Safe-T-Steer upgrade

not a B but I added one to my P-30/32 class A because the handling was dreadful. I guess it was a little less dreadful after installation but that might have been all mental/wishful thinking.
bumpy

In my very firmly held opinion, a totally worthless band-aid. In an effort to cure my old wandering, squirrely Dodge B ('99/'00 RT D190V), I installed one, carefully & per instructions. Didn't make one whit of difference.

But less than 500 miles later, just after driving the curvy west end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the power steering pump failed, totally & without warning. Thank whatever powers may be, I was turning around in a parking lot at the time. Fluid was full & clean. Can I prove a connection? No, unfortunately. I'd be rich if I could.

But if I owned a honey wagon that badly needed steering help and S-T-P was the only thing that would fit, I wouldn't put one of those POS's on it.


Jim, "Mo' coffee!"

(on edit: Yep, my experience was with 'Safe-T-Plus', the spring-centered steering shock in one housing)

Safe-T-Steer upgrade? Does this imply that the steering is unsafe and this product "fixes" it?

How about fixing the unsafe steering components themselves instead of applying a band-aid??

I don't think there is a product called "Safe-T-Steer", at least google didn't find one. There are similar sounding products, either a Steer-Safe - a centering spring system that forces the steering into an adjusted straight ahead position, or Safe-T-Plus - a hydraulic steering damper system that has a pre-loaded center point that acts mostly as a steering damper. Which one are you asking about?

I'm of the opinion that adding a strong (they tout up to 400 lbs) spring to the steering system forcing into a mechanical center is not the right thing to do. You have caster and trail built into the steering that does that naturally - adjusted properly with good components and it will do as well as that particular axle design can do. The hydraulic damper system is a different thing - it's not designed to maintain center anywhere near as much as it is designed to dampen transient road shock. That is often very beneficial, my truck has one stock and an upgraded one can be a benefit. But the feel will be smoother road feel, not a reduction in wander. At the end of the day, sometimes a truck just handles like a truck - lousy compared to your luxo-car...

Edit - forgot to say that if your Class B has the older style steering box with a drag link and a tie-rod connecting the two front hubs, it's worth while checking that the steering box is centered correctly. It has a built in self-centering action inside it's hydraulic boost mechanism in the power steering, and if you have had alignment or front end work that put the steering box a little off center it will always be applying a small correcting force that can feel a lot like wander.

Brian

Have used the "Steer Safe" system on everything from a truck to a DP. Understand ONE THING, it will NOT cure a steering problem. It will help with passing vehicles pushing you and it will help you maintain control if a front wheel blows out, but that is it. It is a stabilizer, NOTHING more. Do I still use the Steer Safe system, you bet, but with the knowledge of its limitations, not as a cure all.

VintageRacer wrote:
I don't think there is a product called "Safe-T-Steer", at least google didn't find one.

My google found Safe T Steer, who makes specialty products and equipment for the wheel alignment industry in Australia.

The Texan wrote:
Have used the "Steer Safe" system on everything from a truck to a DP. Understand ONE THING, it will NOT cure a steering problem. It will help with passing vehicles pushing you and it will help you maintain control if a front wheel blows out, but that is it. It is a stabilizer, NOTHING more. Do I still use the Steer Safe system, you bet, but with the knowledge of its limitations, not as a cure all.

Agree. I put one on our 2000 Endeavor, which was already a good driving coach. It eliminated the rut tracking (where the tire wants to follow the ruts in the road). Even my DW who shares the driving noticed the difference.

Fred

Thanks guys.