Mid-2021 Production Change - Steering Stabilizer

[mmatthie]

Did you hear there's a new part? I have so many questions (Mainly for us, stock people)...

1.) How does this work with the dealerships...meaning can you request to see if this new stabilizer will improve wandering for example?
2.) Those with this new part...are you experiencing wandering?
3.) Those that have driven both...is there an improvement with this?

Northridge4x4 posted a video online:

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[Mr._Bill]

Are they having a problem with bolt heads shearing or rounding off? The single letter change would seem to indicate the Stabilizer is the same, just the hole for mounting has been modified due to the bolt change. This would affect anyone with a newer model that wants to upgrade their Stabilizer.

They will need to buy a new bolt to mount it, or drill out the hole on the new Stabilizer.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Are they having a problem with bolt heads shearing or rounding off? The single letter change would seem to indicate the Stabilizer is the same, just the hole for mounting has been modified due to the bolt change. This would affect anyone with a newer model that wants to upgrade their Stabilizer.

That's all it is? A single letter change? It's not a new part, then. It's a very minor revision to an existing part. Don't expect changes.

You mean there's a video about this? Good grief. A minor revision to an existing part and it gets a YT video?
That's almost a joke.

 

[BamaJeepTruck]

That's all it is? A single letter change? It's not a new part, then. It's a very minor revision to an existing part. Don't expect changes.

You mean there's a video about this? Good grief. A minor revision to an existing part and it gets a YT video?
That's almost a joke.

I think the video was due to them selling aftermarket replacements that require the old bolt. I think it’s more to show their customers who will inevitably have installation issues because of the new bolt.

 

[MattK]

So, they updated to a longer square bolt collar that goes into a round hole after it passes through the tie rod...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think the video was due to them selling aftermarket replacements that require the old bolt. I think it’s more to show their customers who will inevitably have installation issues because of the new bolt.

How about just including that note in the instructions.
But I guess- anything for marketing. People don't read, they watch YT. Videos get attention and sell things.
Changing the instructions would cost money. Putting up a YT vid will make them money.

 

[LostWoods]

This is a really odd change.

For those asking, no, this will not solve your wandering. Dampers are band-aids that can firm up steering feel and reduce road feedback but they do not solve anything to fix underlying issues. If you have a wander or a wobble there is still something else causing it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This is a really odd change.

For those asking, no, this will not solve your wandering. Dampers are band-aids that can firm up steering feel and reduce road feedback but they do not solve anything to fix underlying issues. If you have a wander or a wobble there is still something else causing it.

Sometimes changes are made to fix post-production issues, like things coming loose, sometimes it's to make production easier - changing a fastener to a type that's easier to install on the line or to automate installation of. Philips to Pozi years ago, for example.
Sometimes a bolt or screw is changed to make it easier to build, sometimes for other reasons.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Did you hear there's a new part? I have so many questions (Mainly for us, stock people)...

1.) How does this work with the dealerships...meaning can you request to see if this new stabilizer will improve wandering for example?
2.) Those with this new part...are you experiencing wandering?
3.) Those that have driven both...is there an improvement with this?

Northridge4x4 posted a video online:

It's not a new part, it's a changed bolt. Don't even think of this as a fix for anything.

If your vehicle is stock and wanders, see the dealer about fixing it, not about a steering stabilizer.

 

[LostWoods]

Yeah this is definitely an engineering change related to that bolt.

 

[WK2JT]

Sometimes changes are made to fix post-production issues, like things coming loose, sometimes it's to make production easier - changing a fastener to a type that's easier to install on the line or to automate installation of. Philips to Pozi years ago, for example.
Sometimes a bolt or screw is changed to make it easier to build, sometimes for other reasons.

Exactly… probably easier to tighten this new bolt with the longer shoulders at the factory when you put pressure on the nut… more tolerance so the bolt doesn’t spin.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Exactly… probably easier to tighten this new bolt with the longer shoulders at the factory when you put pressure on the nut… more tolerance so the bolt doesn’t spin.

My father (a long-time UAW member) worked in a factory. He was a line inspector for years, and after he died I was going through his stuff and was reminded - by photos and awards - that he was "recognized" for his contributions, making production easier, streamlining things. He came up with a plan that reduced press operations so two processes could be done by one person, and other changes.
This could be something like that, I suppose.

 

[WK2JT]

My father (a long-time UAW member) worked in a factory. He was a line inspector for years, and after he died I was going through his stuff and was reminded - by photos and awards - that he was "recognized" for his contributions, making production easier, streamlining things. He came up with a plan that reduced press operations so two processes could be done by one person, and other changes.
This could be something like that, I suppose.

Yeah, hard to see any real world benefit to extending bolt shoulders other than improving assembly productivity. Maybe not… they have much smarter engineers working on this stuff then me. Hell, Honda changed the bushing material in the front wheel of their MotoGP bike to eliminate chatter. ?‍

 

[BamaJeepTruck]

How about just including that note in the instructions.
But I guess- anything for marketing. People don't read, they watch YT. Videos get attention and sell things.
Changing the instructions would cost money. Putting up a YT vid will make them money.

Exactly. They also can say they even put a video out when someone complains to tech support and can’t finish their install that day.

 

[Cheef16]

Noticed this on my 21 JT Rubicon while installing the adjustable falcon steering stabilizer. I couldn't re-use the factory bolt per the instructions because it is an extra deep carriage bolt. I contacted the falcon folks over a month ago and they haven't bothered to reply or acknowledge my question/inquiry. I procured a bolt that would work and went ahead with the install.

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