Steering Damper/shock - '96 Roady Wgn??????

I need to know what steering stabilizer/damper/shock-thing to order? This connects to the center link.

Mine is leaking for sure, it's really wet. They have no listing for one on a Roadmaster anywhere I look, even on the AC-Delco website, but do list Delco part #'s 509-608, old # 88946549, for a 92-96 Cadillac Fleetwood...which is I know our "sister" car. Anyone know if it's the same?????? $25 plus $8 shipping at Rock Auto.

Also, looked at Autozone for the same damper. Same deal, no listing for a Roadmaster, but for a Fleetwood they list Gabriel #14019. It's only $21 too. Will order it....if someone can tell me that's it!

My Roady had a really bad weekend....have it all torn apart now.

-Mike

they isolate road feedback, and make the powersteering run hot,.
jm2c,.
Nick

I got the Fleetwood damper from RockAuto. RMSAuto lists the same damper in the B-Body section.

I would try driving around for a couple of weeks without it to see what you think before ordering a replacement. Putting a new one on is a quick job if you decide you want it later. I wasn't real happy with the feel of a non-leaky damper, but then got busy and forgot about it until now.

Thanks for the info.

It's a Buick...it's supposed to feel isolated, right? Ha!

As for running hot, I can see how it would put a little more stress on the ps pump, but after 16 Texas summers this is just now getting replaced, so I think it'll be ok.

We'll see how it feels. I can always take it off.

Good write-up and pic on ISSF. http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?t=240603&page=2

From what I read it takes some of the jolt out of the steering wheel when hitting bumps and such, and is nice to have if you are running wider than stock tires or stiffer shocks. I'm doing both, so ordering this tomorrow.

-Mike

Am sure GM compensated when designing the system so that the PS pump wasnt too badly
overstressed.The difference is very noticeable to me when I go from my OCC to my RMW and back again.
Jim

Flasheroo wrote:

Am sure GM compensated when designing the system so that the PS pump wasnt too badly
overstressed.The difference is very noticeable to me when I go from my OCC to my RMW and back again.
Jim

In a good or bad way?

A good way.The steering on the RMW has much more feedback even though it has twice the
miles.The steering just feels more positive and consistent than the OCC does.Minor bumps and
a particlarly vicious set of RR tracks do nothing to the RMW.When crossing those same tracks
with my OCC you want to grab the wheel firmly and make sure you cross at the lowest spot
on the road.Hope that helps you out Mike.
Jim

Delco damper ordered from RockAuto.

Thanks!

It,s funny how things go full circle in life,. it,s a shame the ISSF lost all its history,.

I suppose for old men with station wagons this makes them feel the front end is still good, you can drive a car with the shock and you can't tell in the steering wheel how much play you have in the front end. yet put it on a hoist and there is so much wear and tear it,s surprising. Then they realise that 1/2 turn back and forth and the car doesn't change trajectory equates to pretty severe steering wear,.but it feels nice to your hand on the steering wheel,.
Some people like that sense of not knowing whats happening when driving then same folks that are sitting somewhere with a tie rod popped out of its socket, or a broken ball joint etc, because they couldn't feel a damn thing,.

The lt1 power steering pump is running faster than it needs to, and they do build heat quickly, it is an achilles heel when the they are used for any sort of track work.
Running larger impala ss rims and tires that are way heavier and wider than stock stresses the pump too,.

I keep forgetting this is an old man station wagon forum,. and most mods done here are to look good and sound good, not to GO good,.
After all these years of modifying parts and pieces on b-body cars,. i get tired of johnny come latelys telling me that GM always knows better. Yet these same people have no idea about budget restraints that engineers face when building a car.

Some people actually work on their cars with wrenches and sockets and power tools
i have patience with those people,..
others just discuss the virtual world of auto repair and modifications with their keyboard, and like to act as unpaid emissaries of a large cost driven corporation that as we all know is prone to building sub standard parts and operating systems for their cars,.

These are oft times the same folks that put mismatched high performance suspension components on their car, like real stiff bilstein shocks,to try and control soft spring rates,. big oversized sway bars, resulting in massive oversteer, larger over sized rims and tires, that wear out idler arms, outer tie rods and centrelinks quickly,. think GM designed the car to run that stuff? with a steering damper the same people that have absolutely no idea what positive feedback means, in fact they are so wrong they describe lack of road feel as positive feedback,. (oy vey)
Just because you can own a couple a wagons doesn't automatically make you an expert.


I wish the pics were still around of the melted filler caps and boiled oil from impala ss's that were autocrossing back when guys used to do that sort of thing.

Usually when i make a point, it,s info that i,ve learned,. not something i,ve pioneered, in fact other than different rear wagon discs with a parking brake, and c5/c3 cheap front brakes, i haven't pioneered very much, but i sure have learnt alot from folks way smarter than me, and i try to pass on these gems,. to those that will take the time to listen and research for them selves rather than being an internet sheep and just following the bleats of the flock.

Nick
IMO
NO,. GM's way isn't always the best way.

Let me know how your steering feels after the install,Mike!
Jim

Wow Nick....didn't mean to fire you up. I fully admit GM often does things wrong, and sure know you have experience in making these cars fly, and fixing design mistakes.

I'm 37....but guess I am an old man, because I tend to lean to the cruiser side of the group. I don't race my car...I ran it to 100mph once on an arrow-straight hill country road, just for fun, but other than that, it's just my interesting and useful daily driver.

I see your point about that damper...well "dampening" the steering, and frankly that's fine with me. I LIKE that my big giant wagon is both pretty quick and also very smooth. It's fun to take to car shows, gets positive comments, stands out in the parking lot at work, my family fits in it, and I can tow my trailer or boat with it. I doubt it will ever see a track.

That's my 2-cents. I think we have a really nice mix here of die-hard folks that want to go fast and of people who just really enjoy these cars for what they are, and value the tips, experience and ideas of the other owners. I really enjoy this forum and am glad everyone can throw in their 2-cents when a question pops up.

Again thanks everyone for the replies,

-Mike

I,m not fired up,.just lacking smilies as usual,.

your description and experience with the front end so wore out it nearly fell off,.
and changing to softer shocks etc,. just reinforces my points, fyi.. chinese stuff is getting to be better quality than indian stuff,. or mexican stuff,. you live in texas,. why not re-use the adjuster sleeves,. doubt if you'll find better after market,. hard to believe all those front end parts are no longer serviceable,.just another ill informed shotgun approach by your mechanic , use moog problem solver parts.
good luck with your car,.

nick

phantom 309 wrote:

I,m not fired up,.just lacking smilies as usual,.

your description and experience with the front end so wore out it nearly fell off,.
and changing to softer shocks etc,. just reinforces my points, fyi.. chinese stuff is getting to be better quality than indian stuff,. or mexican stuff,. you live in texas,. why not re-use the adjuster sleeves,. doubt if you'll find better after market,. hard to believe all those front end parts are no longer serviceable,.just another ill informed shotgun approach by your mechanic , use moog problem solver parts.
good luck with your car,.

nick

We are going to re-use the adjuster sleeves. That's what my mechanic buddy said to do. Said factory parts are better than aftermarket as long as they are not rusted, and mine are clean.

I bought mostly Moog and Reybestos parts for what I am replacing. Hopefully all good stuff. Have not decided on new shocks yet, but to me, the Severe Service shocks on the front have always seemed harsh. I don't want the car to float, but also don't want it to BANG over bumps. Looking for something in the middle ground.

Got the "shipped" notice from RockAuto, so hopefully will get the new parts soon. Missing my wagon. Just put more gas in the '79 Buick over lunch. BOY it drinks gas!

-Mike

I'm with Nick. I'm not a big fan of the damper. Another perk of removing it is that the "no damper" centrelink is much cheaper.

jasonlachapelle wrote:

I'm with Nick. I'm not a big fan of the damper. Another perk of removing it is that the "no damper" centrelink is much cheaper.

I ordered the damper, but am going to drive it without this first to see if I like it better.

As for the center link, thanks to the hint to go to Rock Auto I got it for less than the standard one at the local parts store. Pretty cool!

Now just looking at the front shocks.

-Mike