News

There seems to be quite a bit of misinformation regarding steering stabilizers with regard to what purpose they serve, what steering issues can be fixed by installing one, as well as if there is a need for a double steering stabilizer as opposed to a single.

I often overhear people suggesting that a heavier duty or dual steering stabilizer is the solution to "fix a wandering or flighty steering problem", or "if you have had an episode of Death Wobble, installing a better steering stabilizer or even a double steering stabilizer will correct the problem". Nothing could be further from the truth!

The fact is, if you have your suspension/steering dialed in correctly, you could drive around all day without any steering stabilizer at all and likely wouldn't notice a difference on smooth flat terrain. I want to be clear, we are not suggesting that you don't need steering stabilizer your vehicle at all because they do, actually have a purpose. If they didn't, the vehicle would not have come from the factory with one installed. If your steering stabilizer is leaking or damaged, it needs to be replaced.

The steering stabilizer's primary function is to dampen or stabilize the side to side movement of the wheels in much the same way shock absorbers limiting excessive suspension movement & oscillation. Steering stabilizers are a necessary component because it helps to absorb bump-steer and flighty steering issues. If you have a heavy duty steering stabilizer, it will absorb more bump-steer and flighty steering issues.

That being said, some gas charged steering stabilizers have a tendency to try to fully extend all the time. This can, sometimes, result in a constant push of the steering to the left. This is typically an issue on Jeep Wranglers that have heavy duty, aftermarket, gas charged stabilizers installed. This is why it is always recommended that the steering stabilizer be removed prior to the test driving a vehicle to troubleshoot or diagnose steering problems.

A steering stabilizer will often act as a band-aid to cover up or disguise the real causes of wandering or flighty steering which could be caused by anything from poor alignment to improper steering geometry to a broken track-bar mount on the frame or axle, or any number of other things.

It is important to realize that a steering stabilizer does NOT and WILL NOT FIX any steering problem. It will only dampen the symptoms. 

Many people install dual stabilizers simply because they like how it looks. If you are running excessively large/wide tires they might be a rational consideration. There are, although, very few situations where there would be so much oscillation in the steering that it would REQUIRE dual steering stabilizers to absorb it, and not be covering up a much more serious, underlying steering issue.

It is important that steps be taken to diagnose and fix the actual source of any steering problem that you might be experiencing as opposed to masking or hiding it with a steering stabilizer.