Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Steering Stabilizer
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Steering Stabilizer [message #100488 is a reply to message #100485] |
Mon, 20 September 2010 21:47   |
GMCNUSA
Messages: 283
Registered: August 2006
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
[quote title=Ken Henderson wrote on Mon, 20 September 2010 22:18]I've just posted 3 photos of the OEM Steering Stabilizer (or Damper, or
Shock Absorber), and a sketch of the mounting bracket which is usually
removed when installing an aftermarket gadget like the "Safety Steer".
Bob Burkitt had the foresight to make those photos and the sketch in case
anyone needed them, and provided to me for posting.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=5605
Ken H.
_______________________________________________
Thanks Ken I removed the old spring loaded shock today and have an Auto Zone replacement coming in Tues. (tomorrow). The factory shock mounting ears are still on the frame but were pounded down to make clearance for the bolted on bracket of new shock. Hopefully the ears can be bent back into position if not I'll make new one.
Larry Dilk
Indianapolis, IN
76 Eleganza II
Patterson 455,Turbo City TBI,
Just LOVE It!
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Steering Stabilizer [message #100783 is a reply to message #100488] |
Thu, 23 September 2010 10:16 |
Larry C
Messages: 1168
Registered: July 2004
Location: NE Illinois by the Illino...
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Are we talking about the device used to keep the GMC from wandering on road ruts? Or at least make it easier to travel the rutted roadway.?
I had thought it was to take strain off of the steering gear and to help control the vehicle from any wandering if the steering gear has a bit of play ( steering wheel able to move 1 to 3" before the wheels respond to movement.
I had seen such devices and thought they might be a good idea if they worked.
What is the intention of the shock mounted device used for? The same thing or does it soften blows from road bumps?
Isn't it true, shocks only control movement in one direction? that would make 2 shocks needed to do any good??
Maybe we need to buy big off road tires and make the GMC's 4x4's.
Gatsbys' CRUISER  08-18-04
74 GLACIER X, 260/455-APC-4 Bagg'r
Remflex Manifold gaskets
CampGrounds needed, Add yours to "PLACES" />
http://www.gmceast.com/travel
_
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Steering Stabilizer [message #100786 is a reply to message #100783] |
Thu, 23 September 2010 10:31 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| Larry C wrote on Thu, 23 September 2010 09:16 |
Are we talking about the device used to keep the GMC from wandering on road ruts? Or at least make it easier to travel the rutted roadway.?
I had thought it was to take strain off of the steering gear and to help control the vehicle from any wandering if the steering gear has a bit of play ( steering wheel able to move 1 to 3" before the wheels respond to movement.
I had seen such devices and thought they might be a good idea if they worked.
What is the intention of the shock mounted device used for? The same thing or does it soften blows from road bumps?
Isn't it true, shocks only control movement in one direction? that would make 2 shocks needed to do any good??
Maybe we need to buy big off road tires and make the GMC's 4x4's.
|
Larry, shocks can and normally do dampen motion in either direction. On a suspension shock they can provide different damping in either direction and they can do so at different velocities. In the case of the steering damper, it is the same in both directions and is meant to reduce road induced shocks back through the steering system--mainly to the pitman arm. Sometimes, pitman arm loads can be so high that it will actually break the arm. Increased caster can dramatically increase road shocks and pitman arm loads.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Steering Stabilizer [message #321840 is a reply to message #100485] |
Wed, 09 August 2017 09:17 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Look to the rear, for wind steer. Check the wear in your bogie pins and
bushings, condition of your shocks, and rear alignment. Also check the
tracking of your forward facing bogies, particularly on the passenger side.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Aug 9, 2017 7:13 AM, "Justin Brady" wrote:
My coach drives well. Front end had very little play and on a decent road
with no major wind it's a one finger wonder.
That changes when there's wind involved though, high gusty winds will
literally throw me a 1/2 lane over before I can fully react, and some semi
trucks will do the same if they pass me fast enough.
My question is will a steering stabilizer (ie Lenzi) help with this? Or is
there somewhere else I should look?
At some point I just have to accept that it's a very large surface area and
not very heavy (relatively) and will be moved by the wind, but I'm not
there yet. Some of the gusts in the midwest nearly sent us off the road,
and firmly convinced my wife that she doesn't ever want to drive it.
--
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Steering Stabilizer [message #321841 is a reply to message #321840] |
Wed, 09 August 2017 09:26 |
Justin Brady
Messages: 769
Registered: April 2015
Location: Bell Buckle, TN
Karma: 11
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Thanks Jim,
Will do!
James Hupy wrote on Wed, 09 August 2017 09:17Look to the rear, for wind steer. Check the wear in your bogie pins and
bushings, condition of your shocks, and rear alignment. Also check the
tracking of your forward facing bogies, particularly on the passenger side.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Aug 9, 2017 7:13 AM, "Justin Brady" wrote:
My coach drives well. Front end had very little play and on a decent road
with no major wind it's a one finger wonder.
That changes when there's wind involved though, high gusty winds will
literally throw me a 1/2 lane over before I can fully react, and some semi
trucks will do the same if they pass me fast enough.
My question is will a steering stabilizer (ie Lenzi) help with this? Or is
there somewhere else I should look?
At some point I just have to accept that it's a very large surface area and
not very heavy (relatively) and will be moved by the wind, but I'm not
there yet. Some of the gusts in the midwest nearly sent us off the road,
and firmly convinced my wife that she doesn't ever want to drive it.
--
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Steering Stabilizer [message #321842 is a reply to message #321840] |
Wed, 09 August 2017 09:29 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
First go drive, I mean sail, a Class C, then drive your GMC.
My GMC does push a little with a crosswind, but not much, a class C, esp and older one is terrifying.
IF your GMC is that affected by cross wind, you definitely have suspension wear like James Says.
can you feel the Semi push hit the rear and push it over, or does it happen as the semi is closer to the front. That info will help narrow the trouble area down.
On my C I could feel the semi pass, it pushed the rear over, then the middle, then the front, it was quite the Hula dance, maybe a chacha ?
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of James Hupy
Sent: Wednesday, August 9, 2017 9:17:44 AM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Steering Stabilizer
Look to the rear, for wind steer. Check the wear in your bogie pins and
bushings, condition of your shocks, and rear alignment. Also check the
tracking of your forward facing bogies, particularly on the passenger side.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Aug 9, 2017 7:13 AM, "Justin Brady" wrote:
My coach drives well. Front end had very little play and on a decent road
with no major wind it's a one finger wonder.
That changes when there's wind involved though, high gusty winds will
literally throw me a 1/2 lane over before I can fully react, and some semi
trucks will do the same if they pass me fast enough.
My question is will a steering stabilizer (ie Lenzi) help with this? Or is
there somewhere else I should look?
At some point I just have to accept that it's a very large surface area and
not very heavy (relatively) and will be moved by the wind, but I'm not
there yet. Some of the gusts in the midwest nearly sent us off the road,
and firmly convinced my wife that she doesn't ever want to drive it.
--
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Steering Stabilizer [message #321845 is a reply to message #100485] |
Wed, 09 August 2017 09:51 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
|
Senior Member |
|
|
GM used the damper on the E cars from which our front end is derived. It is there for a reason. They can fail in several modes. The leak mode is obvious from an outside glance. Internally they can fail in several ways. I had one that looked perfect but had 1/2" slop (a huge amount in linkage movement) before it damped. Apparently the internals had started to unscrew. You must take the unit out of circuit at least on one side to test it.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Steering Stabilizer [message #321847 is a reply to message #321843] |
Wed, 09 August 2017 10:06 |
Bullitthead
Messages: 1411
Registered: November 2013
Karma: 5
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Steering stabilizer is only for road shock (potholes, etc,) Check your tires for cupping type of wear and proper load range/inflation. If you are getting pushed excessively, either there is too much slack in your running gear (entire suspension system) or you are losing your grip on the road surface. If the tires are not aligned close enough, they are scrubbing/slipping on the surface already and so your grip is already compromised. If they are overinflated, grip will also be reduced.
Terry Kelpien
ASE Master Technician
73 Glacier 260
Smithfield, Va.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Steering Stabilizer [message #321870 is a reply to message #321846] |
Wed, 09 August 2017 19:15 |
 |
USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
|
Senior Member |
|
|
G'day,
I had occasion to chat with Dave today about some other items and I asked him about the Steering Stabilizer; he advised that he no
longer makes them.
He suggested that you go through the steering system piece by piece to determine if every part was serviceable; see:
http://www.gmceast.com/technical/Mueller_Steering_Inspection_Guide.pdf
He noted that setting the steering box on center as per Alex Ferrara is important. (I can't find the link to his procedure).
He also noted that getting the most amount of caster into the front end by installing offset bushings in the rear of the upper
control arms would help: http://www.gmcmidwestclassics.org/Web%20pages/align.htm
Finally the parts of the front suspension should be checked, ball joints, control arm bushings, shocks, etc.
Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808
-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces@list.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Justin Brady
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2017 12:57 AM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Steering Stabilizer
For the record this is what I was asking about:
http://www.bdub.net/lenzi/#SteeringStabilizer
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Tue Nov 05 06:31:38 CST 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.01463 seconds
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
