Steering Dampeners on NJs

[mkalracing]

Hi.

As these forums are for the gaining of knowledge, I was wondering if anyone running a tyre of 32" or above with a wheel size 15x8 patrol offset or similar fitted to an nj has fitted a steering dampener ?

Cheers.

[-Scott-]

I'm running 33" tyres with 16x8" Patrol offset rims on an NJ, and have never considered the need for a steering dampener. When the vehicle was engineered the engineer ran over kerbs and performed brake tests with one tyre on bitumen and one on dirt - couldn't fault it.

Why do you want a dampener?

[altaprecision]

i have a swb 98 whit a patrol steering danper,you need to solder a litle base but the performance is excelent i tested whit 32- 15 x 8 patrol for two years, now i i have booger 35-10.5 in the same patrol wheels

[NJV6]

Click here for the one I did. Its near the botom of the page.

[mkalracing]

Thanks for link NJV6. Do you think that the dampener has tidied up steering feel ?

It's funny, friends & colleagues keep telling me that a dampener is unneccessary but I believe differently. Change of offset with wider, heavier tyres WILL have an effect on the steering geometry & manners for on-road driving (gravel or bitumen). Also when off-roading with front air-locker engaged it should help by providing a more accurate steering response & better feel. Or am I just kidding myself ?

Cheers

Mkalracing

[-Scott-]

It's funny, friends & colleagues keep telling me that a dampener is unneccessary but I believe differently. Change of offset with wider, heavier tyres WILL have an effect on the steering geometry & manners for on-road driving (gravel or bitumen).

Wider tyres (with same overall diameter) by themselves don't affect steering geometry. They typically make the steering heavier when stationary, or at very low speed (as will running lower pressure in standard tyres.) A steering damper won't help with that - it will only make the steering heavier. An RTC damper will help straighten the steering, but increase the turning effort.

Steering geometry is affected by changing the diameter of the tyre, or the offset of the wheel.

You have gone from a factory 30" tyre to an aftermarket 32" tyre, which alters the scrub radius. You have also gone from +10mm offset rims to zero offset rims (Patrol rims should be zero offset - are yours zero offset?) which alters the scrub radius in the opposite direction. The two changes, combined, do a good job of correcting each other.

If your rims aren't zero offset, then your scrub radius may be more adversely affected and a steering damper may help reduce kick-back.

Also when off-roading with front air-locker engaged it should help by providing a more accurate steering response & better feel. Or am I just kidding myself ?

With a locked front diff both wheels always want to travel the same difference - when turning, the inside wheel will want to pull the steering straight. I can't see how a steering damper will help?

[fazza81]

What about highway driving, mine walks a touch on the highway, will a dampner help or should I look at bushes and such?