Steering dampers, whats the point?

[Ace]

Ok, after a trip to the wattagans a few weeks ago it appears that Discowhites steering damper relocation kit, purchase many years ago has broken, the piece welded at 90 degrees to the section that clamps over the draglink that one end of the damper bolts to snapped off (PS, whats the warrenty period on these Phil :D)

anyway, the steering damper hasnt been connected since it broke, not 100% exact as to when it let go, but it hasnt been doing its job for sometime and I didnt even notice. There is a slight wobble in the steering when cornering on bumpy roads but the drivers side panhard bush is buggered so that would be causing that.

After all that waffle my question is, whats the point, does it even need to be there?

[brianwood]

Being a damper, it probably absorbes a lot of shock loads which would otherwise be transferred to the steering box, causing premature wear to the box and steering column unis.

[big guy]

They reduce shocks, vibration and general bad road conditions through the steering.
They dampen the shock so to speak.;)

[Blknight.aus]

with it disconnected try giving a kerb a glancing blow with the engine off so you dont have power assist, then try it with it connected.

[Ace]

Ok, so its going back on then :D:angel:

gotta weld the bracket back up, welder is at mum and dads place so need to go and get it.

[Hoges]

They can also be a safety measure on rough conditions...should the front wheels hit a rut and wrench the steering one way or t'other, the force is transmitted back through the steering causing the steering wheel to rotate quick "violently" ...broken thumbs can result.. A former army driving instructor taught me to keep thumbs on the wheel, not around it so the wheels could rotate freely if necessary in one's hands... the shock absorber is designed to minimise this reaction through the steering...

[ozscott]

I have a slight shake on bumpy roads despite balancing and new dampner (Raw) - so I should look for panhard bush wear? Whats the best way to know that they are stuffed?

Cheers

[Ace]

They can also be a safety measure on rough conditions...should the front wheels hit a rut and wrench the steering one way or t'other, the force is transmitted back through the steering causing the steering wheel to rotate quick "violently" ...broken thumbs can result.. A former army driving instructor taught me to keep thumbs on the wheel, not around it so the wheels could rotate freely if necessary in one's hands... the shock absorber is designed to minimise this reaction through the steering...

Thanks Hoges, yeah i keep my thumbs on the outside of the wheel and not on the inside also.

I shall grab the welder on monday and fix the bracket on tuesday.

[dullbird]

how long has yours been on Ace? mines been on 5 years:) still going strong.

[Ace]

how long has yours been on Ace? mines been on 5 years:) still going strong.

Mine would be about the same Lou, not sure what caused the bracket to bust the weld, I think it may have been because the last mob that did the wheel alignment didnt put it back in the right spot and the damper was stressing the weld on full lock.

Matt