Add-On Steering Stabilizer

[81FJ40Pilot]

The '81 FJ40 I recently purchased has an existing add-on steering stabilizer attached to the tie rod. Should I leave it, delete it, or replace it?

 

[cruiserkev]

Junk. My bracket broke right here and jammed up my steering during mild wheeling. Removed it and never noticed much of a difference without it.

 

[cruisermatt]

delete it.

 

[JohnnyC]

Way back when we didn’t have any good dealer parts guys… nobody wanted to pull a book off the shelf and call around for a part.., if it wasn’t in stock it wasn’t to be had no beno’s back then

But… there were aftermarket parts up the wazoo the big guy for steering stabilizers was Heckethorn … big yellow

I had one of those heckethorns because my stock one pissed fluid and my parts guy was … s***ty

Been on the truck for well over 27 or so years … they made some good stuff then

I still use it today … however replaced it with another cylinder several years ago

Was it a bandaid at one time … yes… Is it overkill now… most likely … I don’t care however I’m one of those owners

 

[B y r o n]

I say if everything seems to be working fine right now, why mess with it? If it was installed as a band aid to fix a problem in the steering be prepared to do additional work to correct the problem.

Years ago I ran a similar product on my rig because the factory dampener wasn't working or enough to dampen as it should. Years later I added power steering which did away with the factory dampener and since my steering was completely rebuilt I tested it out without any dampening. To my surprise and delight a dampener wasn't needed so I haven't put one back on.