[caped_crusader]

Hey guys,

Just looking in to buying a Tough Dog RTC damper for my RUF & 50mm lifted LWB Sierra.

Was looking at a mates SWB coily damper yesterday, and it's simply clamped at the tie rod one end and chassis the other.

I assume the damper will be supplied from Tough Dog with those clamps when ordered for a Sierra (?), just unsure whether I'll encounter issues with the RUF and lift combination with regards to the angle of the damper, and whether the RUF will allow too much flex for the damper to handle?

Anyone with the same setup able to comment on this?

Cheers,

Dale

[Gwagensteve]

RTC dampers are garbage. Don't bother. They're designed to make excessively lifted coil cars feel like they have adequate caster when the actually don't.

They aren't a legitimate product and they do nothing to improve your vehicle.

Steve.

[caped_crusader]

Thanks Steve, RTC aside then, what about the mounting issue?

[Jezza86]

generally supplied with mounts and pin mount bushes.

[Gwagensteve]

A leaf Sierra has a bracket on the pitman arm and a pin in on the front crossmember to mount a the factory steering damper.

[caped_crusader]

So as per attached image, from the highlighted pin in the upper right, to the pitman arm. A damper supplied for a "stock Sierra" would be an "eye" one end a ball joint fitting for the pitman end?

As the car has had the Vitara power steering conversion, will the Pitman be the stock Sierra one, or Vitara?

[Gwagensteve]

No there is no provision for one on a vitara pitman arm.
A damper is not required with power steering fitted.

Steve.

[caped_crusader]

Interesting you say that Steve, a few months ago a Pedders bloke investigating the cause of my low speed death wobble went to suggest a steering damper before retracting his recommendation when he noticed power steering. Yet you'll hardly find a modern 4WD without one these days? I get that like RTC some things are just gimmicky and not required as much as desired... and I could certainly appreciate that for "normal" conditions, power steering would handle the job alone, but I live on what's described as one of the worst dirt roads in the country in Cape York, violent corrugation and potholes everywhere, surely the power steering would benefit from the support in my situation?

[Jezza86]

i live in Gove east Arnhem land . i drive a jimny without power steering and i know where you are coming from, but low speed death wobble is not something you want to "fix" with a dampner.

that fact that you need to 'dampen' harmonic movement suggests that something is causing harmonic movement.

[caped_crusader]

Thanks Jezza, but I've since resolved the death wobble thing, the removal of the fitted extended shackles and returning to standard almost completely solved the problem. Went from happening every second corner to very rarely, and nowhere near as severe. In fact, on the dirt it's never happened once! It's only on bitumen surfaces that it has ever occurred.

[Gwagensteve]

The damper is fitted to Sierra's in order to slow kickback in the event of striking a rock or similar offroad. Without a damper the wheel will turn to full lock almost instantly and cause injury to the driver. This isn't possible with power steering which is why a damper is not required.

It has a secondary function of covering out of round tyres and front end wear to a point, but as jezza points out, you don't really want to cover those issues because they need attention.

[caped_crusader]

Appreciate the feedback, thanks guys.

[4x4xzook]

Gwagensteve wrote:

The damper is fitted to Sierra's in order to slow kickback in the event of striking a rock or similar offroad. Without a damper the wheel will turn to full lock almost instantly and cause injury to the driver. This isn't possible with power steering which is why a damper is not required.

It has a secondary function of covering out of round tyres and front end wear to a point, but as jezza points out, you don't really want to cover those issues because they need attention.

I learnt that the hard way, had taken out the dampener in my old sierra to replace, thought it would be ok on one trip... first track out in the bush hit a rock and the steering wheel span way too quick. Fingers got caught in the steering wheel as it was spining, very painful trying to turn a twin locked sierra after that.

[Gwagensteve]

I'll add the tendency for the steering to kickback is much, much worse with offset rims. As is every other negative steering trait.

Steve.

[Jezza86]

slight hyjack... but as i dont have power steering, why dosent my jimny come stock with a dampener?
any reason or just cost saving in production?
-15mm off set rims the wheel will spin quick if your not holding it tight enough for sure.

[Gwagensteve]

Cost saving vs anticipated use.