Steering damper

F

flathead48

Well-known member
The damper seems like a good idea based on the posts, was wondering if anyone ever used one on a 48 passenger or could recommend a good one . Thanks, Rick
 
I used one off a mid seventies VW super beetle...
On the first test drive, with garbage roller tires, I went into an incredible speed wobble... If I had had the good sense to have decent tires I don't think my car really needs a steering damper. I am running the same basic front end set up that you have.

Karl
 
I just fitted one to my 35 pickup on the weekend . Its just insurance I have no issue with bad steering. Mine is from a mid sixties VW I just made the brackets myself. It works great because I don't even know its on there.
 

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My 2003 VW Passat has a damper on the drivers side linkage.

My '47 has bias ply 15 inch tires and its steering system is in good condition. It handles well and IMO at this point I don't think a damper would improve anything.
 
Most of the top car builders don't let a straight axle car leave their shop without one. I bought mine from Pete & Jakes. Should be able to get one from Speedway Motors too.
 
i just put one on my 46 coupe got it from napa love it put it on in less than 30 min. hard part was jacking the car up cost 109 .00 part number kyb ss 15345:)
 
I started using steering damper's on the front end of solid I-beam front ends when I started using radial tires.
I found that the larger the footprint of the tire, the greater the need for a steering damper. A steering damper is a must have item on a solid axle 4 x 4, especially if the vehicle has large tires.
I don't think a vehicle with bias ply tires and independent front suspension would benefit much from a steering damper.
 
My 40 sedan doesn't have a damper. It handles well with no "bump" up to 70-75 ---as fast as I want to go. I use a dropped axle with 7.5 degrees of caster. But, the steering is hard as low speeds and as I get older---it gets more trouble to steer.

I have been pondering reducing the caster angle and using a damper.
Any thoughts????
 
7.5 is not THAT much caster. I think Ford spec's were in the 4 1/2 to 9 degrees range.
 
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I think any solid axle vehicle can suffer from the dreaded speed wobble , death slapper whatever you want to call it. Back around 2000 I was driving a 3t truck it was a new Mitsubishi, drove it for a few years every day but one day while on the freeway for no reason what so ever it just violently went into a wobble and I could barely hold it frightened the **** out of me . Also that same truck the spring broke on the throttle well on a diesel that just opens them up.. revved its box off! lucky I could pull over at the time and it was low speed..
 
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