My 88' Laredo gets a bit of play in the wheel when hitting pot holes on the high way. I believe that the original steering stabilizer is still on there. My question is can I install a rough country's Wrangler aftermarket Steering Stabilizer on there as I have an unused one in my garage? Thank you for your help. And any other possible things that may cause sudden split second play after hitting pot holes will be greatly appreciated

 

yeah, you can put that on, but i don't think that's the whole problem. throw it on and give it a try.

but you might need new ball joints and/or hub bearings at the least.

 

thank you, now is there anything I should check while i'm down there to be loose such as trac bar and things such as that. I am new to being hands on with this kind of stuff so I'm not sure what needs to be tight and what needs to be loose. I don't want to over tighten something and break it when i go around a turn

 

is your jeep lifted or stock?

if you get someone inside the jeep to shake the steering wheel back and forth through the dead play, just so the steering starts to move, you should be able to check for unwanted play in the tie rod ends, track bar bushings, control arm bushings, etc.

to check ball joints, jack one side up so the tire is a couple inches off the ground, then use a bar, jack handle or some type of pry bar and stick it under the tire and lift up. you would feel the movement of a bad ball joint, or have someone look for play when you do this.

while it's up, grab the wheel at 12 and 6 and/or 3 and 6 and wiggle while feeling for any movement.

 

stabilizers just insulate the problem until it gets really bad. then you have risk of catastophic ball joint failures or tie-rod ends/other steering components failing. it very common to have your issues and its best to really figure out the cause. also if your current stabilizer is shot(leaking, or just warn out) then yea replace it

 

My jeep is bare stock when it comes to suspension and steering, tomorrow I will inspect any obvious loose ends after work. If I find time and go over my buddy's house I'll ask him to help me out with a check

 

I threw a new monroe stabilizer in when I put my shocks on. The stabilizer seemed to help the 'wandering' more than the shocks helped the ride. It was a good investment. I'd try it, though eyeball how it comes out before you start pounding with a soft blow or do replacement. My manual said that I'd have to heat and pound, but on my 2001 it was just bolted in.

 

When you put it on and the Jeep is jacked up off the ground, I 'THINK' you need to put it on the ground before you tighten up the nuts. Someone correct me, or explain why if that's so. XX2 on other posts for checking other suspension/steering parts

 

Thanks, I greased up all the joints as they were pratically bone dry. I'm going to install the stabilizer tomorrow and see how that works out. As for shocks and what not I am planning on doing a lot of overhauling this summer when I get back from college

 

If you want, you can check the wrangler replacement part number against your XJ number at autozone.com or Advance auto's website.

I think they may be the same part number.

Alternately you could measure both of yours at full extension & full compression to see if they are close enough.

 

That was a great idea! they both had the same number, thanks!

 

When any of you installed your steering stabilizer did you just put that metal end of the double bolt through the tie rod for metal to metal connection with no lock washer? I was a bit confused when that is how it seemed to work

 

ummm... no.... a steering stablizer will NOT FIX a loose wheel.... not even close... as a matter of fact... a jeep with no worn steering components or anything out of alignment will drive perfectly straight and be nice and tight without a steering stabilizer installed at all! No... I'm not tripping, You do not need a steering stabilizer... PERIOD... A steering stabilizer is a luxury item there only to make the steering feel smoother and less interupted. It does NOT fix worn steering components. HOWEVER, it will cover some of them up. If you put a steering stabilizer on and it feels better now... you've just masked over a loose or worn part, that is still worn or loose. It may feel better than it did with a new stabilizer... but that part is not going to unwear... it's still as worn as it was and is going to wear more... Always fix the worn necessary parts before you replace the luxury item...

Like this guy said... Priority goes to everything before the last sentence...

 

I'm going back to college in a week and a half, my dad said he's going to get the jeep aligned and checked out while i'm gone. And over the summer I plan on doing a lot to my jeep such as new bushings all around the front end. So a new stabilizer now isn't going to hurt it in the long run but only help it. My jeep is 25 years old 22498xx miles on it and running great and i would like to keep it that way for a really long time

 

They cant do an Alignment with worn parts.. Like the other guys said.. U dont need one.. Just fix the worn parts and all will be good! Dont let them set it up with out the new parts.. If they do, as soon as you head down the road it will be off.. Good Luck!