Steering Stabilizer (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

PabloCruise

SILVER Star
Joined
Jun 3, 2004
Threads
481
Messages
24,321
Location
Northern Colorado
I have a 1978 40. I did a 60 series power steering conversion back in the day.

I would like to add a steering stabilizer to this Cruiser. Currently, the 40 has no stabilizer.

The bushings in the front suspension are over 10 years old, and it has probably been that long since I rebuilt the knuckles, so yeah, time for both of those.

In addition to those, I would still like to find and fit a functional steering stabilizer.
 
I think about this item on and off, but I was looking through @dmaddox awesome thread about his '78 40 restoration, and saw this pic:

1668808571793.png


From here: Builds - 1978 US Market FJ40 Factory Reset - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/1978-us-market-fj40-factory-reset.1084111/page-36#post-14643309
 
Dallas found a factory stabilizer, and it is cool to see that it mounts to the back of the crossmember mount, and underneath the center link.

Foe my set up, I have a 70 series TRE at the steering box. It is more or less in line with the crossmember mount
I think I will have to mount to the back of the crossmember mount, and to the back of the TRE.
I am not sure if the mount holes are tapered?

(Don't judge - my stuff is not as pretty as @dmaddox )

IMG_1487(1).JPG

IMG_1486(1).JPG
 
I saw that the OEM piece that @dmaddox had was from KYB, so I contacted them.

Their support was funny, they said "Sorry, but we do not have a steering stabilizer even close to the required specifications."

I asked if they had anything close, and they sent me P/N ss10333.

They just sent the p/n, no dims. when I looked it up, it looks like compressed = 13.18", and extended length = 21".

Hmm... 🤔

The OEM piece:

1668809614619.png


The KYB SS10333:
1668809674040.png
 
Last edited:
Note the cool ends on the OEM piece (I think it even has grease fittings!), and the open eyes on the SS10333.

I asked KYB if they have studs for mounting, they said they do not.

All that said - what stabilizers are you all running for modified 40 steering set ups?
 
Steering stabilizers are nothing more than a shock absorber with a 50/50 valving. A simple setup has mounting brackets for attaching one end to the axle housing and another mount to connect to the steering. For under $100 you can pick up a setup like this.

steering-stabilizer_8743530-assembled[1].jpg


Here is a link.

There are a lot of us running around without a stabilizer. To do this everything in the suspension and steering needs to be tight/not worn out.
 
60 series stabilizer and pickup TRE.
Found it. Stock 40 Tie Rod, 80-81 Toyota Pickup 4x4 TRE. The Pickup TRE gives me the extra 5” of length in the Tie Rod assembly, and the extra hole gives me a mount for a stock steering stabilizer if I decide to run one. If the 40 stabilizer doesn’t have enough travel I’ll switch to a 60 series which does have more travel.
28BDC6C6-2F23-45AA-BC7F-5C3D83B4567D.jpeg

6D21EB23-2ACA-412E-BCBB-B7C58E3FF329.jpeg

5D6EB487-6653-4076-8C14-C5452669798E.jpeg
 
Last edited:
You could cut and paste the bracket on the crossmember to whatever damper specs that you'd like to install.
 
Forgive my ignorance but how does the 60 series conversion change your steering? I've never dealt with one so I don't know.
 
Check out the Tough Dog line of products. Toughdog.com.au

I replaced my damper, at the factory mounting points, with their RTC setup. IMHO a good piece of kit. Especialy in washboard type conditions.

They make a conventional style damper(s) in a HD/ EXT HD configuration as well.
 
Have been down this road on my 73’. Called a few cruiser shops to get stabilizer dimensions and couldn’t find an OEM fit that had the right specs. Found out a Monroe SC2915 unit fits the bill with no mods.

View attachment 3172133
This looks good - It looks like you mounted the stabilizer behind both mounts.

Do you have a side view to show how the two mounts align?
 
Steering stabilizers are nothing more than a shock absorber with a 50/50 valving. A simple setup has mounting brackets for attaching one end to the axle housing and another mount to connect to the steering. For under $100 you can pick up a setup like this.

View attachment 3172032

Here is a link.

There are a lot of us running around without a stabilizer. To do this everything in the suspension and steering needs to be tight/not worn out.
I agree. If everything was in good shape, I should not need it.
And then there is the part of me that wonders why Mr T outfitted brand-new Cruisers with stabilizers by design? 🤔
So, I will search for one. Ideally one that uses the mounts that came from the factory.
 
60 series stabilizer and pickup TRE.
Found it. Stock 40 Tie Rod, 80-81 Toyota Pickup 4x4 TRE. The Pickup TRE gives me the extra 5” of length in the Tie Rod assembly, and the extra hole gives me a mount for a stock steering stabilizer if I decide to run one. If the 40 stabilizer doesn’t have enough travel I’ll switch to a 60 series which does have more travel.
28BDC6C6-2F23-45AA-BC7F-5C3D83B4567D.jpeg

6D21EB23-2ACA-412E-BCBB-B7C58E3FF329.jpeg

5D6EB487-6653-4076-8C14-C5452669798E.jpeg
Well I honestly don't know why I never checked on a 60 series mount to begin with, but it looks like they would work!


Monroe SC2916
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom