Steering Damper Bushes

Nolathane steering damper bushes keep your steering damper firmly mounted and working the way it should. The steering damper, also called a steering stabiliser, absorbs kickback, vibration and sudden jolts before they reach the steering wheel. When its mounting bushes wear, the damper moves in its mounts, losing much of its ability to control the steering. Nolathane polyurethane steering damper bushes restore a firm, positive connection at both ends, so the damper can do its job properly.

Designed as direct repair and upgrade solutions for 4WDs, utes, commercial vehicles and passenger cars, they?re built to outlast the factory rubber they replace, especially on corrugated roads, rough tracks and in demanding conditions.

What a Steering Damper Does

A steering damper is a small hydraulic shock absorber mounted horizontally in the steering system. One end usually attaches to the chassis, axle or a fixed bracket, and the other end to the steering linkage, often the tie rod or drag link.

As the steering moves, the damper resists sudden, rapid movements while still allowing normal steering inputs. This helps to:

• Absorb kickback through the steering wheel when a tyre hits a rock, pothole or rut
• Reduce vibration and shimmy on corrugated and rough roads
• Improve stability when tyres are deflected by uneven surfaces
• Reduce driver fatigue on long trips over rough terrain

Steering dampers are most common on 4WDs with solid front axles, but they?re also fitted to some utes, commercial vehicles and passenger cars.

Why Steering Damper Bushes Matter

A steering damper can only absorb movement if it?s held firmly at both ends. The bushes at each mounting point locate the damper while allowing the small amount of pivoting it needs as the steering and suspension move.

When the bushes are worn, the damper can shift in its mounts before it starts to resist movement. That small amount of slack reduces the damper?s effectiveness. It lets more kickback and vibration through to the steering wheel, and can create rattles and knocks from the front end.

Steering Damper Mounting Styles

Automotive steering dampers attach using a few common mounting styles:

• Eye mounts use a round eye at each end of the damper, with a bush and sleeve fitted inside and a bolt passing through to a bracket.
• Stud or pin mounts use a threaded stud that passes through a bracket, with a bush clamped either side of it and held in place by washers and a nut.
• Combination mounts use an eye at one end and a stud at the other.

Nolathane steering damper bush kits are designed to suit these mounting styles on applicable vehicles. Each listing shows the dimensions, fitting position and kit contents, so you can match the bushes to your damper.

Signs of Worn Steering Damper Bushes

• Increased kickback through the steering wheel over bumps, ruts and rocks
• More steering vibration or shimmy on corrugated roads
• Rattling or knocking from the front end on rough surfaces
• Visible movement at the damper ends when the steering is turned by hand
• Cracked, split, flattened or missing rubber at the damper mounts
• A damper that feels less effective than it used to, even if the damper itself is in good condition

Check the damper bushes whenever the steering or suspension is serviced, and before long trips on rough roads.

Steering Dampers and Death Wobble

Death wobble is a violent shaking of the front wheels and steering that some solid front axle 4WDs experience, usually triggered by a bump at speed. A steering damper can help reduce the severity of steering shake, but it isn?t the cure for death wobble.

Death wobble is usually caused by worn or loose steering and suspension components, such as track bar (panhard rod) bushes, tie rod ends, ball joints, wheel bearings or incorrect alignment. A worn steering damper or damper bushes can make it harder to control, but replacing the damper alone often just masks the real problem.

If your vehicle experiences death wobble, have the full steering and suspension system inspected, and repair any worn components, including the damper bushes.

Pros and Cons of Steering Dampers

A healthy steering damper offers clear benefits:

• Less kickback and steering shock off-road
• Reduced fatigue on long, rough trips
• More stable steering on corrugations and uneven roads

There are some trade-offs to be aware of:

• A damper adds slight resistance to quick steering movements
• A damper that?s too stiff, or incorrectly mounted, can make steering feel heavy
• A damper can hide underlying wear in other steering components, which still needs to be fixed

Keeping the damper and its bushes in good condition makes sure you get the benefits without adding problems.

Polyurethane vs Rubber Steering Damper Bushes

Factory steering damper bushes are often rubber. They?re exposed to water, mud, dust, heat and constant movement, so they tend to wear, crack and compress over time, especially on vehicles driven off-road.

Nolathane polyurethane steering damper bushes use a superior formulation with outstanding abrasion resistance, high load-bearing capability, flexibility and increased tensile strength. They resist oil, grease, ozone and weathering. They hold the damper firmly while allowing the movement it needs, keeping the damper effective for longer.

Steering Damper Bushes for 4WD and Off-Road Use

4WD steering systems face constant shocks from rocks, ruts and corrugations. Larger tyres, lifted suspension and heavier accessories add more load to the steering. In these conditions, steering damper bushes work harder than almost anywhere else, and they wear faster.

Fitting Nolathane polyurethane steering damper bushes, either on their own or when fitting a new steering damper, helps keep the damper firmly mounted and effective on every trip. If you?re upgrading your steering damper, replacing the mounting bushes at the same time ensures the new damper performs at its best from day one.

Installing Steering Damper Bushes

Steering damper bush replacement is a straightforward job for professional workshops and experienced home mechanics. As a general guide:

• Support the vehicle safely, with the steering straight ahead.
• Remove the damper mounting bolts or nuts and take out the damper.
• Remove the old bushes, sleeves and washers, and clean the mounting points.
• Inspect the damper for leaks, damage or loss of resistance, and replace it if needed.
• Fit the new Nolathane bushes, sleeves and washers in the order shown in the kit instructions.
• Refit the damper and tighten the fasteners to the manufacturer?s specification, without over-compressing stud-mount bushes.

Check that the damper moves freely through full steering lock without binding or contacting other components.

Lifetime Warranty

Nolathane steering damper bushes are backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship, for the original vehicle they?re fitted to. It reflects our confidence in the materials, design and manufacturing standards behind every Nolathane bushing.

Who Nolathane Steering Damper Bushes Suit

Nolathane steering damper bushes suit 4WD and off-road owners dealing with kickback, vibration or rattles from worn damper mounts, and touring drivers who spend long days on corrugated roads. They?re also used when fitting a new or upgraded steering damper, on utes, commercials and passenger vehicles with steering dampers, and by workshops carrying out steering and suspension servicing.

Shop Steering Damper Bushes

Restore steering damper mounts and other worn linkage joints with Nolathane's steering parts range.

Find the steering damper bush kit for your vehicle, then order online with fast shipping or have it fitted by a Nolathane reseller. Our fitment guarantee means you get the right kit first time, and our local support team can help you match bushes to your damper?s mounting style.