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The Griffin and Griffin HD steering mod by SteerSmarts

336K views 3K replies 290 participants last post by  Old Dogger 
#1 · (Edited)
Sick of the JK's suspect handling lifted or stock ? Introducing the Griffin and and HD Griffin AtTenuator from SteerSmarts.

Make your JK's steering like a cars and safer at higher speeds. Trust me IT WORKS !!!

Griffin installs on the stock drag link or new Yeti 26 mm top mount drag link.

GriffinHD only installs on HD Stock- under knuckle or flipped Yeti drag links.

http://steersmarts.com/ Install of Griffin by member speedgun http://www.wranglerforum.com/f274/steering-attenuator-quick-install-1685498.html
 

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#4 ·
Good question. Kinda what I was thinking. Not a replacement though.

His response -
It’s a little different from the stabilizers and dampers of the past. We have a simulator product on the short wheel base Chevy trucks that is built into the relay rod and really helps out on quick lane maneuvers and trailing loads. There are about 300,000 of these GM trucks on the road with our relay rods installed.

I would try it out if I wasn't running a aftermarket drag link.
 
#5 ·
Interesting , it shows in video stock SS in place also. Wonder if there would be any clearance issues with other parts when off road ?
 
#6 ·
It is an interesting device but I don't believe it is a full replacement for the SS. The attenuator performs more of a bushing like function absorbing slow amplitude higher frequency movement where as the SS absorbs lower frequency and higher amplitude movement on the drag link.

It probably does provide car-like smooth steering if that is what you are looking for. I wouldn't be surprised if some owners buy it to mask poor steering geometry.
 
#7 ·
It is an interesting device but I don't believe it is a full replacement for the SS. The attenuator performs more of a bushing like function absorbing slow amplitude higher frequency movement where as the SS absorbs lower frequency and higher amplitude movement on the drag link. It probably does provide car-like smooth steering if that is what you are looking for. I wouldn't be surprised if some owners buy it to mask poor steering geometry.
Why not .. Before long, Dealerships will be using Attenuators for A DW fix :D
 
#9 ·
Interesting concept..

D/W is simply Newton's Laws in action.

Replying to Newton's Laws of Motion with 'direct' dampening (think-putting a rubber gasket between a ball in a 'Newtons Cradle') seems as good, if not better, a remedy as any other.

If it works, while still not a 'cure', it sure would be a decent vaccine..
 
#10 ·
Interesting concept.. D/W is simply Newton's Laws in action. Replying to Newton's Laws of Motion with 'direct' dampening (think-putting a rubber gasket between a ball in a 'Newtons Cradle') seems as good, if not better, a remedy as any other. If it works, while still not a 'cure', it sure would be a decent vaccine..
Hoping you would chime in.
 
#11 ·
Well.. That last post of mine wasn't very clear at all, more confusing I think, sorry.

What I meant to say was that I think this 'device' looks promising in providing better 'road-ability', particularly with lifted vehicles.

I do not believe it will do anything for D/W, as that effect is a factor of the relationship of the front wheels/tires to each other along a solid axle.

This device appears to address steering linkage impacts transmitted to the steering box/frame (ie-steering wheel/passenger compartment), not across the wheels/tires (in relation to each other) so i don't see how it could affect/limit the interdependent tire-wheel oscillations that occur to induce D/W..

Still though, it is an interesting idea/concept for improved road-ability..
 
#14 ·
It really works

My name is on the Attenuator patent and would like to answer some of the questions that have been asked.
We have been manufacturing steering linkages and components for over 80 years. We developed this product with years of steering linkage experience. This product has been fully tested and designed to last. It does not replace the damper as some have asked or fix wheel wobble. However, it will reduce the road harshness and reduce snap oversteer during sudden steering maneuvers.
There are no packaging issues with the attenuator, it clears all original equipment components.
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey thanks for chiming in Compliant, any other info you can share ? Has this been used on a modified jeep
( lifted ) running stock drag link. .?
 
#1,439 ·
So i installed the attenuator after reading this forum/reviews. The attenuator does exactly as described. It definitely reduces road harshness and some of the other common jeep steering problems. One thing i did notice was that my steering has become just slightly spongy feeling. Not sure if i will keep the attenuator or not. I did order a teraflex monster track bar and aev geometry correction brackets so it will be interesting to see if they will all work together to give me the best steering/handling possible. It is my daily driver so on road handling is a bit of a concern for me.
 
#22 ·
Think 'Fast & Furious'; the prelude to 'drifting' without the control..
There are many websites that discuss it, just google "Snap Oversteer".

I like the idea of this device.. I think it makes good sense 'road-ability' wise, & should certainly save some wear & tear on 'upstream' components (steering box, column, etc..)

Canceling 11-15% of any 'undesired input' in an environment as dynamic as vehicle suspension is a pretty good feat, that percentage can easily determine the outcome of 'negotiating' a situation or 'wrecking'.
 
#17 ·
Is that same as bump steer ?
 
#20 · (Edited by Moderator)
I like the idea that it won't tax the steering box or other steering components as a dual stabilizer might or a gas charged stabilizer even. It looks as durable as the stock link so that's not an issue for me. However, it looks like it only cancels between 11%-15% of the negative input from the research I read. Will it make that much of a difference for the $? I need to get some unbiased reviews on this one. I was ready to drop $300+ on the Fox ATS stabilizer this month if I get a black Friday sale. I think I'll I'll search some more on the Escalade part and see if it's similar and does the job.
 
#24 ·
You guys have very good questions and very good input.

We do not manufacture the two absorb-er's built into the relay rod for the Cadillac Escalade, but, we do manufacture the compliant relay rods for the short wheel base 2500 to 4500 GM trucks. Over the past four years we have over 300,000 of these compliant relay rods on the roads with no warranty issues from GM. We used the same compliant concept when developing the Attenuator for the Jeep.

Our Attenuator was not designed or developed to replace the stabilizer or dampers on vehicles, however, GM does not install a damper on vehicles that have our compliant relay rods.

One of the surprising features that we discovered during durability runs is that it eliminated the direct steel path from the wheel hub to the frame. This made a difference in the harshness that a driver feels from various different road conditions like the tar strips in roads. Doesn't eliminate the harshness but tries to match the rate of the suspension bushings.

To answer your question regarding the modified jeep, yes this product is as durable as the stock drag link. We have many test comparing this product to the stock linkage.
 
#28 ·
I want to thank the few of you that addressed the cost of this attenuator. For a short time we are reducing the cost to $129.99 for everyone. If you're interested please just order off the website that Ken has listed in the original post of this thread. If you have any questions please send me a message to Compliant or reply to this thread.
 
#33 ·
If anybody is interested the price now shows $129 .. Totally worth it. Can't wait to see NWbronco's and OldDogger's review.
I personally have a lot of faith in this thing. So much ... I might even try and locate a RHD drag link (for use on top of the knuckle) and try it out.
 
#34 ·
Really like it, felt the same way about the $200 price point, got excited when I seen it $129 for a limited time.... Jumped over to the site and hit add to cart, went to calculate shipping and this....

There are 3 shipping rates available for L1g 2y2, Ontario, Canada, starting at $ 96.55 USD.

FedEx International Economy at $ 96.55 USD
FedEx International Priority at $ 106.91 USD
UPS Saver at $ 107.47 USD

Immediately canceled order, too bad as I really like the idea but $260-$280 shipped, I'll pass :(
 
#35 ·
Really like it, felt the same way about the $200 price point, got excited when I seen it $129 for a limited time.... Jumped over to the site and hit add to cart, went to calculate shipping and this.... There are 3 shipping rates available for L1g 2y2, Ontario, Canada, starting at $ 96.55 USD. FedEx International Economy at $ 96.55 USD FedEx International Priority at $ 106.91 USD UPS Saver at $ 107.47 USD Immediately canceled order, too bad as I really like the idea but $260-$280 shipped, I'll pass :(
PM compliant, maybe he can help.
 
#37 ·
^^^ and to prove my point I went back to there site and they ship free to anywhere in the States(like most company's) but want $100 to ship a $130 product that probably weighs less then 5lb and Ohio is almost right beside Ontario lol

Sorry not trying to make them sound bad as I really like this product, more complaint about trade politics in general I guess.
 
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