as well.  They just havn't updated their webpage.  The guy said it would probably fit the 03s as well but they haven't gotten one in yet to verify.  Their phone is 1-800-222-7023.

 

It's a great deal.

[RyanbabZ71]

any pics by chance?

[rikhek]

Sorry, no pics.  I'd need to get a camera and remove the aluminum skid plate.  Their installation instructions give a good pic.  The install requires drilling on 5/16" hole on the crossmember.  My 15 year old daughter could have done it.

 

Rick

[RyanbabZ71]

do you have alift?  I thought a steering stabilizer is only for lifted trucks?

[rikhek]

I have a 3" body lift, BUT, a lift has nothing to do with a stabilizer.  You could have a 3 foot lift and the same stabilizer would be used for the lifted or an unlifted truck.  Stabilizers are used to reduce the negative effect of large/heavy tires on front end components as well as minimizing the inherent physical parameters induced by spinning something big and heavy at high speeds..

 

Rick

[Roofer]

Anyone else notice something here? Everyone who posted on this subject has BFG tires. I had BFG's on my last truck and it did the exact same thing. There was nothing to correct it. I even went back to my stock rims and tires and even got new rims, same outcome...a wobble between 30and 60 mph with the BFG's. A few buddies of mine have had the same problem with them, but not all do it. I think they are producing too many tires, getting sloppy, and making bad batches of tires. A stabilizer(although I have no idea how you mounted it) will only "mask" the problem, but will not solve it. I could be wrong, but check tire wear at about 30K miles and let us know.

[rikhek]

My experience indicates it has NOTHING to do with BFGs.  This truck did it the EXACT same when I bought it with 265 Generals on it.  Also, my past two Z71 trucks did it with several brands of tires other than BFG.  This is the first set of BFGs I've ever owned and have experienced this phenomenom with all brands of tires.  I believe its due to a large heavy load going around real fast on what could arguably be called "undersized or weak or overloaded" front end components.  This is the reason steering stabilizers were originally developed and why dual stabilizers are recommended for tire/wheels larger than 35".

 

As far as the tire wear on the current BFGs, I now have 58,000 miles on them and all four tires show perfect, textbook even wear.  I fully expect to get another 10,000 miles out of them.  It's amazing how they have worn (or have not worn depending how you look at it!).

 

Regarding stabilizer installation, as far as I know all steering stabilizers mount in technically the same manner.  One end of the stabilizer shock mounts at a point of the  frame/crossmember (i.e., a "fixed" location) and the other end attaches to the tie rod, thereby "stabilizing" minute, harmonic movements of the tie rod due to the large/heavy wheels and tires.  Piece of cake.

 

Another point I've made twice is that my truck DID NOT do it between a relatively narrow range such as 30 - 60 mph and it's NOT a wobble.  Most people can't even feel the oscillation I'm talking about.  My wife wasn't able to feel it.  You really have to be mechanically inclined to feel what I'm talking about.  It is present throughout the entire spectrum of speeds.  The installation of a stabilizer in my case DID NOT mask another problem, unless you consider the "overloading" of a relatively "weak/overloaded" IFS to be the problem that was masked.

 

Rick

 

P.S. ROOFER - Aren't you the guy I turned on to the Flitz polish some time ago?  I wouldn't "steer" you wrong.  

[Roofer]

I wasn't indicating that you were wrong in any way. I was trying to gain knowledge as far as the steering stabilizer. As for the tires and the wobble, I was just pointing out what I have had experience with and have heard. Steering wobbles could be caused by many things...tires, alignment, tie rods, etc. Like I said, just pointing out what I have experienced. I was hoping the info I gave could be used by some of the other posters on this thread. Sorry if you thought my post was directly implied only to you.

 

I do agree, BFG's are a very long lasting tire, but I have seen my share of bad ones.

[RyanbabZ71]

Anyone else notice something here? Everyone who posted on this subject has BFG tires. I had BFG's on my last truck and it did the exact same thing.

 

Yea i have bfgs but i dont have any shimmies.  I figure this would be a good mod and seems inexpensive.

 

I was wondering does this help driving in windy conditions?  I would have to say my only complaint is my truck drives like crap in the wind

[OCFreedom]

I have a fabtech steering stabilizer.....  If you put bigger tires on your gonna get some shimmy....thats why they have steering stabilizers.....  You can't blame it on the tire, or the alignment or whatever....if they're out fine, but your never gonna get it all out.  It's just the nature of the beast.

[rikhek]

Ryan, I can't imagine it will give you any help in the wind.  That's something you have to live with when you drive a proverbial "billboard" down the road.  Lots of square inches to push against.

 

Rick

[rikhek]

OCFreedom - I was curious regarding your comment on a Fabtech steering stabilizer as I busted my a** trying to find a stabilizer for a new body style.  The only one I found was made by Heckethorn.

 

I called Fabtech to check it out and was told the only stablilzer they offer is an an option to their lift kit.  The guy told me there would be no way to install it unless you had their lift as it mounts on the kit supplied crossmember.

 

Do you have a Fabtech lift?  Thanks.

 

Rick