Steering Dampner on an R9 Deo?

[fishaholic]

Been doing a bit of thinking of late which has brought me to this question. Can you install a Steering Dampner on an R9 Rodeo. Having a looking under it today there seems to be a mount on the intermediate rod (i think thats what its called) but can't see a mount for the other end. Ive had a quick look on a manual i have and it seems the europe and thailand models didn't get them, bt im guessing the US ones did.

Can they be fitted to Aussie R9's? If so who sells them?

Andrew

[Baldricks_Mate]

x2,

I've been looking at mine and went and asked the major suspension sellers. The curt reply was "mate, if they aint in the book there isn't one, no we're not interested in taking a look" Pretty pi$$ poor IMO.

So if anyone else has a few clues I'd like to know too. Ta.

[Ducky103]

When i worked for a holden dealer in the early 90's there was a kit available for the TF series rodeo for owners who complained bout steering iregularities. Now if only i had the service bulliten from back then i would quote a part number.

[fishaholic]

Thanks for that, sounds like an email to holden is in order! I asked at TJM today and they were said they had never done one and mentioned they'd have to fab a custom bracket up. :(

Andrew

[sudso]

Fishaholic the "intermeadiate rod" ur talking about is the draglink (steering arm) and mine has the cast in lug too. All the TFS Rodeo's have them.

You dont need a steering damper on the R9's because the steering is so well set up so dont waste your money, I ran 33" muddies for a year and never had any steering problems on any terrain or the road.

I heard once that the very early TFS's experienced some steering problems and Isuzu grew those lugs onto the draglinks for a steering damper as a bandaid fix and the lugs remained there ever since.
I think there used to be an aftermarket idler arm (TJM?)with a bracket for the other end of a dampener but they were phased out as Isuzu fixed the problem on the later TFS's. Well thats what I was told anyway.

I looked into it too when I first bought my Rodeo cos I could see the lug but nowhere on the other side to connect a shocker. Every suspension guru I spoke to said it doesn't need one anyway.

If your having steering problems I'd be looking at other things first starting with control arm bushes>tie rods>ball joints etc.

cheers, dave

[Baldricks_Mate]

Thanks Sudso, thats good background info. That would be about right for a stock vehicle.

The problem for me is the handling of an uprated (load carrying) suspension and it would benefit from a damper under certain (poor) road conditions

[fishaholic]

Thanks Dave, yes, the "intermediate rod" as i refered to it as would be the draglink, however looking in the manual i could only see referred to as that. I used that name as i was unsure that it was infact just the draglink. I have been have minor dramas since fitting wider tyres (245's) with freeplay in the steering wheel especially at higher speeds and its become annoying on longer drives keeping the car straight on the road.

I have had the freeplay taken out several times and this fixed the problem but the freeplay eventually came back, my theory is that the dampner may settle this down to an extent. Am i heading down the wrong track so to speak? Or could this be purely related to the steering box itself and the fact that it may have wear in it. (128,000kms)

Other than that the Rodeo handles beautifully with the aftermarket suspension.

Andrew

[sudso]

128K? it's hardly run in yet lol.

Have you cranked the torsion bars right up?

[Ducky103]

Thanks Dave, yes, the "intermediate rod" as i refered to it as would be the draglink, however looking in the manual i could only see referred to as that. I used that name as i was unsure that it was infact just the draglink. I have been have minor dramas since fitting wider tyres (245's) with freeplay in the steering wheel especially at higher speeds and its become annoying on longer drives keeping the car straight on the road.

I have had the freeplay taken out several times and this fixed the problem but the freeplay eventually came back, my theory is that the dampner may settle this down to an extent. Am i heading down the wrong track so to speak? Or could this be purely related to the steering box itself and the fact that it may have wear in it. (128,000kms)

Other than that the Rodeo handles beautifully with the aftermarket suspension.

Andrew

Get some one to rock the steering while motor is running. Get under front of vehicle and check for abnormal movment in tie rod ends, especally the joint on the pitman arm. also check for wear in shackle rubbers at rear of vehicle, have found these to cause the vehicle to wander at speed especially when there is a bit of weight in the tray.

[sudso]

If the torsion bars are wound right up the upper ball joints need to be flipped so the wheel aligner can get the camber and castor back to spec's.
This cant be done unless the upper ball joints are flipped because it runs out camber adjustment.
The higher the front lift goes the more negative camber it gets because of the unequal length upper and lower control arms.
If the camber and castor is'nt within spec's on these they tend to "wander".
If they are ok then I'd be looking at all the suspension joints for wear.

[fishaholic]

Torsion bars have been wound up approx 40mm when the new suspension was installed. I was told that the wheel alignment was within specs and this seems to be true as ive had perfect tyre wear since. I will start checking the steering components and let you know, when i had the suspension work done the mechanic did mention there was a small amount wear in the ball joints. Could this be causing it?

Andrew

[sudso]

Yes it would only be noticeable on the road at higher speeds though. Could get a bit of bump steer too.
What are your control arm bushes like?

[dalealford]

looking at the Calmini web site there is a kit for this.
Has the damper and brackets etc.

cheers,

Dale