Hello folks,

I belive that my steering damper is worn out. There are lots of replacements to choose from, tha majority being based on the original. However, for the same price as the standard type I can get one from terrafirma with a bogger tube and greater oil capacity. This sounds great for longivity but there is no mention of whether the loading as been increased. I belive that Terrafirma usualy make stuff for off-road use so will fitting one of these just make my steering feel heavier or does it only effect sharp inputs from the wheels hitting an obstacle such as when off-roading?

I have a treafirma fitted to mine and its fine. Doesn't make the steering heavy and feels the same as a std damper.
Rob.

Awesome, thanks. :)

Changed mine for a Monroe and again, didn't make the steering feel any heavier.

Unless the power assistance system is on the way out or the damper is silly stiff you won't notice any difference at the wheel. Force you feel at the wheel is set by the internal torsion bar in the box connecting the steering column and worm. The bar twists when you turn the steering to open the appropriate spool valve to provide hydraulic assistance. Spool valve opening is proportionate to torsion bar twist. For all practical purposes the power steering system keeps the force at the wheel constant. If the actual load on the other end is greater then the bar will twist a smidgin more which theoretically means a bit more turn on the steering wheel but good luck with detecting that.

Steering damper is provided to control movement when loads on the steering change suddenly. Like one wheel on nice dry pavement and one falling into loose sand. Limits the rate of movement whilst the torsion bar twist and internal damping in the hydraulic system sort themselves out. Its dynamic, rate of change damping more than static force that is important. Bigger tube and more oil in the Terrafirma version just means it can work longer and harder without getting so warm that damping goes to pot.

Might matter to Baja or Paris Dakar types. But, as usual with most fashionable performance upgrades, the gains are where normal people never go. So long as basic build quality is up to scratch can't see any downside.

Clive

Thanks for that, most informative. I have ordered the Terrafirma version in the hope it will be a 'fit and forget'purchase rather than a 'fit and hope for the best'. It was only £35 delivered so not exactly braking the bank.

Fitted the TerraFirma steering damper last night. The steering does feel a bit duller and has lost some of the self-centering. That may be because the original was duff but I preferred how it felt previously. I'll see how I get used to it.

When I replaced my steering damper (used a standard one rather than a Terrafirma) the steering was noticeably stiffer.

It quickly settled down and became lighter again though.

RutlandRover wrote:

It quickly settled down and became lighter again though.

Or was that just that you got used to it?

There's only one part number for the bracket for the front harmonic balancer and using that one means the big lump of metal hits the sump on a diesel. I suppose it would be possible to make a bracket that held it in place that didn't foul the sump. I was thinking maybe you had one and it had dropped off which was the cause of the vibration rather than suggesting you fit one.

Gilbertd wrote:

I was thinking maybe you had one and it had dropped off which was the cause of the vibration rather than suggesting you fit one.

I guessed that was what you meant, it wouldn't suddenly need one unless it had suddenly lost one. :)

Need to get it up on a lift and give the underside a good going over. Sadly the four post ramp I did have acces to is out of action.

Gilbertd wrote:

RutlandRover wrote:

It quickly settled down and became lighter again though.

Or was that just that you got used to it?

I'm pretty sure it eased up. The self centering was affected by the new damper and that improved too.

Fingers crossed then. As I said, I'll give it time and see how it goes.