Does a new steering stabilizer shock absorber improve the "back and forth" sloppy handling of the steering? I have new upper ball joints and control arm bushings but the car still blows around a lot.

I am a firm believer in them. Have put them in twice when situations like you said existed. Solved it both times. Have read others saying it was a redundant device. It is cheap and easy.
Rob

That is a condition known as bump steer and is extremely Dangerous the faster you drive.There was a post about that a few days ago.Try useing the search feature for Antisway bar or rear antisway bar.You might gowing down to the dottom any checking the previous few days (1,2,3,4,5,6,7 click on a number)You can add an antisway bar to the rear to reduce this swaying motion.

it a possiblility also that your tie rods inner and-or outer are shot. But I'd go with the cheaper asorber first. Also make sure you're alighnment is correct.

Check your front wheel bearings and make sure they aren't loose. That will cause the car to feel "darty" and it will try to follow the cracks and grooves in the road.

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- Robert Beaubien
- 87 GT 5-speed (undergoing 3800 Series II SC swap)
- www.fieroexcitement.com
- Rate me if I've been helpful! :)
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quote Originally posted by LivoniaFieroGT: It is cheap and easy. Rob

...cheap?? $68 dolla is cheap to you?? or is there some place you guys get these from that I know nothing about?

[note]$68 was quoted by Autozone of Midland, MI[/note]

$68 sounds cheap to me. But hey, I am in a country where Fieros are worth $10,000 plus

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White 86 GT 4 Speed Manual - Black 86 GT Auto
The Fiero Shop International - Jade Web Design
If you appreciate my contribution please give me a rating

This may sound dumb, but, do the 88's also have this stabilizer. I don't remember seeing one on my 88' "GT.

No.. the 88's didnt' have the steering dampener

quote Originally posted by AusFiero: But hey, I am in a country where Fieros are worth $10,000 plus

...it must be nice

Why is it that whenever someone has a front end problem there is always someone who advises a rear sway bar? I have tried my car with and without a steering damper and I definitely like it better with the damper. A bad damper (or none at all) makes the steering very light and responsive BUT the 84-87 front end has a large scrub radius which means lots of steering kickback. Without the damper this could be a problem. BTW part of the reason for the different front wheels on the 1988 Formula or GT is to reduce the scrub radius even more than the suspension alone would.

BTW the original 1984-87 suspension was made up of a two suspension systems which were not well matched for wheel offset. By using original Fiero 14" Hi-tech alloys at the rear and then using Sunbird wheels (same centre design) at the front you change the offset by 12mm, this is enough to cause some improvement in the front suspension (but not much).

Ira

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Ira Crummey
1984 econo coupe
1985 coupe
The Iron Duke Resource Site

Why is it the Ignorant that bash other peoples posts...

must be the same reason people yell bump steer all the bloody time.

Ask yourself this question... Given GM is cheap. Would GM spend the money on a steering damper if they thought it wasn't needed?

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RIP Crew of Columbia. 01-Feb-03

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 02-22-2003).]

quote Originally posted by theogre: Ask yourself this question... Given GM is cheap. Would GM spend the money on a steering damper if they thought it wasn't needed?

LOL! That is just too funny.

I have a similar problem and I AM going to do the front - rear stabilizer soon. I've got the front end all tight now and I AM willing to try and replace the shock absorber thingy on the front if it will help, but my car seems to rear wheel steer itself all over the place.

Fixing the upper control arm bushings and the tie rod ends fixed the front wobble but the car still follows every rut in the highway. My mechanic friend says its having oversized tires (even though I only have the stock 215/65-14's on the "turbo wheels".

I really hate the sloppy rear end feeling. The guys at the local garage think I'm nuts because they can't find anything wrong on the rear end even though they too can hear it clunk over bumps. The tranny has 254,000+ miles on it, is it possible that the shafts just have excessive runout and you can't tell this with the car in the air?

Rob

Rodney dickman makes a dual damper setup that I'll be pickin up from him once I get to that part of the car. worth checkin out http://rodneydickman.com/steering.html

FYI,

Advance Auto sells the Monroe steering stabilizer for only $30.

quote Would GM spend the money on a steering damper if they thought it wasn't needed?

Manufacturing/Engineering Doctrine:

"Parts that can be left out don't cost anything, and don't cause service problems"

TG

Although I do not particularly enjoy being reffered to as ignorant I can take it, and I stand by my previous statement. The addition of a rear sway bar will undoubtedly reduce roll and understeer, which will make a slight reduction in steering effort, however, it cannot alleviate the kick back which the steering damper addresses. Herb Adams suggests removing the steering damper if a more effective front bar is included (see HIS quote Below:

"The use of large front and rear stabilizer bars doesn't have any significant effect on ride quality or road noise. The addition of the front and rear bars will also make a significant improvement in steering response and precision. The 1.25 inch diameter rear bar recommended by my company, (Herb Adams VSE, Dept. KC,23865 Fairfield Place, Carmel, CA 93923 408/649-8423) is tuned to be used in conjunction with a one inch front stabilizer bar. Do not use a rear bar without the front; doing so will result in oversteer, which can be dangerous.

Using a larger front bar improves the steering precision, allowing removal of the stock steering dampener. The Fiero dampener reduces steering wheel kickback and vibration, but with a more effective front stabilizer bar, these problems are minimized so it is no longer needed. Removing the steering dampener also allows the steering wheel to turn faster for improved handling and overall control. "

Now go ahead and call Herb Adams ignorant, I'm sure he won't mind.

Ira

[This message has been edited by Monza76 (edited 02-24-2003).]

$68.00 us i very expensive for this part. i only paid $42.00 Can. For mine so thats about $26.00 us

Sometimes it does pay to shop at home.

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How's under $25?

STEERING DAMPER/STEERING STABILIZER
MONROE EXPERT SERIES SC2943 [Steering Stabilizer]STEERING; MAGNUM Cylinder; SA-19XX Shock-Mate Boot Kit (See the preceding page of the Numerical for part numbers by color.) is available for use with our Steering Stabilizer Cylinders.; $24.12 http://www.autopartsgiant.com/goto/

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http://www.geocities.com/fierorulz/

[This message has been edited by DRA (edited 02-24-2003).]

does anyone have a picture of the dual damper setup installed?
im not going to pay 27 dollars for 2 bolts
and some spacers
thats more than the damper itself

As a 36 year GM employee I have to agree with the Ogre and TennT. GM NEVER adds parts that do nothing and we are CONTINUOUSLY looking for ways to take parts out. Its called PROFIT. Get a stabilizer 31 bux at Advance Auto

nobody?