What is the best steering dampener for 98 concourse

[Flame]

Well, everything brand new on front end and new shocks and tires all the way around. Even complete new front brakes including wheel bearing, calipers, and brake hoses. Even got 4 new ball joints and front end alignment. Now the only thing I want to replace is the steering dampener. What is everybody using? What brand? I don't seem to have any "bump steer" now but I want to start fresh with everything new. Please advise what to buy!!

[chin_k]

Being a cheap skate, I got the Monroe one for ~$30, and got it installed. It was a piece of cake since it is the same damper used on the original, so no need to change the bracket or other attachment point. The old one has no fluid in there.

[Blue~Go]

I put on a Safe-T-Steer. I don't know as it was 100% necessary but I was ready for some upgrades at the suspension shop and the rest of the setup was done so....

One thing it does is that is provide a stronger "back to center" desire in the steering. This is excellent on the freeway. I found the recommended size was then a wee bit too strong for me in city driving (but I have weak shoulders from past injuries). So I went with the next weaker size. I think a middle bear would have been perfect but at least at that time (2014) they didn't make one. Probably the recommended size would be pleasant for most people.

[Flame]

Well I have researched a lot on steering dampener verses steering stabilizer and found out they are not the same critter. damper is basically a shock absorber and stabalizers have a SPRING either external like roadmaster or internal spring like Safe T Steer. Oh and the BIG difference...the price!! The roadmaster is about $350 but they are backordered for 3 months!! The Safe T Steer is near $500 with mounting kit and shipping!! The SPRING is what "pulls" the vehicle back to center again after any kind of turbulence instead of just dampening the steering. A stock Monroe damper as previously mentioned is only $30 bucks!! And a steering stabilizer does not mount in our original location where our damper mounts. Thus the reason for the mounting kit. I'm really at loss what I want to do. I'm not even sure if a $120 Bilstein damper would be that much better than a $30 Monroe. I am having a hard time getting over the hurdle of adding a spring to a shock costing $500!!! Especially when I just purchased huge coil over shocks for the rear of the rv for $53 each!!

[caconcourse]

Well I have researched a lot on steering dampener verses steering stabilizer and found out they are not the same critter. damper is basically a shock absorber and stabalizers have a SPRING either external like roadmaster or internal spring like Safe T Steer. Oh and the BIG difference...the price!! The roadmaster is about $350 but they are backordered for 3 months!! The Safe T Steer is near $500 with mounting kit and shipping!! The SPRING is what "pulls" the vehicle back to center again after any kind of turbulence instead of just dampening the steering. A stock Monroe damper as previously mentioned is only $30 bucks!! And a steering stabilizer does not mount in our original location where our damper mounts. Thus the reason for the mounting kit. I'm really at loss what I want to do. I'm not even sure if a $120 Bilstein damper would be that much better than a $30 Monroe. I am having a hard time getting over the hurdle of adding a spring to a shock costing $500!!! Especially when I just purchased huge coil over shocks for the rear of the rv for $53 each!!

Well, I think I got lucky with my unit, because it has always steered straight down the track, with only the Monroe damper. I even had a front right tire blow out, and the Chinook tracked straight down the road. I am not sure if the previous owner made any changes to the front hardware, but I'm very pleased with the steering. I had the dealer replace the front rotors and brakes, wheel bearings etc. He had a hard time matching the rotors, for some reason, so it is possible there were some upgrades. The brakes are strong, and the steering is very easy, almost "one-finger" easy. I guess I would try out a new $30 damper before I went further. I can't imagine a Bilstein would be $100 better than a Monroe in this application.

[chin_k]

Well, the fact that the shock is painted with a bright color with the brand name on it make a big difference!

Seriously, there are a lot of engineering an research that goes into these components, and for the untrained eyes, it is just a piece of tubing with some fluid inside. However, I don't think you can go wrong with the stock Monroe damper, but if you get the other alternatives, you going to kick yourself if it does not give you the value. BTW, O'Reilly said I have a life time warranty on the damper

Mine was completely dry, and it is pretty obvious that I need to have mine replaced because it feel like a bicycle air pump. Did you remove the old damper and see if it is still working?

[Flame]

Clay, you bring up a very good point. I could but 4 of the Monroe over one of the Bilstein. My latest bit of info ( I have called each of these manufacturers) is the Monroe is a twin tube shock and the Bilstein and several other premium brands are "MONO TUBE" shocks which is supposed to be superior for not allowing foam to build up as much. But...that is also why gasmatic shocks are filled with nitrogen to eliminate air pockets in the assemblys. I may go with Bilstein for that reason and because I have had such good luck with them on my racecar but....I still can't pull the trigger on a $400-500 shock!!

[Flame]

Chin, I am just replacing it because it is the last component I have not replaced on the rig since I have owned it. Peace of mind and warrantys that all is NEW on my suspension. Doing this because shocks, brakes, ball joints have gone bad in the last 20,000 miles since I have owned it. Only have 50,000 miles on the rig now.

[chin_k]

Not a suspension person, but the damper is not going to jolt around like a shock, so I don't know how much difference the foaming going to happen there. Going over a washboard, you may get a few dozen vibration per second with amplitude of a few inches. For the steering, you either get very large movement when you turn, maybe one cycle per 4-10 seconds? Or small, low amplitude vibration. Neither of these going to give you much foaming, compare to the front shock, what do you think?

For the shock, I can see the difference a quality ones going to make, but for the damper, I think you can get away with the stock.

[chin_k]

$30, plus maybe half an hour to install it with regular tool. Give it a try, and if you do want to get the Bilstein, well, go get it afterward, you can do that later, since the stock one does not change your existing setup. If you later feel that the other better damper is worth its money, then I will buy you a drink for wasting an hour of your time assuming that you can catch me in person .