Aftermarket Steering Damper worth it?

[dan00001]

Hey guys,

So I'm GASing for some nice new shiny parts for the sj and one thing I have been looking at for a while now is a steering damper (rough country or pro comp?).

Perhaps the biggest attraction is that I think they look cool but am I going to get any practical benefits? She seems to drive fine enough on the road though I wouldn't know any different anyway.

So should I splash out £80 on one or save my money for something else?

[ScottieJ]

Put the money towards power steering and then you won't need a damper

[dan00001]

Naaaah, power steerings the last think I want, I quite enjoy the heavy steering. I have power steering in my Audi, it makes a refreshing change getting into the sj:)

[Anton]

Scottie's coming from the perspective of someone with 12.5" wide tyres. My 10.5's are hell on the arms when parking, and I'm not exactly small!

[SherwoodNash]

I wouldn't know any different anyway

I thought mine was working fine and only took it off for a quick check whilst the SJ was up on jacks and was surprised to find it was completely knackered without any compression/resistance at all.

Fitting a new standard one, the handling was transformed to what I'd gotten used to.

[dan00001]

Well I just had a new set of 235 all terrains so a little bit smaller than yours but I do find the steering absolutely fine,

Sherwood, I think I read you saying that on another thread, I think I might take the standard one off tomorrow and take a look.

[donkeychomp]

With a new damper fitted on my Vitara the wheel wobble vanished straight away. However the steering is now very heavy and she's only running 30" tyres. I still say it was worth it, and I used a Pro Comp one.

[ScottieJ]

Honestly if you offroad your sj you will never regret fitting power steering, I wouldn't drive an SJ without it any more, even on smaller tyres.

Alex, there shouldn't be any wheel wobble without a steering damper fitted, if fitting a steering damper stops wobble then it's just masking another problem.

A standard damper will be just fine, most aftermarket ones are designed for heavier vehicles.

[dan00001]

What should the standard damper feel like? I took mine off this morning to have a feel and there was very little to no resistance when pulling and pushing.

[ScottieJ]

There should be quite a bit of resistance, equally both ways.