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May 10, 1998 |
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Q: Jim Miller wrote: Hi Mark; I am not sure if you are the guy in Alaska on the TLCA list or not but I think you might be. If so you recently responded to a question I posted about the steering dampener on a 40. I think you advocate a dampener on the axle to Idler arm. Another guy said that the Rancho kit was a POS. If Rancho is a POS what brand should I use? I had a Rancho on my old Samurai and never had a single problem with it. A: Actually there isn't an idler arm in the steering of an FJ40. What I suggested was to install the auxiliary steering damper between the axle housing and the tierod. This is the normal mounting location for most aftermarket units anyway. This location puts the damper (or stabilizer), in a position where it will absorb the rapid shock of a road impact after it has been transmitted through only a single tierod end (depending on which tire takes the impact). The factory damper mounted to the center arm, will allow the impact to be transmitted to or through as many as 5 tierod ends and the center arm pivot (to varying degrees). My preference is to retain either the stock unit, or an upgraded one in it's place, and add a single stabilizer in the tierod-axle housing location. I have not had any problems with the Rancho unit myself. I have seen a couple of these type stabilizers which had suffered damage from rocks and other trail obstructions, but that is not the fault of the manufacturer. The factory unit is a little higher, and therefore suffers from damage a little less. But it generally only happens on pretty rough trails anyway, and is not a common occurance in any case. I really don't have any brand recommendation. A steering stabilizer see's little real stress compared to shocks and other components. I would expect any reputable brand unit to last so long that you'll probably forget who you bought it from before it fails :) Editor's Note: We have recently installed the Black Diamond (by Warn) stabilizer on our Project TJ and found it to be very stout and is working great! Our stock one had exploded! Send your questions to Mark at cruiser@rockcrawler.com |
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