Steering stabilizer bar

[Chadd7]

Installed a king steering stabilizer on mine today, I had essentially zero complaints about stock, but with my experience in upgrading these in Wranglers I knew it would improve from stock….long story short, its considerably improved…..unwinding the wheel improved, but general driving feel and input needed is where it really shines. Worth every penny imho.

I have the Fox but I completely agree with your sentiments. I have 4 different cars I alternate with, and I used to definitely notice the steering fatigue with my Gren, so I would leave it in the garage a lot when running short errands. No longer!

 

[Dokatd]

I have the Fox but I completely agree with your sentiments. I have 4 different cars I alternate with, and I used to definitely notice the steering fatigue with my Gren, so I would leave it in the garage a lot when running short errands. No longer!

Could this be why some seem to not notice and others do? I can drive 4 or more trucks in a day. Each has their own quirks, but they all steer close enough to the same or maybe as expected. The Grenadier in stock form does not fit this model.

Just today I drove my Grenadier, my wife's Rivian, my Volvo C303, my LMTV and one of my Chevy Silverado work trucks. Was a passenger in a Prius as well.

 

[Chadd7]

Could this be why some seem to not notice and others do? I can drive 4 or more trucks in a day. Each has their own quirks, but they all steer close enough to the same or maybe as expected. The Grenadier in stock form does not fit this model.

Just today I drove my Grenadier, my wife's Rivian, my Volvo C303, my LMTV and one of my Chevy Silverado work trucks. Was a passenger in a Prius as well.

You're probably onto something. I drive my Gren to the train station, son's CX-30 on Tuesday nights, Ioniq5, LC200 and Gren on weekends. If the Gren were my only vehicle, I'm sure I would get used to its steering to the point I wouldn't notice anymore.

 

[[ Adam ]]

You're probably onto something. I drive my Gren to the train station, son's CX-30 on Tuesday nights, Ioniq5, LC200 and Gren on weekends. If the Gren were my only vehicle, I'm sure I would get used to its steering to the point I wouldn't notice anymore.

Perhaps that's my condition - I also think the stabilizer breaks in, or perhaps just I did. 30k miles in, it's a non issue.

 

[landmannnn]

OK, so until today I was firmly in the camp that the steering is fine. No issues with it.

Then today I fitted a Toughdog adjustable steering damper (thanks @DenisM ).

I can't quite believe the difference. It now steers and self centres just like any other vehicle.

Today I know I was wrong, the factory damper applies too much resistance.

 

[Dokatd]

OK, so until today I was firmly in the camp that the steering is fine. No issues with it.

Then today I fitted a Toughdog adjustable steering damper (thanks @DenisM ).

I can't quite believe the difference. It now steers and self centres just like any other vehicle.

Today I know I was wrong, the factory damper applies too much resistance.

Thank you for posting this. I am very glad you are enjoying the switch!

 

[OkGo]

OK, so until today I was firmly in the camp that the steering is fine. No issues with it.

Then today I fitted a Toughdog adjustable steering damper (thanks @DenisM ).

I can't quite believe the difference. It now steers and self centres just like any other vehicle.

Today I know I was wrong, the factory damper applies too much resistance.

Where did you source it from in the UK?

 

[landmannnn]

Where did you source it from in the UK?

I bought it from Myoverlandshop in Spain. €200 plus another £50 Farage fee.
It took about 3 weeks including the usual UPS farce.

 

[DenisM]

Ahhh! sorry! Directional stability with the steering centralised is noticeably improved at 90-100kmh. Not perfect but the constant "micro" correction is reduced significantly. I took @Steve.B 's lead in the choice of Tough Dog and #5 setting.
With the OEM damper the vehicle became somewhat skittish when being overtaken on the motorway by a "B-double" truck (prime mover with two long trailers). The dreaded Bernoulli effect where pressure differences tended to draw the Grenadier toward the passing truck has been almost eliminated with the new damper : there's some expected buffeting but the Grenadier now tracks straight with minimal correction....
I haven't played with other settings nor have I driven off road since the swap....

An update on experience with the Tough Dog steering damper .
We've been away for 10 days and covered close to 2,800km, all of it on 4 lane highway. Last sunday we ambled home at a lazy 105kmh for the 780km journey. Compared to a previous trip -similar distances, same route, this was a breeze. The steering was stable, trucks passing in the outer (rh) lane had minimal impact, there was no wandering nor pulling left or right even on occasional higher camber surfaces designed for heavy seasonal rains. Along with my initial scepticism that I'd get used to the oem and that the replacement wasn't truly necessary, I was also wondering if recently my sense of "steering improvement" was illusory to justify the expense. My dear wife, ever alert and comfortably enconsed in the LH seat who for health reasons is currently unable to drive, commented that I was more relaxed and that my hands were hardly moving compared to the constant minor corrections previously. " 'nuff said!"
As our US cousins warn however: "YMMV!"

Edit: I contacted Tough Dog and politely suggested that they amend the paper insert containing the instructions. Said instructions are generic and recommendations for various settings (where increase/decrease in damper settings is described as affecting body roll) apply primarily to an adjustable suspension damper mounted vertically, not horizontally as for a steering damper. The person I spoke to seemed hesitant to accept what I thought was "bleedin' obvious"in terms of differentiating between applications... nevertheless he assured me he'd "pass it on" to the powers that be....

 

[landmannnn]

An update on experience with the Tough Dog steering damper .
We've been away for 10 days and covered close to 2,800km, all of it on 4 lane highway. Last sunday we ambled home at a lazy 105kmh for the 780km journey. Compared to a previous trip -similar distances, same route, this was a breeze. The steering was stable, trucks passing in the outer (rh) lane had minimal impact, there was no wandering nor pulling left or right even on occasional higher camber surfaces designed for heavy seasonal rains. Along with my initial scepticism that I'd get used to the oem and that the replacement wasn't truly necessary, I was also wondering if recently my sense of "steering improvement" was illusory to justify the expense. My dear wife, ever alert and comfortably enconsed in the LH seat who for health reasons is currently unable to drive, commented that I was more relaxed and that my hands were hardly moving compared to the constant minor corrections previously. " 'nuff said!"
As our US cousins warn however: "YMMV!"

Edit: I contacted Tough Dog and politely suggested that they amend the paper insert containing the instructions. Said instructions are generic and recommendations for various settings (where increase/decrease in damper settings is described as affecting body roll) apply primarily to an adjustable suspension damper mounted vertically, not horizontally as for a steering damper. The person I spoke to seemed hesitant to accept what I thought was "bleedin' obvious"in terms of differentiating between applications... nevertheless he assured me he'd "pass it on" to the powers that be....

Agreed on the instructions, I had to read it several times before realising they had done a copy paste on general shock absorber guidance on the dial setting.

Just thinking out loud, I wonder if the reason for the OEM stiff damper is to provide stability on fast corners?

By stability I mean that you can't turn the wheel very quickly, those sharp J turns (aka moose test) being the enemy of high centre of gravity vehicles.