Steering damper for SWB?

I was told that a steering damper is not needed on a Series 3 SWB and all it really does is make the steering heavier.

The chassis does not have a built-in bracket for one (although the steering relay to hub rod does). Is it worth fitting one?

Thanks for any opinions.

I have run series three SWB without and not found it wanting one. Just set up the swivels and tracking well and it will steer as well as a coiler.

+1 for the above. Never found it neccessary. I guess if you are off-roading a lot it will reduce the steering kick back through the steering wheel, which may be useful.

Thanks for the replies.

I would think that where I live it is unlikely to ever do any off roading.

Also I think there are legal issues with steering dampers (could be wrong)

ben waine said:

Also I think there are legal issues with steering dampers (could be wrong)

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Mine has passed the MOT with and without, I think it's a bit like other things on the MOT, if it's fitted at time of test it has to be functional.

i have both a 109 and an 88", neither have a steering damper fitted and neither need one fitting

both are used on road and off the tarmac around greenlanes in Wales

I was thinking about fitting a damper on my Series 2a as I thought it might stop the tramlining effect, when I am driving along the road and I hit a bit of tarmac where there has been a road repair it causes a kind of avasive swerve.

I know this is probably due to play in the steering box but would imagine it might ease with the use of a damper, what are thoughts on this?

play in the steering box is easy enough to sort out ....

check the steering box mounting and the mounting to chassis is tight (rotten footwell ?? )

check all 6 track rod ends and the tracking

oil the relay and check it doesn't move in the crossmember and that both levers/arms are tight

check your swivel pins and adjust if needs be

what tyres and pressures are you running (crossply or radial)

a damper will only mask the problem to a degree

as i said in my last post neither of my Series have steering dampers and you can take your hands off the wheel at speed

My 83 came with one fitted looks standard? Anyway it's recently failed and you can really notice the difference. Steering wheel gets pulled around in your hands much more when you hit a pothole etc. Maybe removing it would be better than a knackered one but got a new one to go on anyway.

I recently had the relay rebuilt and changed most joints one looked fine, it rides fine on the road but if I hit a bump in the road it doesn't just ride it out I have to correct it, difficult to explain but I think finding where the play is will sort the problem.

sounds like your swivel pins could do with looking at and reshimming Innzy

NiteMare said:

sounds like your swivel pins could do with looking at and reshimming Innzy

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Yeah you could be right! Coming home from last laning trip in Wales the steering went a bit stiff and it was wandering a bit and previously it had always been spot on since I've owned it. I topped up steering box and relay which seemed ok, where as the swivels took about 300ml of ep90 each side! Since then steering is ok again so assumed they were just dry but maybe they need a bit more tlc?

NiteMare said:

i have both a 109 and an 88", neither have a steering damper fitted and neither need one fitting

both are used on road and off the tarmac around greenlanes in Wales

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Thats a cracking picture! Mind if I borrow it?

unfortunately it's not my picture so i can't give permission, it's one that a mate took when i drove the "Bombhole" on Strata Florida and he's been kind enough to allow me to show it to folks

Sorry Sam