I'm on steering stabilizer #3 in 3 1/2 months or so.

I bought a replacement for my Rancho RS5000 stabilizer that was 14 years old in July. After that long it was just worn out. The new one lasted about 3 weeks. Developed a travel dead spot 1.5" long right in the middle.

Bought a RS7000 stabilizer to replace it. The RS7000 line just came out here fairly recently I understand. This one lasted about 3 weeks. Tagged a doe on the way home from work on the right corner and the stabilizer lost about 1/2 of its 'stabilization'. Acted like it lost pressure, but wasn't leaking.

Bought ANOTHER RS7000 to replace it and it lasted about 1 1/2 months. Dropped a tire into a pothole driving into a gas station and the same thing happened. Acted like it lost pressure, except this one also started leaking around the shaft seal.

So, in the last three and a half months I've managed to go through three stabilizers - only one of which has managed to only kinda sort of make it off road. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Don't know what's up with Rancho but this coupled with my disgust with the new RS9000 valving ... time to change brands. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

The gas pressurized stabilizers work great on my Sport. I know that a lot of people don't like them because they can create a 'pull' effect in the steering, but I'm not seeing it with my steering geometry. Anyway, I want to stay with the higher end pressure stabilizer. The RS5000 was 'ok', but our highways are so bad here now that the 5000 just wasn't up to the big tires at highway speeds.

Looking at Fox (985-24-063) or King (PR2008-STNR) so far. (Yes, I know they're God awful expensive <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />) Don't know who else might make a heavier pressurized stabilizer like the 7000. Shops haven't been much help either finding something.

Don't know about either of those because they don't publish their eye dimensions. I don't want to have to redesign my frame mount to fit some manufacturer's one off custom eye design. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Anyone have any ideas? Anyone have any experiences with these? Others?

Edward

Use this and be done

The solution

ARG!!! That doesn't help! I'm TRYING to NOT do this! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> I'm only having marginal success resiting the Dark Force of hydraulic assist as it is. PSC rebuilt and ported two boxes for me last year so I already have a ported steering box installed. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thing is I'm REALLY trying to not make this vehicle any more complicated than it already is. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> As nice as assist would be on the trail, I'm not so sure its the hotness for doing 75 down the highway. Or how long it'll last given that I put on about 2500-3000 miles a month. Doesn't help that the guys at the shop that did the SAS have repeatedly recommended against it - they really don't think I'll like it.

So, ... all I need is a stabilizer really. I did get dimensions from King. No word from the duffus' at Fox. What is it with companies that treat their products like state secrets?? Anyway, figured out I'm good on the drag link end and the 8" of either will work. Just need to check the frame end and go from there. Sigh.

Edward

I've got an NOS TRW stabilizer that was listed as for Gen1's. I don't think TRW makes these anymore.

I can remember several threads years ago where the merit of things were hotly debated. Hence I never got around to installing it and trying it for myself.

Opinions on TRW anyone?

Yea, I don't need a 'merits' debate. If you (validly) need a stabilizer, you need it and if you don't you don't. That's how stabilizers kinda work. I've been reading threads on stabilizers for three months and for the overwhelming part they're useless 'cause they all degenerate into 'no one should ever need one' or 'it'll turn your vehicle into a Porche'. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> I have a little bump steer, big tires on a solid axle, and relatively quick steering coupled with really bad highways. There's no way or reason to 'fix' any of these so stabilizer it is. Worst part is otherwise the steering if flawless. My route to work just sucks. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Opinions on TRW anyone? [/quote]

The only thing I've gotten is that the TRW isn't as 'stiff' as the RS7000. AFAIKT it's about even with the RS5000 (or maybe just a tad less). This is hearsay so .... If this is correct, however, based on my experience with the RS5000, it should work well on anything that's still IFS up to 35"s. No one who runs the TRW on Jeeps and such have ever complained that I've read.

Edward