Community Forums

chucksel · 04-01-2014, 10:39 PM

I was on Bilstein's web site and their application chart showed a steering damper for my 1999 Ford F53 chassis. I have never noticed that I had a steering damper shock and was wondering if it was a good idea to replace it as the same time I do the front & rear shocks. What is it's function and will it improve handling or just reduce the bumps and rattles that I notice in my steering column when I am going down the road and hit rough patches in the road?

Chucksel

KSCRUDE · 04-01-2014, 10:46 PM

If it has one from the factory, and you are changing shocks. I would change it also. They help with steering wheel kick in a lot of conditions, like ruts and potholes and such.

chucksel · 04-01-2014, 11:26 PM

Where would it be located?

NeilV · 04-02-2014, 04:10 AM

It is usually bolted to the back of the axle parallel to it.

98FPA · 04-02-2014, 09:05 AM

Chuck, as Neil mentioned that's where it should be. Mine was completely shot. I hadn't driven my much prior to that since I had just recently purchased it but after I had an front end alignment, the shop told me it was bad. They wanted about $160.00 to do the job, I got a Monroe at O'Reillys for around $45.00 and did it myself. Here are a couple of pics of it hopefully it will help you.

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Tony Lee · 04-02-2014, 03:01 PM

Not all vehicles need them and not all vehicles with one fitted need to have one, but under certain conditions, especially of the suspension geometry is a bit off-spec, or when you brake at high speed or hit certain bumps (rough train tracks are a good one) the front wheels start oscillating from side to side at a very rapid rate and the front of the vehicle becomes a blur and you are sure you are going to die.
Get the correct unit and it is usually an easy 10 minute job.
Well, 30 minutes anyway.

TeJay · 04-02-2014, 08:09 PM

98FPA,
I'd be interested in adding one of those to my unit. Could you send me some better pictures and the number of that Monroe shock that you used??? I'd really appreciate it.
If you don't have a rear track bar for your F-53 chassis I built one for about $45 and will send you pictures and all the information you will need to build one.

If you go to this thread you can read about the track rod and see the pics that I posted. It's only three pages long.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/00-st...de-196992.html

I installed it on our 2014 Vista 30T and we just finished a 2,500 mile trip to FL and back with a good deal of improved handling and absolutely no problems with the rear track rod.

TeJay

chucksel · 04-02-2014, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98FPA

Chuck, as Neil mentioned that's where it should be. Mine was completely shot. I hadn't driven my much prior to that since I had just recently purchased it but after I had an front end alignment, the shop told me it was bad. They wanted about $160.00 to do the job, I got a Monroe at O'Reillys for around $45.00 and did it myself. Here are a couple of pics of it hopefully it will help you.

Attachment 59734

Attachment 59735

This is what is SO AWESOME about this forum. The things people do to help is just incredible. Thanks so much!

NeilV · 04-02-2014, 10:21 PM

Most I have seen look like toys compared to whats on mine. It looks more like a cylinder from a backhoe which is about 3 feet long and the rod is almost 2 inches in diameter with the barn red casing about 3 to 3 1/2 inches. It has no hoses or external springs and I have not been able to read any markings on it that indicate its source.

Tony Lee · 04-03-2014, 12:52 AM

If your vehicle doesn't have one, you can get complete kits and add them like this. Plenty of utube stuff too by googling "death wobble"

98FPA · 04-03-2014, 07:38 AM

TeJay, the Monroe number is 555949, my cost was $44.98 at O'Reillys. Chassis and application could be different? I'll have to get better pics for you. It will have to be later in the week as the weather is supposed to be crummy again in the Midwest. I'll have to get back with you also on the rear track bar, been under my MH so much lately than I cannot believe I would or would not have noticed something like this. Thanks!

98FPA · 04-03-2014, 09:11 PM

TeJay, I'll try this attachment to see if works. I'll try to get better pictures, etc, after weather clears up. Not that clear of scan for you? #9 is the damper, I'll have to check out the bracket #10, but the other bracket #4 just fastens onto #6 the spindle connecting rod.

Ken

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TeJay · 04-04-2014, 08:41 AM

Ken,
The scanned picture came through OK. It helps some. Hey don't go crawling under your MH in the snow. That's not fun. I can wait for a real picture but in the meantime I'll check the scanned pic with our 2014 setup to even see if it's possible.

Thanks,
TeJay

chucksel · 04-14-2014, 10:13 PM

So I was under my 1999 F53 rig this weekend changing the ATF and lo and behold there was no steering damper shock. I was shocked (pun intended) that there was not one there. I had gone to Bilstein's web site a few months back and the application chart showed that there was one for this rig so guess what? I ordered one from Amazon at the same time I ordered 4 shocks to replace the old ones. Now it is too late to return it to Amazon. I guess a lesson learned is to look before you leap. Now I am wondering if there is a kit that would allow me to utilize this shock?