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Old Man Emu Steering Stabilizer

OME Steering Stabilizer

Part #:

Since I was putting a lift on and was looking at bigger tires I figured that the stock stabilizer just wouldn't be enough.  Okay really I wanted the cool beefy looking yellow OME stabilizer underneath, not the scrawny factory one.  OME has built a reputation on having the right parts for the right vehicle.  I am impressed with the quality of their parts.

Additional Parts:
Tools Needed:
Gear-puller/ pickle fork
Big Hammer?
15mm Socket
18mm Combo wrench
19mm Combo wrench
Pliers

 

Stabilizer Characteristics
  Compressed Extended
Factory 11 3/4" 19 1/2"
Old Man Emu 12 1/4" 19 1/2"

 

Installation:
Just a shot of how the OME looks next to the stock one.  You can see how much larger the OME is compared to the stock one.   Stabilizer comparison
1. First you will need to remove the old steering stabilizer.  Now I figured since mine was brand new it would be easy.   stock stabilizer
2. So I pulled out the cotter pin and removed the 19mm castellated nut from the tie rod end of the stabilizer.  Now all I needed to do was remove the taper pin from the tie rod and that end of the shock would be free.  Now there are plenty of tricks to doing this.  Tapping on the sides of the tie rod around the pin usually frees it up and it falls right out.  Jeep put a hex head on the pin, so I figured that I would be able get a wrench on there and give it a twist.  No luck there.  So I pulled out the old gear puller, I tightened it up and it still wouldn't come off.  So I tightened it up a little bit more and BANG, it came off.   drag link bolt
3. Now all I needed to do was remove the 15mm  bolt and 18mm nut from the axle and the stabilizer is off.  axle mount
4. I inserted the bushing into the can end of the OME stabilizer. I had a large channel lock pliers, so it made short work of the bushing.  I vise would have worked perfectly. inserting bushing
5. I inserted the tapered pin into the stabilizer, placed the washer over the end and then tighten down the nut with a 15mm wrench.  Make certain that you don't crush the bushing completely.   installing drag link mount
6. I first bolted the stabilizer to the axle bracket.  Make certain that you extend the stabilizer before you do this.  It is easier to push it in, than to pull it out.  All that is left to do is insert the OME provided taper pin in the tie rod, slide on the lock washer and tighten down the nut with a 19mm wrench installiing drag link bolt
7. Completed stabilizer installed

 

  N-m Ft. Lbs. In. Lbs.
STEERING DAMPER AXLE BRACKET BOLT 74 55 -
STEERING DAMPER DRAG LINK NUT 74 55 -

This page last updated: 21-Apr-2008

Content and Design © 2002-present WanderingTrail,  Ronald Seegert
Common Sense and Safety should always be observed when working on your vehicle or doing modifications. Jackstands, wheel blocks, disconnecting the battery are a few of the basic safety precautions that should be used and may not be mentioned in the write ups on this site. You are responsible for your own installation, these write ups are a helpful guideline and should not be taken as an official installation instruction. My write up may be different from the kits currently out there, so alwasy double check the manufacturers installation instructions when installing anything. I try to keep the site up to date with changes that have occured as I discover them, but may not have the latest unless someone lets me know. If you feel that an install is above your capabilities after reading my write ups, I recommend getting together with a club and getting some help. Only a few times have I needed to employe some actual help from a shop to get something done. Usually welding or A/C work. While I have spent many years working on mechanical systems, I am not an expert, nor do I pretend to be one. I hope these write ups have been useful to you.
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