[demobud]

Has anyone put this mod on their Armada? My front end at 43000 miles seems to get squirrley at highway speeds(70-85 mph). Just wondering if htis might help a bit.

http://www.stillen.com/product_list.aspx?make_id=23&model_id=2749&year=2004&subcat=143

 

[scr38]

The Armada already has sway bars front and rear.

 

[manny0]

The Armada already has sway bars front and rear.

the stillen bar is stiffer i would think that would help

 

[chiuman]

I've had the stillen swaybar on for about a week now. I love it. I could instantly feel the difference. Response was better, turn in was crisper, and it just seemed to track better. When I installed it I also installed Energy Suspension bushings, and used the stock end-links. FYI the Stillen bar is the same diameter but its solid unlike the stock bar which is hollow.

That said. I don't think it will help the squirrely highway problem. Alignment, tires, tie rod ends are things you should look at before buying a swaybar.

 

[demobud]

Yeah, I just put on CrossTerrains and had her aligned and rfb'd but haven't checked the tie rod ends yet. You'd a thunk the dealer would have checked that when I said to check everything on the front suspension, but, it's my fault for not giving them a road map.

I'm glad to hear the Stillen tightens up the cornering, as the miles rack up I have noticed that the beast gets a little tender around corners. I push my vehicles though (I'm a third generation speed demon).

 

[Armada]

Has anyone put this mod on their Armada? My front end at 43000 miles seems to get squirrley at highway speeds(70-85 mph). Just wondering if htis might help a bit.

http://www.stillen.com/product_list.aspx?make_id=23&model_id=2749&year=2004&subcat=143

If there has been a change in my front end stability at 43,000 miles, I'd be checking other things first before beefing up the swaybar. You may have one or more shocks that have failed or are going bad. You could have an alighment problem, or simply need new or better tires. All those things need to be checked and remedied first.

Only then would I consider beefing up an already pretty stout swaybar. A stiffer sway bar may degrade your ride quality and probably reduce front axle articulation if you ever take it off road.

 

[demobud]

If there has been a change in my front end stability at 43,000 miles, I'd be checking other things first before beefing up the swaybar. You may have one or more shocks that have failed or are going bad. You could have an alighment problem, or simply need new or better tires. All those things need to be checked and remedied first.

Only then would I consider beefing up an already pretty stout swaybar. A stiffer sway bar may degrade your ride quality and probably reduce front axle articulation if you ever take it off road.

:hi:
I've already replaced the tires (on my third set, hopefully the last for a while) I have had it into the dealer specifically to check the shocks. Their "Quality Control Inspector" said everything was "just fine" and to " get used to the ride". I am going to another dealer next week. My opinion of "service advisors" hasn't really gained any ground.
As for going off road, I don't really do that at all. I got the truck for the towing capacity and interior space.
I have never owned a vehicle that I couldn't improve on in some way, so It may be time to chuck the dealer and go custom. It's too good of a ride to not make it run at its full potential.

 

[chiuman]

Wow, 3 sets of tires at 43k . Hopefully that was from hard driving and not uneven tire wear. I'm still on the OEMs at 34k. I've got 22s and Falkens and will change them once I get my tire machine in a couple weeks.

As for ride quality with a swaybar I only noticed a bit more stiffness over rough uneven roads. I actually like it but I'm sure its not for everyone including hardcore offroaders.

With the squirrely ride, what exactly are you talking about. Does it wander, does the steering wheel shimmy, what type of roads, does it happen only on a certain highway?

The dealer should have checked the tie rod ends because you can't do a good alignment when they are bad. Road force balancing is great if they take the time to do it. Truck tires can be hard to balance let alone RFB so they might have just given you a standard balance which the RFB machine can do. Check the insides of the wheels to see how much weight they stuck in there. Less weight is always better, to much weight can indicate a bad wheel/tire match which could be adjusted by the RFB machine.

Good luck with the dealer on tracking down the problem. If there are any specialty wheel/tire places, or race prep shops that do wheel/tires you might want to check with them if the dealer falls through.

 

[Armada]

I think something is wrong with that truck that a stiffer sway bar is not going to fix. I'm at 32,000 miles and still on my original tires and have about half the tread left. I run the ever loving stew out of this truck and tow regularly with it too.

I wish my tires would wear out so I can upgrade those Rugged Trails to some real all terrain BFG AT KO's.

Seriously, get that alignment checked by an independent shop and check the tie rod ends.

"Sumthin ain't right."

 

[demobud]

Thanks Armada. I've went ahead and got the 5 year alignment warranty fro NTB so I can take it in any time I need. I agree that there is some thing fundamentally wrong with the front end. I bought the truck used with 23000 on it, and the OEM Contis were on it. Two months later I switched to Wrangler SRA' s and didn't like them from day one(expensive mistake) but I figured I woudl live with them til they wore out. About four months later I began to notice the inside wearing so I began rotating at every 3000 to try and even the wear, no luck. I finally began working with a decent service advisor at my dealer who was helping to systematically locate the problem, but he left to go to greener pastures (which says alot about my dealership). The new advisor knows about as much about cars as my 5 year old ( they go vroom vroom and beep) so I am taking your advice and moving on to an independent shop. I want to tweek this things performance anyway ow that the new is off it, so I might as well do that while fixing Nissans oversights.
don't get me wrong though, I absolutely love this truck. It blows away everything else I've ever driven (with the exception of the BMW I had a few years ago). I still love the reactions from passengers and fellow motorists when the beast rears up and takes off. People are amazed that this thing can accelerate so fast.
I'll let you guys know how it goes and if I learn any thing new I'll pass it along.

 

[Armada]

I hope things work out for you. I am beginning to wonder if the previous owner may have damaged the suspension in some fashion before you bought it. And those Wrangler RA's are notorious for being difficult to balance and for having uneven wear anyway.

I had terrible problems with Goodyear Wranglers on a Ford Expedition I owned. I never could get them to stop cupping. Ford said it was Goodyear. Goodyear said it was Ford. I put Goodyear ATS's on it and the problem stopped.

But it sounds like your problem is more than tires.

 

[demobud]

I agree. I got under the truck yesterday and noticed that the skid plate had a dent outward in the center of it as if it had been pushed from the sides. I couldn't tell from wher I was whether there was any deflection to the sway bar, but I do know that I have had to have the toe and camber adjusted rather dramatically. I am wondering if the previuos owner might have been a little rough with it off road and bent something on the suspension (or the skid plate could have have been bent by an overzealous oilchange tech, which wouldn't affect the ride).
I have had a love/hate relationship with goodyear over the last 20 years. It seem that their quality control goes out the window and they just put out some crap tires every now and then. Especially with the Wrangler series.

 

[92TripleBlack]

Probably make it better on the street and worse off road. If that makes sense for your use, do it.

 

[scr38]

Hey, Triple, where have you been? Good to see you back.

 

[92TripleBlack]

Hey, Triple, where have you been? Good to see you back.

Here's a link. Basically, I broke 2 teeth and was out of it for a week and a half. My boss gave my crap, and they didn't pay me nearly enough for what I do. So I got focused and got a new job. I start May 8th. Such a relief. The new job will take more of my time, but pays at least a double guaranteed for 12 months, and more likely a triple for as long as I'm there. Great opportunity. That, and the focus on building the house, etc. I've been pretty busy.
http://www.clubarmada.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3816