Replacing that worn out Steering Stabilizer

So you've added larger tires to your rig, and now it's starting to shake a little while going down the road. If your new tires are properly balanced and the suspension is in good working order, you may still have a few shakes and shimmies going down the road. The weight of these new tires add stress to the suspension and it will show. Many 4x4 owners have fixed this small problem with a steering stabilizer kit that looks like one or two shock absorbers attached from the front axle to the tie rod. 

Stock Pitman Arm

3" Dropped Pitman Arm

Suzuki already has one of these built into the original design, but it wasn't meant to handle the stress of the larger tires we all know and love. Just look below and behind the front bumper and you will find the stock unit. 

The stock steering stabilizer

Old Man Emu has come to the rescue with a direct replacement that puts the stock unit to shame. Our OME 4x4 Steering Stabilizer was supplied by Rocky Road Outfitters, from their new (larger) shop in Heber City, Utah. Rocky Road has been one of the key distributors of aftermarket equipment for Suzuki vehicles over the last few years.

The stock unit looks pretty wimpy...

We are going to install the new OME unit on two different suspension setups so you can see how simple it is to upgrade. The first suspension has a SPring Over Axle conversion that uses a stock pitman arm and a dropped drag link. The stock pitman arm has a small bracket that holds one end of the stabilizer while the other end is connected to a mounting point on the frame by the factory tie down. This upgrade can be done using simple hand tools and five minutes of your time. 

Attached to the stock pitman arm you can see the dropped drag link that makes this lift possible

Here it is installed on the dropped pitman arm above the knuckle-over steering system

The second suspension we installed the new unit on was also SPOA, but with a spring reversal conversion outfitted with a dropped pitman arm combined with a knuckle-over drag link. The simple part is that the dropped pitman arm had the same style bracket as the stock pitman arm. The only real difference was the slight change in the angle of the mount. Remember that a steering stabilizer is basically a shock absorber. The body twists. So twisting the end that attaches to the pitman arm bracket a few degrees won't hurt the unit or the performance.

The beauty of this upgrade is the fact that the new unit is up above the axle. It is out of harms way when you attack the rocky trail, yet it keeps the ride smooth when coming home at the end of the day. It will also have people asking you how you did the trick install while keeping the look soooo stock! Hehehe... I won't tell if you don't!

--Bill Johnston