Terrafirma RTC steering damper

Anybody fitted one of these to a standard Defender?
It is a steering damper that also has a spring to give a self centering action, Terrafirma say it improves the steering making it easier to drive.

lightning said:

Anybody fitted one of these to a standard Defender?
It is a steering damper that also has a spring to give a self centering action, Terrafirma say it improves the steering making it easier to drive.

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ive usually taken them off

lightning said:

Anybody fitted one of these to a standard Defender?
It is a steering damper that also has a spring to give a self centering action, Terrafirma say it improves the steering making it easier to drive.

Click to expand...

And you of course believe everything Terrafirma say i suppose. Offroad maybe, on the road i would say no.

Unless your using 35 simex or summat and have fitted a silly lift so your steering geometrys out theres no need. Well set up steering with propper swivel preload and steering backlash set should self centre

The terrafirma rtc damper is mostly used to mask worn out steering systems or badly modified cars

OK thanks for the replies, that's answered my question....l won't buy one of those then.

Fitted the dreaded Britpart steering damper earlier this year and it seems fine, bit soon yet to comment on reliability.

I ordered the Britpart one and when l opened the box it was branded Armstrong which l believe are OK.

I am fitting a new standard Armstrong one on mine today I think standard is the best I've only got 33inch tyres.

I fitted a britpart 'super gaz' rtc damper beginning of October, when I fitted it it was very hard to compress, and actually when I first drove it I hated it, it pushed the steering to the right and I nearly took it off, after a couple of weeks it seemed to of bedded in and it steers like a dream now, far better than the old crap standard one and a similar price to Armstrong. I have fitted a new steering column, new steering box, and all new ball joints on the front axle, also stripped front axle and replaced all bearings and seals so everything is set up perfectly anyway, don't know how much of a difference the rtc makes on its own, but I like the look of it!!

Std cheap as chips armstrong on my 90 been fine for last 2/3 years with 33 inch tyres.
I think rtc is a gimic for people who think anything shiny is an upgrade.

lynall said:

I think rtc is a gimic for people who think anything shiny is an upgrade.

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I do agree with you, but have you seen old man emu's its priced over 80 quid I think!

I wouldn't of thought they would be into gimics...just a thought

lightning said:

Anybody fitted one of these to a standard Defender?
It is a steering damper that also has a spring to give a self centering action, Terrafirma say it improves the steering making it easier to drive.

Click to expand...

i fitted one 2 years ago and I just refitted a OEM Armstrong damper as the Terra was an advisory on last MOT

I have just fitted a Terra to mine as when i removed the old one ( std ) type it wasn't doing anything soft as toffee and without any pressure so i decided to buy and fit a Terra one so i will have to see how it is once its back on the road

I have a terra rtc on my 90 running 265 75 tyres . Been on a year and its fantastic . Better on and off road

marktdi said:

I have a terra rtc on my 90 running 265 75 tyres . Been on a year and its fantastic . Better on and off road

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Yeh got 265 special tracks on mine so hopfully it should be ok

Agree with top drive, all the steering components should be the starting point, ball joints rods, bushes etc , but I've got one and it's actually not bad if set up properly.

I've just fitted a Terriferma steering damper on mine. Nothing really wrong with the standard damper but Terriferma looks good fitted.
Sterring does feel slightly tighter and more stable but nothing to shout home about.
It has made me think that possibly could be putting extra strain on the power steering pump!
Any thoughts about that?