Steering Damper

[claytspb]

Does anyone know where I can get a steering damper for my 2012 PB ?.
I am interested in adding a return to centre kit if I can find one too.
The steering is not really heavy but thought it would help my wife when driving at lower speeds.
I cant find any companies that cover the PB.

[geopaj]

What exactly are you trying to achieve?

Is it less ‘bump feedback’ through the steering wheel when your wife is doing low speed off-road work? Is it lighter steering for her in car park type settings? Or something else?

In my mind, what your trying to fix will dictate how you address it.

[claytspb]

Steering damper

Hi Geopaj, Thanks for the reply. I feel very embarrassed as I have just swung under the front and removed the front bash plate to have a look. What I found was a Steering Rack. No wonder they don't list a damper. I was going to dump the bash plate to get a bit more air flow past the engine and auto but there are too many delicate dangling buts under there. just like a jock strap is the bash plate.
I noticed the steering rack comes with the factory built in oil leaks from the boots. drivers side a little worse but no oil reaching the ground so I wont panic yet.
I was hoping to lighten the steering load in car parks etc but it is not a bid problem.
Cheers claytspb

[old Jack]

If you go down from a 265 wide tyre to a 245 width tyre then this will ease up the steering a little. 245/75R16 or 245/70R17 are the options that are the same diameter as factory tyre's.

I think the problem is the power steering pump and rack ratio is the same on both the Triton and Challenger. 2wd Tritons were fitted with 205 wide tyre's, we have one at work and the steering is much lighter than my Challenger even though I run 235 width tyre's.

Maybe it is possible to adjust the power steering pump pressure or fitting a smaller diameter pulley on the pump. I have not investigated either of these options so I do not know if they are possible.

OJ.

[geopaj]

Hi Geopaj, Thanks for the reply. I feel very embarrassed as I have just swung under the front and removed the front bash plate to have a look. What I found was a Steering Rack. No wonder they don't list a damper. I was going to dump the bash plate to get a bit more air flow past the engine and auto but there are too many delicate dangling buts under there. just like a jock strap is the bash plate.
I noticed the steering rack comes with the factory built in oil leaks from the boots. drivers side a little worse but no oil reaching the ground so I wont panic yet.
I was hoping to lighten the steering load in car parks etc but it is not a bid problem.
Cheers claytspb

No hassles mate. We’ve also done something similar at some point

Maybe get a power steering specialist to check the pump and line pressures plus make sure that the rack is in spec.

I’d check all the basic stuff too like tire pressure, wheel offset (if running aftermarket wheels), power steering belt tension, etc.

[claytspb]

Thanks OJ, Another couple of options to look into. As I said its not a major problem but perhaps for the amount of time spent at low speed I will let it go for now and work on a couple of things to reduce Turbo lag, like scroll motor and remove and clean inlet manifold etc.
I have just driven through Melbourne city twice on the stop/go freeway and the turbo lag is a pain in heavy traffic.
Cheers claytspb

[old Jack]

I have just driven through Melbourne city twice on the stop/go freeway and the turbo lag is a pain in heavy traffic.
Cheers claytspb

Manual or Auto trans?

OJ.

[claytspb]

Steering damper

Its auto trans.
With the Chip off it is quite noticeable especially cold. The lag from stopped is toss a coin to see if it will go but on even lower Chip settings it is much better.

[old Jack]

Its auto trans.
With the Chip off it is quite noticeable especially cold. The lag from stopped is toss a coin to see if it will go but on even lower Chip settings it is much better.

The auto's electronic programming combined with the electronic accelerator/throttle control is very poor and if you put the boot in too hard and too fast, the engine revs high, it delays the gear up-shifts and the torque converter does not lockup until the rpm has stabilised with the correct speed in 4th gear. Also note that the torque converter will not lock until ATF is 40C or above.

If you gently takeoff and once the engine is at 1500rpm and the trans has changed into 2nd, then feed the power in, and the engine and transmission will give much better performance and fuel economy. Using the manual shift or paddles to change gears further improves the drive experience.

If you want more performance and better fuel economy then Lockup Mate and Auto Mate will lock the torque converter from 2nd onwards, this means you start of in unlocked 1st, change to unlock 2nd, 2nd locks up, change to 3rd locked then 4th locked and then 5th locked, it is like having a 6 speed gear box. With Lockup Mate you have to change gears using the manual shift or paddles just like a clutch-less manual but Auto Mate will do this automatically for you. Auto Mate responds to the amount of accelerator input and engine load, the more accelerator input and or the great the engine load the later the up shifts occur.

OJ.