Anyone running a Fox Steering Stabilizer?

[jeep_boss]

Well after all that work yesterday stripping down and cleaning up the paint on my cheapo Pro Comp steering stabilizer, my suspicions confirm that it is all but toast. I've had it i stalled for about 6 months to the day, paid $35 for it so meh.

Driving my Jeep without a stabilizer is a little too loosey goosey. I ordered a Fox 2.0 IFP 985-24-072, wondering if anyone else has any feedback on how they feel.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ac_]

Can't say, but I am running a way overpriced ARB.

 

[Chris]

Can't say, but I am running a way overpriced ARB.

I'm running the same one.

Probably similar to the Fox one. You don't really notice much with a new steering stabilizer, other than the fact that some look cooler than others.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I don't know if all Fox shock products are nitrogen/gas charged but I wouldn't run a gas-charged steering stabilizer if Fox's is. A gas-charged shock absorber/stabilizer constantly wants to expand which can cause a left-bias on the steering. It's a little late now but I would have gone for a Rancho RS5000 which is hydraulic and holds up very well. I'd venture a guess that 99.9999% of all steering stabilzers are hydraulic.

 

[jeep_boss]

I don't know if all Fox shock products are nitrogen/gas charged but I wouldn't run a gas-charged steering stabilizer if Fox's is. A gas-charged shock absorber/stabilizer constantly wants to expand which can cause a left-bias on the steering. It's a little late now but I would have gone for a Rancho RS5000 which is hydraulic and holds up very well. I'd venture a guess that 99.9999% of all steering stabilzers are hydraulic.

I actually prefer nitrogen over hydraulic at the cost of teeny tiny drift. I know Ranchos have been around forever, but they are gaudy as hell in my opinion with all of that red and white, I have enough going on already with the orange RCV boots. People might start looking at me funny if I added red and white to the mix >.<

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I actually prefer nitrogen over hydraulic at the cost of teeny tiny drift. I know Ranchos have been around forever, but they are gaudy as hell in my opinion with all of that red and white, I have enough going on already with the orange RCV boots. People might start looking at me funny if I added red and white to the mix >.<

How do you already know you prefer a gas-charged steering stabilizer? You are coming from a hydraulic. If you mean you prefer gas charged shocks, I run gas-charged shocks and a hydraulic steering stabilizer (damper)... it's ok to have that combination.

And Rancho's shocks are white, not red and white. The only thing that is red are the boots which no one should run anyway. And there's always rattle-can paint that in 30 seconds can turn it any color you like.

 

[TJ_2000]

I love my Fox stabilizer . Been running it for 3-4 years now. Zero issues and wouldn’t hesitate on buying another.


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[Chris]

I looked and even my OME steering damper says it's oil based, but something about a "nitrogen charged foam cell". Whatever that means.

It's easy to compress with my bare hands, and once you compress it, it springs back very, very slowly. You can tell it's hydraulic fluid in there.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I looked and even my OME steering damper says it's oil based, but something about a "nitrogen charged foam cell". Whatever that means.

That's marketing-speak. That "nitrogen charged foam cell" is actually a piece of gas-blown neoprene used inside the shock to help control hydraulic fluid foaming when/if it happens. It is still a hydraulic shock.

Rancho wisely doesn't mention the word "neoprene" but here is how they explain it...

"The superseded RS9000X were foam-cell shocks. We have always been big fans of foam-cell shocks. They control the oil and prevent foaming, but in a different way to the gas-charged units. Instead of containing nitrogen gas, inside the shock body is a "foam-cell" sleeve (it looks like a piece of wetsuit material). Under normal driving conditions, the foam-cell material retains its regular appearance. When the shocks are working hard and the oil gets hot and wants to bubble and boil, the foam-cell material expands to pressurize the oil in that instance, preventing it to do so, and allowing for maximum performance."

 

[Chris]

That's marketing-speak. That "nitrogen charged foam cell" is actually a piece of gas-blown neoprene used inside the shock to help control hydraulic fluid foaming when/if it happens. It is still a hydraulic shock.

Rancho wisely doesn't mention the word "neoprene" but here is how they explain it...

"The superseded RS9000X were foam-cell shocks. We have always been big fans of foam-cell shocks. They control the oil and prevent foaming, but in a different way to the gas-charged units. Instead of containing nitrogen gas, inside the shock body is a "foam-cell" sleeve (it looks like a piece of wetsuit material). Under normal driving conditions, the foam-cell material retains its regular appearance. When the shocks are working hard and the oil gets hot and wants to bubble and boil, the foam-cell material expands to pressurize the oil in that instance, preventing it to do so, and allowing for maximum performance."

Ha, I had a feeling that was marketing-speak.

Rancho at least explains it in a language that's easier to understand. I knew mine wasn't gas charged. All I had to do was press on it and I could hear the fluid inside. And the fact that it doesn't bounce right back tells me it's not gas charged.

I've never used a gas charged steering damper, but I too would imagine it would constantly be pushing to one side.

 

[Serbonze]

I love my Fox stabilizer . Been running it for 3-4 years now. Zero issues and wouldn’t hesitate on buying another.


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What makes you love it? What does it do that a less expensive Rancho or Monroe doesn’t?

 

[Serbonze]

I actually prefer nitrogen over hydraulic at the cost of teeny tiny drift. I know Ranchos have been around forever, but they are gaudy as hell in my opinion with all of that red and white, I have enough going on already with the orange RCV boots. People might start looking at me funny if I added red and white to the mix >.<

Five minutes and five dollars worth of semi flat black paint took care of my white steering stabilizer.

 

[TJ_2000]

What makes you love it? What does it do that a less expensive Rancho or Monroe doesn’t?

Well to start with. I like Fox products. The nitro fill is a nice touch. But I mean really it is just a stabilizer. I guess “love” was the wrong word. But more of I don’t have any issues and would buy another if need be.
But truth be told. I didn’t notice a difference from my rugged ridge before and after it blew up. Or when I ran without a stabilizer. To after installing the Fox. It all felt and drove the same. Which leads to the point of your steering is set up right. You don’t need a stabilizer.


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[Rob5589]

A steering damper is to control oscillations while going over bumps, off road, etc. If you are trying to take care of loose steering with one, you are going about it the wrong way and need to find and fix the actual problem.

 

[jeep_boss]

How do you already know you prefer a gas-charged steering stabilizer? You are coming from a hydraulic. If you mean you prefer gas charged shocks, I run gas-charged shocks and a hydraulic steering stabilizer (damper)... it's ok to have that combination.

And Rancho's shocks are white, not red and white. The only thing that is red are the boots which no one should run anyway. And there's always rattle-can paint that in 30 seconds can turn it any color you like.

This isn't my first lifted 4x4. My 79 Ramcharger went through numerous stabilizers, as did my first Bronco and Chevy. Never needed one on any of my Toyotas though, steering was always nice and tight on them all. I'd also like to get out of the paint can business, I don't mind using one (1) type on my CAs and diffs, but I'm done masking things off to paint different colors. This Fox will be plug and play, if the paint goes oh well.

A steering damper is to control oscillations while going over bumps, off road, etc. If you are trying to take care of loose steering with one, you are going about it the wrong way and need to find and fix the actual problem.

Meh, it works.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

A steering damper is to control oscillations while going over bumps, off road, etc. If you are trying to take care of loose steering with one, you are going about it the wrong way and need to find and fix the actual problem.

X2.

 

[jeep_boss]

Damn y'all are worse than some old ladies. My steering is fine, my Jeep - to each their own.

The topic is a request for feedback on the Fox, not an avenue to be a know it all or battle of X vs Y vs Z - so enough with the hijacking.

 

[alittleoff]

I installed a Fox Steering Stabilizer # 980-24-986 to DIY. But because there was no brackets on my axle, I used a Ruff Stuff shock mount # SBRKT-3 and a 6 bolt, 1 1/4" clamp, with a 1/2" x 20 nut that I welded on to it for the tie rod side of it. It works great, and it eliminated what little oscillation I had. There was no noticeable pull to the left. The Fox Stabilizer does have a very slight, and I mean very slight, self extension design built into it. In other words, it takes just as much effort to compress as it does to extend it. And it is very slow to do that.

HTH

Steve

 

[jeep_boss]

I installed a Fox Steering Stabilizer # 980-24-986 to DIY. But because there was no brackets on my axle, I used a Ruff Stuff shock mount # SBRKT-3 and a 6 bolt, 1 1/4" clamp, with a 1/2" x 20 nut that I welded on to it for the tie rod side of it. It works great, and it eliminated what little oscillation I had. There was no noticeable pull to the left. The Fox Stabilizer does have a very slight, and I mean very slight, self extension design built into it. In other words, it takes just as much effort to compress as it does to extend it. And it is very slow to do that.

HTH

Steve

Nice! I'm lucky to have the bracket on my axle, and I "should" have enough spare parts from other steering damper kits laying around to get it mounted on the drag link side of my Currie steering kit.

How has it held up against rock chips and general abuse btw? One of the reasons I chose this one was for the build quality, but I haven't heard anything on how the exterior holds up over time.

 

[alittleoff]

TBH, my first attempt at mounting it was too close to the diff cover. Parked on my jack stands, it looked like I had enough clearance at full right crank, but on the trail, I was wrong. It only scraped a bit of the Fox sticker off, but it looked like it wanted to dig in more. So I torched the bracket off, got another one and mounted it to the right side of the axle. Then went to our Adopt-A-Trail rock garden and gave it a go, all clear.
The stabilizer is behind the tie rod and a little above the centerline of the axle, so it's up and out of the way. It only been about 3 months since mounting it. Other than regular road grime, it appears to be a good investment.

Steve