Terrafirma RTC steering damper

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Shifty1962

Shifty1962

Well-Known Member
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The Winchester Club - Englandshire
I've just been given a brand new Terrafirma RTC steering damper in exchange for an old 2 ton chinky bottle jack that I bought at a boot fair for a fiver then never used it. I reckon I got the better half of the deal.
Anyone got any experience of these dampers? My old OEM damper is 18 years old and rusted to fook so I intend to change it this weekend while all the xmas crap is on the telly.
Any tips on set up gratefully accepted as there are no instructions on how to set it up or adjust the centre point. I can probably work it out but there is nothing like hands on experience from others to avoid ball ache.
 
You hear mixed reviews of them they are meant to be good if you have got big tyres like 37" etc but no point if not so try it if it works great if not at least you never paid retail.
 
I got one back in 2012 and I'm pretty pleased with it. When you first fit it, you notice that the steering wheel returns to centre all by itself (well, I suppose it would do, after all!) which is slightly weird, but makes driving easier. It can encourage you to be a bit lazy - it's tempting just to loosen your grip on the wheel and let it spin through your fingers to straighten up after a corner, which probably wouldn't be considered good practice by driving instructors. There's a two piece aluminium clamp that locates the spring on the body of the shock. I did wonder how one could get this positioned accurately, but it is fairly forgiving. Provided the wheels look like they're more or less straight ahead when you do up the screws on the clamp it should be OK and you won't find yourself fighting the spring to keep the car in a straight line.
 
Got one on mine, bought from new, running with 33" tyres.

I must say it has made the steering much lighter with a "modern" feel, quite nice tbh, plus it will take any extra strain of the Pas Pump, as mentioned the main benifit is for 37s.

Setting up, youve a selection of washers etc... Ill get some pics for your later this eve. If I dont PM me as ive forgotten...
 






Note there is one big washer which sits near enough inside the big spring and holds it in place.

On the instructions it said, make sure the wheels are straight, fit the damper/spring, push the collar until theres a little tension, then tighten. Road test, if it pulls left/right then adjust the collar left/right

Tighten the collar by hand, with allen keys, not a socket. Its easy to over tighten
 
I fitted one to my 110 TD5 and it has made the steering much easier when driving round town all day.
lt does not quite return to centre by itself, but makes it lighter particularly when doing U-turns etc.
Also it's better on the motorway as there's less need to correct the steering.
 
bankz5152 said:






Note there is one big washer which sits near enough inside the big spring and holds it in place.

On the instructions it said, make sure the wheels are straight, fit the damper/spring, push the collar until theres a little tension, then tighten. Road test, if it pulls left/right then adjust the collar left/right

Tighten the collar by hand, with allen keys, not a socket. Its easy to over tighten
Click to expand...
Nice one. The pictures are a good reference. I'm going to do all the hockey stick bushes, the shock bushes, the drop arm ball joint, and the track rod ends at the same time as I've recently (two weeks ago) just done the panhard rod bushes. That turned into a two day drama when one of the bolts was seized to the bush collar preventing removal of the panhard rod. It took over 8 tons on the press to get the bolt out of the collar once I'd cut it off by hand. I've had vague steering for a while now and as the bushes are all 18 years old it won't hurt to do the lot. Thanks for the advice and I'll report back once its done. I'm looking forward to being able to drive in a straight line.

I'd already decided to fit the damper with the spring collar loose then with the wheels straight tighten the collar which should mean its centred?
 
For what it's worth, I got the biggest improvement in handling by replacing the swivel bearings top and bottom on both sides. On the old ones the rollers had started indenting the races. Now it feels much more controllable at motorway speeds. Yes, of course it's a good idea to do all the bushes (I've done mine) but the swivel bearings made the most difference.
 
lightning said:
I fitted one to my 110 TD5 and it has made the steering much easier when driving round town all day.
lt does not quite return to centre by itself, but makes it lighter particularly when doing U-turns etc.
Also it's better on the motorway as there's less need to correct the steering.
Click to expand...

Yup! Forgot to mention that bit, on the Mway it is good
Shifty1962 said:
Nice one. The pictures are a good reference. I'm going to do all the hockey stick bushes, the shock bushes, the drop arm ball joint, and the track rod ends at the same time as I've recently (two weeks ago) just done the panhard rod bushes. That turned into a two day drama when one of the bolts was seized to the bush collar preventing removal of the panhard rod. It took over 8 tons on the press to get the bolt out of the collar once I'd cut it off by hand. I've had vague steering for a while now and as the bushes are all 18 years old it won't hurt to do the lot. Thanks for the advice and I'll report back once its done. I'm looking forward to being able to drive in a straight line.

I'd already decided to fit the damper with the spring collar loose then with the wheels straight tighten the collar which should mean its centred?
Click to expand...

No worries. Yeah that sounds about right.
 
Would not even consider fitting one. If the steering geometry is correct wheels should self centre without any assistance.
 
Must admit I'm thinking about fitting one of these. I run 33' tyres and on the country roads round here to steering can feel a bit unwieldy at times (new steering box fitted so steering as tight as a drum, it's the roads !) and I think this could help a fair bit.
 
Ive 37" tyres fitted and never felt the need for anything other than standard damper, then again, when I did my mods I re built all axles, re bushed everything and fitted castor corrected arms,
In my mind the RTC damper is just masking a problem you have
 
Must be a bit thick, I did'nt even know they existed! must say though that I am quite happy with the road manners of my 90 now I've sorted the tyre pressures out.
 
Shifty1962 said:
I've just been given a brand new Terrafirma RTC steering damper in exchange for an old 2 ton chinky bottle jack that I bought at a boot fair for a fiver then never used it. I reckon I got the better half of the deal.
Anyone got any experience of these dampers? My old OEM damper is 18 years old and rusted to fook so I intend to change it this weekend while all the xmas crap is on the telly.
Any tips on set up gratefully accepted as there are no instructions on how to set it up or adjust the centre point. I can probably work it out but there is nothing like hands on experience from others to avoid ball ache.
Click to expand...
Mine works a treat Mate. Take off the old, put the Terrafirma one on but keep the spring retainer loose. Make sure the steering is central. Tighten it up and go for a drive. If the steering pulls one way or the other adjust it the opposite direction until the steering wheel sits dead centre whilst your moving with your hands off of the wheel.
 
Mr S1 said:
I don't have a problem, the truck drives beautifully and everyone who's been behind the wheel says that - but if I can make it better why wouldn't I ?
Click to expand...

Same. Got no issues with steering but have read good things about the RTC damper, at £15 more than the standard, no harm done really.

Steering is improved, lighter and feels more stable.
 
wammers said:
Would not even consider fitting one. If the steering geometry is correct wheels should self centre without any assistance.
Click to expand...

Maybe at speed, but not when you are doing a low speed manoeuvre such as reversing on to somebody's drive or doing a U-turn.
Makes it easier, with no downsides at least for road use.
 
lightning said:
Maybe at speed, but not when you are doing a low speed manoeuvre such as reversing on to somebody's drive or doing a U-turn.
Makes it easier, with no downsides at least for road use.
Click to expand...

If the hands are removed from the steering wheel the steering should self centre at any speed in forward or reverse. Your grounds for fitment are a little weak.
 
bankz5152 said:
Same. Got no issues with steering but have read good things about the RTC damper, at £15 more than the standard, no harm done really.

Steering is improved, lighter and feels more stable.
Click to expand...
As it only owes me a fiver and my old one is looking very shabby its a no brainer, Worst case I'll dump the spring and use it as a normal damper. I can make up a shroud from pvc pipe and an end cap to keep the crap off the damper rod,
 
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