Universal Steering Dampers

Monroe Magnum steering damper, showing the sleeved eye mounts at both ends

A steering damper, which most people call a steering stabilizer, is a shock absorber lying on its side. It damps the steering instead of the suspension, and it is chosen the same way: by how long it is, how short it goes, and what is on each end.

Nothing else about it is vehicle-specific. There is no spring rate to match and no bolt pattern to get wrong, which makes it one of the few parts you can genuinely buy by measurement. That matters most for the builds that have no year, make and model to search by at all: solid-axle swaps, lifted trucks, buggies, trailers and anything running an aftermarket steering box or a custom bracket.

It is also the part people reach for when the steering shakes. A damper will not cure death wobble on its own, because that comes from worn track bar bushings, loose ball joints or bad alignment, and a damper only masks it. But once the cause is fixed, the right damper is what keeps the steering calm.

straighten How to Measure

Measure centre to centre between the two mounting points, with the damper off the vehicle or the old one still in place.

  • Extended length. Turn the steering to full lock one way and measure between the mounting points. The damper must reach at least this far.
  • Compressed length. Full lock the other way. The damper must collapse at least this far, or it becomes the steering stop and something bends.
  • Travel. The difference between the two. It has to cover your full lock-to-lock movement at the damper, which is much less than at the wheel.
  • Both ends. An eye (a loop with a rubber bushing, often with a steel sleeve through it) or a stem (a threaded bayonet with rubber washers). Both ends have to match what your brackets take.

Leave yourself room at both ends. A damper that bottoms out or tops out before the steering stops do is taking the whole load of the steering box, and it will not last, nor will the bracket it is bolted to.

Showing all 41 parts

Image Extended in Compressed in Travel in Body dia. in End A End B
Monroe MONROE-SC2940 steering damper MONROE-SC2940 17.38 10.63 6.75 1.86 Stem2-3/8" Stem Length X 3/8"-16 Thread Pitch Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2941 steering damper MONROE-SC2941 17.63 11.5 6.13 1.86 Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 31.8mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 28.6mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2917 steering damper MONROE-SC2917 18.7 11.66 7.05 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2943 steering damper MONROE-SC2943 19.13 11.75 7.38 1.64 Loop / eyelet, sleeved10mm Sleeve ID X 25.4mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved10mm Sleeve ID X 25.4mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2928 steering damper MONROE-SC2928 19.5 12 7.5 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved1/2" Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2937 steering damper MONROE-SC2937 19.5 12 7.5 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved10mm Sleeve ID X 1-3/8" Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2915 steering damper MONROE-SC2915 19.88 12.13 7.75 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2948 steering damper MONROE-SC2948 19.88 12.5 7.38 1.64 Loop / eyelet, sleeved10mm Sleeve ID X 25.4mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2942 steering damper MONROE-SC2942 20.13 12.25 7.88 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Stem2-3/8" Stem Length X 3/8"-16 Thread Pitch
Monroe MONROE-SC2963 steering damper MONROE-SC2963 20.63 12.5 8.13 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved1/2" Sleeve ID X 38.1mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2970 steering damper MONROE-SC2970 20.65 13.22 7.43 1.86 Loop / eyelet, sleeved1/2" Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved1/2" Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2962 steering damper MONROE-SC2962 20.75 12.75 8 1.86 Loop / eyelet, sleeved10mm Sleeve ID X 36.5mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2974 steering damper MONROE-SC2974 20.95 13.24 7.71 2.18 Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved1/2" Sleeve ID X 38.1mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2955 steering damper MONROE-SC2955 21.38 13 8.38 1.86 Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 38.1mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 38.1mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2914 steering damper MONROE-SC2914 21.5 12.75 8.75 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Stem2-3/8" Stem Length X 3/8"-16 Thread Pitch
Monroe MONROE-SC2912 steering damper MONROE-SC2912 21.88 12.63 9.25 1.86 Stem2-3/8" Stem Length X 3/8"-16 Thread Pitch Stem2-3/8" Stem Length X 3/8"-16 Thread Pitch
Monroe MONROE-SC2916 steering damper MONROE-SC2916 22.25 13.25 9 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-66502 steering damper MONROE-66502 22.58 14.05 8.53 2 Loop / eyelet, sleeved3/4" Sleeve ID X 1-3/4" Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved3/4" Sleeve ID X 1-3/4" Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2960 steering damper MONROE-SC2960 22.63 13.63 9 1.86 Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-66506 steering damper MONROE-66506 22.68 13.9 8.78 2 Loop / eyelet, sleeved3/4" Sleeve ID X 1-3/4" Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved3/4" Sleeve ID X 1-3/4" Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2969 steering damper MONROE-SC2969 22.96 13.69 9.27 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 31.8mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2953 steering damper MONROE-SC2953 23 13.75 9.25 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2911 steering damper MONROE-SC2911 23.27 13.84 9.43 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2968 steering damper MONROE-SC2968 23.32 14.05 9.27 1.99 Loop / eyelet, sleeved1/2" Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved1/2" Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-555944 steering damper MONROE-555944 23.38 13.75 9.63 1.86 Stem2-3/8" Stem Length X 3/8"-16 Thread Pitch Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2964 steering damper MONROE-SC2964 23.5 14 9.5 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2947 steering damper MONROE-SC2947 23.63 15.38 8.25 1.86 Loop / eyelet, sleeved10mm Sleeve ID X 25.4mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2913 steering damper MONROE-SC2913 23.99 14.15 9.84 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2973 steering damper MONROE-SC2973 24.04 14.54 9.5 1.99 Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 41.3mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved1/2" Sleeve ID X 41.3mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2961 steering damper MONROE-SC2961 24.38 14.5 9.88 1.86 Loop / eyelet, sleeved1/2" Sleeve ID X 1-11/16" Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved1/2" Sleeve ID X 38.1mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2946 steering damper MONROE-SC2946 25.63 16.5 9.13 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2922 steering damper MONROE-SC2922 26.38 15.38 11 1.86 Loop / eyelet, sleeved7/16" Sleeve ID X 1-3/8" Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2954 steering damper MONROE-SC2954 26.5 17.88 8.63 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved10mm Sleeve ID X 25.4mm Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2920 steering damper MONROE-SC2920 26.69 16 10.69 2 Loop / eyelet, sleeved3/4" Sleeve ID X 1-3/4" Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved3/4" Sleeve ID X 1-3/4" Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2957 steering damper MONROE-SC2957 26.88 17 9.88 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2965 steering damper MONROE-SC2965 27.38 15.63 11.75 1.86 Stem2-3/8" Stem Length X 3/8"-16 Thread Pitch Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2967 steering damper MONROE-SC2967 27.79 16.11 11.68 1.86 Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 38.1mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2921 steering damper MONROE-SC2921 27.94 16.61 11.33 2 Loop / eyelet, sleeved3/4" Sleeve ID X 1-3/4" Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved3/4" Sleeve ID X 1-3/4" Sleeve OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2975 steering damper MONROE-SC2975 27.98 16.38 11.6 1.86 Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 38.1mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-555949 steering damper MONROE-555949 29.38 17.13 12.25 1.86 Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL Loop / eyelet5/8" Bushing ID X 1-5/16" Bushing OAL
Monroe MONROE-SC2966 steering damper MONROE-SC2966 29.77 17.33 12.44 2 Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL Loop / eyelet, sleeved12mm Sleeve ID X 34.9mm Sleeve OAL

A steering damper has no up or down, so match End A and End B against your two mounting points in whichever order they fall. Lengths run mount centre to mount centre, or the base of the stem where there is one. Travel is the extended length less the compressed length. Hover a photo for the part number and a larger picture.

Other ways to find a steering damper

If the damper itself is sound and only the bushings have perished, you may not need a new one at all. See universal shock bushings by size. For a suspension shock rather than a steering damper, see universal shocks and struts by length, and for everything else sold by measurement, see all universal parts by size.