I dinged my steering stabilizer and now it's leaking. AutoZone lists (and stocks) two replacements for my 99 Ram 1500 with 4WD, both are made by Trailmaster Suspension and sold as kits. The kits are listed as an "SS Shock" and an "SSV Shock". The guys at AutoZone didn't know the difference.

So, two questions:
1. Are Trailmaster Suspension components worth using? (price = $75 per kit, both kits are the same price)
2. If they are worth using, does anyone know the difference between SS and SSV?

I saw some earlier posts touting Rancho as a good suspension component supplier. Should I not waste my time with Trailmaster? Thanks.

 

A third option is just take it off and save the $75. You really don't need it ... unless you do a lot of off-roading.

 

Get the Ranchero twin stabilizers. I have 2 monster stabilizers on my Ram. I think there's a big difference with them. Plus it is part of the design.

Just my 2.

Good luck.

 

Maybe I am wrong here but I personaly dont think it makes much of a difference I replaced my factory one with one from skyjacker and didn't notice a difference. A freind of mine got the kit for dual stabilizers said it was great and all this I drove his truck and didn't really notice a difference from mine besides his steered harder although that wouldn't cause that but the best part was about 2 weeks after he got them we were wheeling and he crushed one I think they were actually fighting each other instead of helping. my opinion replace it with a like factory or cheap replacement you can find a lot better upgrades to spend your money on then the stabilizer.

 

Stabilizers aren't supposed to make it easier to turn but to simply keep the steering wheel from jerking out of your hands while hitting the mud or a big water spot. I have the rancho dual stabilzer on mine and am running 39.5 inch TSL's. I love mine.

 

can't say I agree with the "take it off" idea. One of the biggest reasons that it is on there for is to protect the steering linkage in abusive situations, and, as said before, not to rip the wheel out of your hand while offroading

 

Which is exactly what I said ... replace it for off-roading.

Mine broke in half a long time ago ... actually hanging from under the truck. I took it off because I didn't have a replacement. I was worried that the truck wold have steering problems or wander or feel loose until I replaced it. My fears were completely unfounded. The truck is perfectly stable ... the steering could be described as sedate.

If by "protect" you mean break before anything else does ... you're 100% correct ... worked like a charm.