Steering Stabilizer question
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 250
From: DE
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
While i am back at college in a week and a half my dad is going to get my jeep checked out and aligned so a new stabilizer now isn't going to hurt it or do anything bad. And over the summer I am going to work a lot on her to keep her running strong, such as new bushings, shocks, etc.. She is 25 years old with 22498xx miles running strong and I plan to keep her running like that for a really long time
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,173
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From: Columbus, Ohio
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0, comp cam, 99 intake, apn header, neon injectors, Thunderbolt 2.5" High Flow Cat
Don't get it aligned until after you get it checked out and the worn parts replaced... like was just said, it'll be off the second you take it down the road. Scrap the stabilizer until then too. Or... don't listen to us and learn everything the hard way... 
Cherokee Forum Vendor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 297
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From: Grand Junction Colorado
Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 5.2
I have delt alot with shops that will show you the alignment on paper and it looks good... drive it to the next shop and they will tell you it is way off!
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 79
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From: Raleigh, NC
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
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.
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
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...
Like this guy said... Priority goes to everything before the last sentence...
OP- any updates?
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 250
From: DE
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
When i took my stock one off it was completely shot, no pressure in it at all. The new one defiantly helped with bumps and I am more confident in the quality of my ride now
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