Improve Stock Steering 2002 / Steering damper?

[electro]

Hello guys, thanks for looking!

How to improve stock steering is my general question.

How would a steering damper feel if added to my stock truck? I noticed you can get just one damper or two opposing dampers. I observe the steering dampers being used on lifted trucks with plus size tires to help control them a little better, say on the highway?

Would a steering damper on a stock truck add too much resistance? Do you think I would find steering the vehicle more tiresome?

I have a stock steering setup, gearbox/steering gear style I think is the type?

I have tweaked my gearbox adjuster screw a few times. 16mm socket to loosen lock nut and 5mm allen key to turn set screw for those wondering. Located on top of steering gearbox. Back on track now...I get minimal results to say the least. If you turn the screw in too far the steering will have a bit too much "hold" on it at low speed. For example it will get bumped by a pot hole and stay turned in whatever random direction it went requiring too much effort on the drivers part to correct. Driving down a particular street here in Kitchener, On I probably looked like I was zig zagging down the road. So I loosen the set screw some. Now I have too much play in the wheel and it then acts in the opposing manner and feels very unresponsive. Meaning what I do to the steering wheel does not change vehicle direction at all. SO I adjust back to the middle somewhere with the set screw and settle for now with OKAY steering feel.

Next observation: On a swooping highway bend for example releasing the steering wheel will result in a very abrupt reaction where the truck will then straighten in a way I feel to be too much and veer directly to the shoulder. I think this is just how my steering is engineered correct? This is the style and this is the way it is? Or not? Looking for advice here. Thats begs the question...Would a steering damper improve this particular scenario?

Please leave your steering damper experiences and your steering improvement ideas!!! PLEASE and Thank-you!!

Ryan

 

[02tahoeindiana]

Excellent question. No answers but im down to find out answer.

 

[electro]

What type of steering are the more current NBS Denalis and Eskys and Tahoes? Rack and pinion? What types of assistance is there from power steering SYSTEM.

Anyone able to break down the steering types as offered through the respective body styles? I'm assuming there is more advanced technology.

 

[02tahoeindiana]

I will go look at my Denali and report back. Also steering is naturally tighter on it due to the AWD. But not remotely close to my tahoe. Also the power steering on my tahoe if you unplug the speed sensor under the wheel it gets much lighter like the car is sitting still, wonder if you could modulate it to do the opposite and make steering heavier/more responsive

 

[ltdan]

I too would like to know what you find out. Since putting 22" wheels on the sterring has suffered a teeny bit. My '09 Ram with rack and pinion has always had a much better feel to it than the Tahoe does.

 

[a4edwin]

i think travieso added a dampener to his. maybe he could chime in.

 

[dropmech]

Dampeners are used mainly to assist with steering wheel vibration due to the addition of larger wheels/tires. Normally just a single dampener is sufficient for a normal application with oversized wheels and tires. The lifted trucks will use two simply because of the amount of weight just one wheel/tire assembly weighs. I believe a lot of guys are using a Rancho dampener. Couldn't tell you where to find it though.

 

[a4edwin]

http://www.carid.com/2000-chevy-tah...&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CMzfp8S1lrYCFYje4AodSw0A8Q

 

[electro]

It's so hard for me to visualize what that would look like bolted together and where on the truck. I will look at my truck closely to see if I can tell where it goes. There's no instructions on the website there. Would a kit like this typically come with instructions?

Is this a bolt on unit or is drilling required?


Thanks!