Do you have an aftermarket steering stabilizer?

buckshot500

buckshot500

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2008
Location
Clover S.C.
I put An aftermarket/ replacement, steering damper on my 1990 Yj about 700 miles ago. just today I noticed that the bolt that holds the stabilizer (inboard) to the center of the tie rod, Has been scraping against the tie rod that goes to the steering box. the fix is, to grind the bolt, (where it passes through the nut) off flush with the nut. It actually wore A notch in the tie rod, not too deep. Luckily I noticed it before it got too bad. This only occurs when you turn (full lock) to the right. Feels like A slight hitch, but makes A clunking noise if you listen for it carefully. O.K. now go check yours, feel for the notch. You should be able to see the bolt end worn down too.
 
I think I put my bolt in the right orientation.

Way to make steering stabilizers look worse.
 
I know the exact issue youre talking about. The best fix is to use a carrige bolt. Just take a dremel and round off the square edges on the carrige bolt up by the head. Or you can just remove the whole thing but mines a trail only rig.

EDIT - The best fix is to just run full hydraulic steering :D
 
Tapered bolt

JThomas said:
Oh, I couldn't wait.... Can you put the bolt in the other way? But... then again I knows nutin bout a jeap.
Click to expand...
Hey JThomas, When I noticed the problem, the first thing I thought about was the bolt orientation. Been turning wrenches for 30 something years, could I have missed that? Then I remembered that the bolt was tapered. Now I'm sure the Original damper was tapered, but I cant remember for sure if the new bolt, actually is tapered. But now that I've ground it down, it's not worth taking the bolt back out to be sure. Well at least someone might read this thread, and know what to do before they start the job. ( put the bolt in from front to back, or through the tie rod 1st, then the damper.)
 
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