Steering dampener installation question

[superspook]

Hello all,

new to the jeep world, my 16yr old bought a 2004 tj and we are starting to fix it up a bit.

problem I am having is that the tapered bolt that came with the rough country shock will not fit through the suspension hole? any ideas? I ran down to the parts store and picked up a Rancho dampener and same issue? it looks as though there might be some sort of shim in the hole from the factory dampener? any suggestions?

 

[Steel City 06]

The tapered bolt attaches to the drag link. There should be a standard bolt for the axle side mount. Most kits don't include a new bolt on the axle side, but reuse the old one

 

[superspook]

yes sir, however it will not fit through the hole. I have tried two different brands and neither fit through.

 

[Babygools99]

Welcome to the forum man! Good to see someone semi local here. I haven't necessarily heard of anyone having this problem. Do you have any pictures by chance? This might help us figure out what is going on.

 

[superspook]

here you go, the old bolt is slightly smaller in diameter, but not much. picture from top of drag arm looks like some sort to shield was around the old bolt.....how do i get that out?

 

[superspook]

last picture is from the top looking down.

 

[mrblaine]

last picture is from the top looking down.

You have to knock that adapter bushing out to use the tapered pin.

 

[superspook]

any suggestions on how to go about doing that? tricks? heat?

 

[mrblaine]

any suggestions on how to go about doing that? tricks? heat?

A bolt that barely fits in the hole will tap it right out.

 

[superspook]

that adapter bushing is not coming out without a fight. like it is welded in there

 

[Steel City 06]

You could always drill it out. Not sure of the correct diameter.
Edit: don't drill it

 

[superspook]

do they make decent dampener that does not use the tapered bolt?
seems the one i took off (assume original) did not have the tapered bolt.

 

[Steel City 06]

Most of the bolt-on solutions use the tapered bolt. Some steering setups use a clamp instead, but that will not work on your stock steering.

You could replace the drag link with a new one, maybe doing the ZJ steering upgrade at the same time, (or even a Currie/Savvy for major $$$), which would eliminate the bushing.

A steering damper is not a critical item, and as long as the steering and suspension is in good shape, you can even run without it indefinitely.

Some people use steering dampers to mask front end oscillations or even death wobble, but that really isn't the intent of the damper. If death wobble exists, there is likely something else causing the issues that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

 

[mrblaine]

You could always drill it out. Not sure of the correct diameter

Bad, that's a tapered hole.

 

[superspook]

ok thanks for the info. will keep working on it

 

[Steel City 06]

Bad, that's a tapered hole.

Good catch.

ok thanks for the info. will keep working on it

Don't drill it, I've been corrected

 

[superspook]

damn near had to gnaw it out....but i got it out. when installing the new dampener with the tapered bolt do you just crank down on it or is a torque wrench necessary