How Steering Stabilizers Improve Handling on Rough Terrain

Rough terrain is rough for a reason, and the last thing you want is for your steering wheel to jerk around if your off-road vehicle hits a patch of uneven ground. Not only does this make it harder to keep your wheel straight, but depending on how rough the terrain is, you may end up in trouble and at the mercy of a do-gooder in the area with a winch. The good news is that steering stabilizers will improve your off-road vehicle’s suspension by keeping things as tight as possible, even on rough and uneven surfaces. Read on to learn more about how steering stabilizers improve handling on rough terrain.

What Is a Steering Stabilizer?

Steering stabilizers are sort of like shock absorbers and they mount onto your off-road vehicle’s steering linkage to reduce steering shimmy and bump steer. Typically, they feature a damper that's connected to the center tie rod on one side and a fixed position on the axle that keeps the assembly secure. Ultimately, their purpose is to keep your vehicle’s steering linkage centered to prevent any sway. This makes your off-road vehicle’s steering a lot tighter and less reactionary in the event that you drive over rough or uneven terrain.

5 Ways Steering Stabilizers Improve Handling on Rough Terrain

Steering stabilizers improve your handling on rough terrain in more ways than one. Learn about how steering stabilizers ensure that your off-road vehicle can brave any terrain below.

1. Reducing Steering Wheel Vibrations

The biggest impact you'll notice right out of the gate is a lack of vibration on your steering wheel. When you’re driving on rough terrain you'll encounter rocks, uneven surfaces, and lots of other terrain issues that will cause your steering wheel to vibrate. While a pair of steady hands can help, why not install a steering stabilizer to make it a non-issue? Instead of having to wrestle with your steering wheel and work up a sweat keeping it straight, dampening the vibrations caused by feedback from the rough terrain will make your next off-road adventure feel like a cakewalk. This way, you can experience the joy of off-roading without having to focus on your steering wheel the entire time. What's more, if you’re rocking a manual transmission you might not have both hands on the wheel at the same time, so every little bit can help.

2. Reducing Bump Steer

Let's talk about the dreaded bump steer for a second. Essentially, this happens when your steering wheel moves without any input from the driver. If you drive over a bump, for example, your steering wheel may jolt or move on its own. Not only is this terrifying if you’re climbing up big hills or driving on uneven terrain, but it can cause a sudden change of direction that can land you in hot water – literally. Fortunately, a steering stabilizer will keep your wheel centered and prevent bump steer from being a problem. It's hard to get rid of this issue entirely, especially if you’re getting some serious air out there, but that doesn't mean you can't reduce its impact on your experience.

3. More Control on Uneven Rough Terrain

When you install a steering stabilizer you'll notice that uneven rough terrain doesn't feel so uneven anymore. Since you'll have less steering wheel movement, you'll have a much easier time turning the wheel and your steering inputs will seem a whole lot smoother. This improves your handling on rough terrain and any other terrain you come across. The lack of vibration in the steering wheel and less bump steer also helps in the control department, so you can focus more on your surroundings than a never-ending battle with your steering wheel.

4. Improved Safety

Safety is often an afterthought when you’re off-roading, but it never should be. The less control you have over your vehicle the higher the risk of getting into an accident, and you don't want your fully-loaded and lifted off-road machine to bite the dust due to a loss of control. Your vehicle aside, having more control over your vehicle will keep you safer behind the wheel. Another benefit of being more in control of your vehicle is that you won't tire yourself out behind the wheel. Sure, you may be sitting down and only moving your hands, but wrestling with your steering wheel the entire time will tire you out, which can slow down your reaction time and lead to mistakes.

5. Prevents Wear and Tear on Your Steering Components

If you’re planning on doing a lot of off-roading, then it's always a good idea to upgrade your steering stabilizer to reduce the wear and tear that's caused by driving on rough terrain. Even if you have the best wheels, tires, and supporting suspension parts, keeping your steering system stable ensures that your tires don't wear down unevenly. Moreover, installing an aftermarket steering stabilizer can protect your steering rack, tie rods, and many other suspension components by acting as another shock absorber.

Brave Any Terrain with Steering Stabilizers from ExtremeTerrain

Equipping your off-road vehicle with the right steering stabilizer will turn an uncomfortable, bumpy, and potentially dangerous off-road adventure into something a lot more bearable. While off-roading is never going to be as smooth as driving on pavement, it's not meant to be, but that doesn't mean you and your passengers have to bounce around in the cabin the whole time. Shop online and connect with our sales techs to gain more control over your next off-road experience with the best aftermarket suspension parts.