What is a steering stabilizer? There are a lot of parts out there that get a lot of attention in terms of Jeep discussion. Whether it be track bars or diff plates and even lift kits. But you know what doesn’t get a lot of attention? Steering stabilizers. The only time they really get talked about is when death wobble enters the picture. Either way, we’re going to be discussing the part briefly. To start, let’s discuss what a steering stabilizer actually is. To put it simply, it’s a shock. Not an upright shock you’d find on your axle, but instead, a sideways shock that fits between your axle and your steering components. It acts as a buffer between the wheels and the axle and absorbs a lot of the vibration that would otherwise really ruin the ride quality. Said vibrations also take a heavy toll on your vehicle, hence their relative importance. You could get away without them (maybe), but it’s not a good idea.
The regular Jeep steering stabilizer you get from the factory is typically a very good one. A lot of Jeep owners never replace them throughout their time with the Jeep. That is if they keep it stock anyway, and nobody likes a stock Jeep. A lot of people don’t know whether or not they should be replacing their steering stabilizers when they lift their Jeep or add other components. After all, you should always be careful when modifying your vehicle because everything’s designed to work under certain conditions and at certain angles. Change that up and you could have a problem. Generally, you don’t have to worry about angles with steering stabilizers, simply because they’ll operate at the same angle as the axle without hassle. What you do have to worry about is extra weight. If you add something like a really heavy steel bumper, steel skid plates, or even rock bars, you’re putting a lot more strain on your steering stabilizers. You may be able to get away with the stock parts, but over time they’ll wear out. If you plan to add a lot more weight, we recommend you upgrade your steering stabilizers to a heftier option.
One thing we would really like to point out is steering problem symptoms. A lot of people tend to just replace the steering stabilizer when it’s no longer providing as smooth of a ride. This brings up a problem, however. If your Jeep is relatively new (10 years or so), and has problems with the steering stabilizer, you most likely have a different problem. Your steering assemblies most likely are amplifying the usual stress symptoms, meaning your steering stabilizer wears out faster. Replacing this part may dampen the symptoms quite a bit, but they’ll be back relatively quickly. As the original problem gets worse, you can bet other things are going to break. As a general rule of thumb, if your steering stabilizers are worn out, check for underlying issues. There is almost always a cause.
For more information about what is a steering stabilizer or about parts related to them, feel free to read through some of our other articles, or reach out to us directly. We hope this article answered all of your questions and more.