Pro Comp steering stablizer - Word O' caution

[MountainBum]

So I like the ext length shocks and while I was replacing my drag link and ends I figured I'd upgrade my old stablizer with a Pro Comp unit and finish off the suspension. Also took the time to finally do the castor correction while I was f'ing around under there anyways. I choose the Ironman plates as I am @ 4.5" in front lift and planning another 1" in the future. Back to the caution part. After all work was done and my poor man's alinment done (string back to front deal) I took her out. Drives much nicer cept' for the driveshaft vibe. No more wandering great! tried to do a left hand U-turn and I had no left turning radius. I seem to have lost a bunch going left. After hours of screwing with the drag link I removed it completely and turned the wheel left, turns out the damn Pro Comp stablizer was 2+" short going left and had 2+" on the bar going right. Easy fix, I flipped the triangle bracket with the "UP" facing down and bam problem fixed. New problem created, I can't get the splash shield back on. So next is to make a cardboard template of how the new shield should look and the "modify" ie cut the heck out of the shield and put it back on. maybe try and get my buddy to weld up the cut off piece to the new open area it used to cover. Oh, and the holes for the new bolts provided in the Pro Comp kit need to be drilled out so the the bolts will fit.

Over all the feel is great with Pro Comps all around on J's and a 1" rubber in the front springs. The Ironman plates are an easy install but I do rub the rear tie rod ever so slightly. nothing a little more modding won't fix. So if you don't mind a extra install work, the Pro Comp steering stablizer is a great deal @ $32 on Amazon

 

[mshelby]

Which one did you go with? I see 3 different stabilizers, 224000, 220230, and 222560.

 

[MountainBum]

The one listed in their catalog for the 80 is 224000. It is the right length if you flip your bracket. I didn't look at the specs for the others you listed

 

[mshelby]

Thanks. Ordered my Pro Comp shocks the other day and figured I would go ahead with the stabilizer as well. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[mister]

Did you go with the exp927530 (front ) and exp927514 (rear)?

p

 

[mshelby]

Did you go with the exp927530 (front ) and exp927514 (rear)?

p

Yep but the only place I could find them were Summit which were out of stock. If you can find another place that has them in stock please share.

 

[MountainBum]

One more quick tip. Get yourself a cheap tie rod end puller or just pop for a good 2 jaw puller. The stock stablizer is on as tight as a tie rod end. It will save you soooooo much grief in the long run. It took me about 2 minutes to remove the old one from the bracket with the puller. 5 minutes if you need to pull it from the relay rod end. I've heard a BFH will do but thats just a PITA. I think I paid $30 at Pep boys for mine and it was worth every penny!

Try 4wheelonline.com for the shocks. I got mine there on sale for $149.99 + 6.99 shipping a few months back. They just drop ship from the manufacturer so you get them pretty quick.
Also Amazon is good to try and cheap shipping if you can find the right part #.

edit: You will need DC drive shaft with J's, plate castor correction, and no extra wieght. With winch and bumper you'll just need the blue slee bushings.

 

[mshelby]

A BFH is so much fun though

I checked 4wheelonline and they show no results when selecting the vehicle and amazon doesn't carry the PNs needed for the 80 but they do have the stabilizer.

 

[SpeedAgent]

To the OP, can you please post a pic of your stabilizer installed? I bought the same one, but the hardware that came with it seemed like it was for a completely different vehicle and I had to go buy new hardware. Just curious if yours was like mine and if so, how you installed it.

Thanks

 

[-Spike-]

I do rub the rear tie rod ever so slightly. nothing a little more modding won't fix.

Keep in mind you'll rub more when turning, and even more when flexed. That may be where you noticed the rub, but if not, look for it.

 

[MountainBum]

To the OP, can you please post a pic of your stabilizer installed? I bought the same one, but the hardware that came with it seemed like it was for a completely different vehicle and I had to go buy new hardware. Just curious if yours was like mine and if so, how you installed it.

Thanks

I'm sure its the same. New hardware, you don't need no stinking new hardware, you just need tools to modify. It came with 2 bolts, one regular and one double ended. The regular bolt I put through the frame bracket with slight straight drilling through the bracket to open it just enough for the bolt. For the double ended bolt I drilled out the tie rod end with a step bit untill I got the tapered end of the bolt in enough to get the nut and pin on, then slipped on the stablizer shock on the other end of the bolt. Simple but like i stated in the original post, it was too short going left, so i flipped the bracket and it's in the perfect position. If you got the 224000 and have the bracket in the stock position, check your left turn lock, I bet the stablizer shock is completely extended and you can't make left U-turns very tight. Then turn it to right lock, I bet you have 2" or so left in shock before it bottoms out. I can get a pic up in a little bit if you really need it.

 

[MountainBum]

Keep in mind you'll rub more when turning, and even more when flexed. That may be where you noticed the rub, but if not, look for it.

Yea, I'm gonna pull the tie rod today and grind the control arms untill I have a good 3/8" clearance or so. No biggie. Figured it easier than pulling the arms and I don't need to jack stand the truck to do it that way.

 

[SpeedAgent]

I'm still foggy on how you used the hardware. Oh well, what I did still worked and I don't seem to the the u-turn issue you have.

 

[mister]

Yep but the only place I could find them were Summit which were out of stock. If you can find another place that has them in stock please share.

I literally just bought the last two (exp927530) left in the nation. Pro Comp found them for. They have one left at the warehouse and won't be getting any untell mid to late May. I'm glad I called we leave for Moab May 9th. The rears are easy to come by.

p

 

[MountainBum]

I'm still foggy on how you used the hardware. Oh well, what I did still worked and I don't seem to the the u-turn issue you have.

Maybe the specs on yours is different and yours has a longer travel and included different hardware. When did you buy it? Even using different hardware the mounting points should be the same, one on the relay rod end at the pitman arm and one on the triangle bracket that is attached to the frame. Unless my pitman arm is bent or out of center, which it doesn't appear to be, it should be about a 9" throw in the stablizer shock, 1/2 right, 1/2 left. Basicly my stablizer wasn't centered for a 9" throw. I had to move the mounting point on the frame about 2" toward the drivers side to get 4.5" both left and right travel. My steering wheel turns about the same amount each way so I know it is centered along with the pitman arm. I'm glad yours seems to work without issue, mine didn't, oh well...

 

[Ebag333]

TBH the steering stabilizer isn't a big deal. If your truck is setup right, you shouldn't even need it.

I swapped my OEM for an OME (when I first did my lift) and somewhat regretted it as it was a waste of time. Drove it a bit with no stabilizer on at all and could barely tell.

The OME stabilizer is bolt on, no modding needed. You can rattle can it white if you hate the yellow body.

 

[mshelby]

I literally just bought the last two (exp927530) left in the nation. Pro Comp found them for. They have one left at the warehouse and won't be getting any untell mid to late May. I'm glad I called we leave for Moab May 9th. The rears are easy to come by.

p

Thanks bastard

You will be putting them to better use than I would so glad it was a Mudder they went to. Summit claims to have my order out by April 22nd so we will see.

Enjoy Moab, looking forward to hearing how well they handled.