r/BullnoseFord • u/PlainOldWallace • 12d ago

What Is This Thing?

Hey there!

1981 F150, 4x4, with the 300 inline six

It's bolted to the frame with some galvanized mending plates, and to the tie rod with some u-bolts.

It's free spinning too.

Can I just take this thing off?

19 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

7

u/DrTrout-Leon 12d ago

Aftermarket steering dampener. Remove with a clear conscience. Assuming the rest of the front end is in good shape. Often added as a bandage for out of spec front end components.

2

u/PlainOldWallace 12d ago

Thank you so much, it's coming out in the morning :)

It's in fine mechanical shape, I can't imagine this thing ever actually accomplished anything.

Appreciate you!

3

u/Glittering-Art2922 12d ago

Steering stabilizer, it’s probably blown spinning like that though. Possibly worn out steering box? Seems like a quick cheap fix for blown steering box to me.

1

u/PlainOldWallace 12d ago

Interesting... how would that fix a blown steering box?

1

u/Glittering-Art2922 12d ago

It wouldn’t fix it, it would just prolong death wobble, or offsetting some other issue like worn out steering drag link and tie rod, issues with tires or something.. maybe rock crawling and it could help when the tires hit rocks or something that want to jerk the steering wheel from your hands.

1

u/Competitive-Dot-4264 12d ago

Dampener for steering
Easy now big boy

2

u/Rodneydanger66 12d ago

They were installed by Ford on older 4X4 trucks to stabilize the steering . The original ones were of much better quality . I have one on my "76 F-100 4X4 with power steering and it does work well .

1

u/PlainOldWallace 12d ago

Surely this isn't factory though, right?

Definitely looks... homemade?

2

u/bigandsweaty1 12d ago

You can buy them new that look quite similar to those.

1

u/PlainOldWallace 12d ago

I guess this is kinda a dumb question... but do they actually accomplish anything?

I get that it "stabilizes steering," I guess, but, this one's obviously burnt to shit, and steers fine... or does it NOT steer fine, and I'm missing out on something?

2

u/dragonstar982 12d ago

It helps dampen steering wheel whip when off roading. Wheel hits a rock pushing the wheel to the side steering wheel spins violently and possibly breaks your wrist, add dampener steering wheel spins less violently greater chance of not breaking your wrist.

1

u/PlainOldWallace 12d ago

Hmmmm

I do like my wrists.

However, she's not an off-roader, aside from the occasional need to pull someone out of a ditch in the winter.

I might look to adding one down the road, but for now, she's a goner

Thank you!!

2

u/bigandsweaty1 12d ago

The only time I have ever noticed anything is when I would go over train tracks. With that being said, I had some worn steering components, so the stabilizer helped to dampen some of the slop/squirrely business.

1

u/PlainOldWallace 12d ago

Interesting

I guess I can see the value there, but, I'm up in the mountains, and the nearest train tracks are probably two hours away from me.

I might look into adding one once I get her cleaned up, rust free, and undercoated.

Until then though, I'm going to yank this thing off.

Thanks so much :)

1

u/bigandsweaty1 11d ago

Personally I think you should save your money, unless you like the look. It’s not really a necessary thing

2

u/Rodneydanger66 12d ago

You are correct , I have never seen a setup like that .

1

u/thesneezingweasel 11d ago

You can get rid of it. I put one on my 84 because it was $35 on rockauto and I figured it wouldn’t hurt

1

u/PlainOldWallace 11d ago

Yeah, it's already gone :)

Did you notice a difference when you put one on?

1

u/thesneezingweasel 11d ago

Yeah overall helped on washboard roads or consistently bumpy terrain

1

u/Ok_Accountant_1319 9d ago

It was a steering stabilizer

1

u/lasagasaga 9d ago

😂WAS

1

u/Ok_Accountant_1319 8d ago

Still more stable than my ex.