Steering Stabilizer

[nate chase]

Heinz,
Was the Caspro a direct replacement or an auxillary addon type dampner?
If not, does anyone know of a stock replacement that works good? My steering
is sloppy to say the lease and I hate to just start swapping things out... I
need two people to check it out and see where my play is really coming from
but thought the dampner would be a cheap start (Caspro's is $300+ right?).

Nate '75GB Omaha


Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 21:17:48 -0700
From: "Heinz Wittenbecher"
Subject: GMC: Some tranny temps and stuff

Finally got to go for my "ride".

Caspro Steering Stabilizer is noticably good.
I still have a little play... might have to consider a steering box.
Brakes are excellent ( with Raybestos MC)

 

[heinz wittenbecher]

Nate,

> Was the Caspro a direct replacement or an auxillary addon type dampner?

It's a replacement. Easy but not straightforward install. The bracket has to
be removed from the frame (cut off) and a bracket (bolt-on) is added on the
right side.

Once the bracket removed, it's goodbye standard unless you weld it back on,
which I didn't want to do so I shelled out the autrocious amount of $425 for
another Caspro to replace the one I did 10 years ago and removed about 5
years ago when the alignment shop said it was bad (failed).

I only took the rig out for an hour the other day and it did allow better
hands off than without.

>From what one of my customers (he's in the suspension bus) tells me: slop,
wander or pull is not damper related. The damper does just that, dampen. It
prevents the transferring of some road shock to the rest of the setup, i.e.
dampens it

The Caspro does assist in centering, which makes adjustment very critical.

I don't really know whether it's worth the 400+ bucks, but I was stuck. I
wanted to get a damper back on but diidn't want to weld on the crossmember
to get the bracket back. Especially when more than one GMC source has told
me that the OEM damper doesn't really do much [g]. I guess it's a GM
placebo.

I still have a little 'play' in mine and it's down to being either in
steering box or shaft. If I don't like it after my next trip I'm going to do
both. My problem is that once I drive it a bit I get used to it and adjust I
guess. It's after I don't drive it for a while that I notice a tiny bit of
extra slop.

Heinz

> If not, does anyone know of a stock replacement that works good? My
steering
> is sloppy to say the lease and I hate to just start swapping things out...
I
> need two people to check it out and see where my play is really coming
from
> but thought the dampner would be a cheap start (Caspro's is $300+ right?).
>
> Nate '75GB Omaha
>
>
> Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 21:17:48 -0700
> From: "Heinz Wittenbecher"
> Subject: GMC: Some tranny temps and stuff
>
> Finally got to go for my "ride".
>
> Caspro Steering Stabilizer is noticably good.
> I still have a little play... might have to consider a steering box.
> Brakes are excellent ( with Raybestos MC)
>
>
>
>

 

[mike finnicum]

Nate

I replaced my "steering dampner" with stock. I got
it at Golby about 2 years ago for about $55. It was
a very simple replacement for me (have a big breaker
bar). It also made a significant difference in my
handling.

When I removed my old one - it had zero resistance.

I later replaced all my front suspension bushings,
bearings, one hub, and front shocks. My steering
is now near perfect. Excellant handler. All stock.

FYI
Mike F

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailtowner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Nate
Chase
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 1999 2:00 PM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: GMC: Steering Stabilizer

Heinz,
Was the Caspro a direct replacement or an auxillary addon type
dampner?
If not, does anyone know of a stock replacement that works good?
My steering
is sloppy to say the lease and I hate to just start swapping
things out... I
need two people to check it out and see where my play is really
coming from
but thought the dampner would be a cheap start (Caspro's is $300+
right?).

Nate '75GB Omaha


Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 21:17:48 -0700
From: "Heinz Wittenbecher"
Subject: GMC: Some tranny temps and stuff

Finally got to go for my "ride".

Caspro Steering Stabilizer is noticably good.
I still have a little play... might have to consider a
steering box.
Brakes are excellent ( with Raybestos MC)

 

[nate chase]

Heinz,
I just installed my new Alcoa's, new tires and new KYB shocks this
weekend. Took me about 10 hours total. It made a world of difference in the
wander of my coach. I greased everything I could find to. The bogeys seem
pretty slop free except the passenger side rear (about 1/8" or so) so I am
happy there since that's a BIG expense and the rears appear to play a large
part in the overall scheme of handling.
I'd guess the shocks did the best trick, I think. It would nose dive to
the right when I hit a dip in the road. No longer... and the wandering is
about 1/3 what it was before. Funny, I took the same KYB's off it that the
IPO had on before and they seemed to have plenty of charge left in them (IE.
shot right up when I took one side loose). They must be old though since,
boy were they were a bear to get off! The rear lower mounts (thought they
were studs but thank god they were bolts) were turning and the rear tops
were so rusty I had to pull the shock and double nut the stud to get the old
off so the new could go on. I used "Anti- Seize " on everything (even my
wheel studs) as it went back together so the next time (or next guy) should
thank me!
I haven't gotten sucked on to the shoulder of the road since I replaced
the shocks so I am a happy camper... well almost... now I need to install
the new macerator pump, yuk! Pretty soon I'll have a brand new old coach.
Anyways keep us informed as to your "excess play" issue since I am all
ears...

Nate '75GB Omaha

>>>
Heinz Wrote:

I still have a little 'play' in mine and it's down to being either in
steering box or shaft. If I don't like it after my next trip I'm going to do
both. My problem is that once I drive it a bit I get used to it and adjust I
guess. It's after I don't drive it for a while that I notice a tiny bit of
extra slop.

Heinz
>>>

 

[claude brousson]

As far as I know the stabilizer that Caspro sells is essentially the
same as the Safe-T-Plus one that is advertized in RV magazines. In any
case this is the one that I installed some years ago.It goes directly
behind the frame cross member at the front, replacing the small OEM
shock absorber. Some people seem to like them,some feel that if not
adjusted right or if one is often fighting cross winds that one ends up
putting more wear on the power steering. In any case I don't think it is
really the only way or the best way to fix looseness in front end. I
think it helps, however, as it tends to keep the wheels in the dead
ahead position, but one should also address the areas that are loose.I
am reasonably satisfied with mine after finally making some modification
to it. It is hard to get the unit absolutely at the dead centre point
for steering, so I used to crawl under the front and be trying to get
the perfect spot.But often either the adjustment was too much or not
enough.

What I finally did was take it off, and cut off the threaded end, and
carefully welded on a longer threaded end from a bolt so one has
essentially a vernier adjustment by turning the two nuts and two locking
nuts a few turns either way until it is at exact dead centre. This has
made it much easier to fine tune it to where I want it. So far I am
pleased with the result.So, for what its worth if any are interested.

Claude in Victoria BC.