This work deals with the effect of the adsorption of two high molecular weight polyacrylic acid polymers (Carbopol) on the interfacial properties, and the rheology of aqueous zirconia suspensions. Since the Carbopol-covered particles can be thought of as "soft" colloids, Ohshima's theory was used to gain information on the surface potential and the charge density of the polymer layer (Ohshima H (1995) Electrophoretic mobility of soft particles. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Aspects 103:249-255). The effect of the pH of the solution on the double layer characteristics is related to the different conformations of the adsorbed molecules provoked by the dissociation of the acrylic groups present in polymer molecules. The electrokinetic properties of the suspensions are studied for different pH and Carbopol concentrations in solution in order to investigate the possible stabilization of the suspensions by electrostatic repulsion between the particles. The rheological behavior of the suspensions was investigated in steady-state and dynamic conditions, and the corresponding yield stress and storage modulus were obtained in absence and presence of polymer in solution. The competition between bridging flocculation provoked by polymer adsorption and electrosteric stabilization determines the rheological properties of the suspensions. In the pH range investigated, bridging flocculation predominates at the neutral pH because of the graft of the uncoiled polymer to more than one particle, while at the extreme pH values (pH 3, pH 9) steric or electrosteric stabilization seems to be the predominant mechanism that explains the rheological results. These facts were confirmed by estimating the zirconia particle (or aggregate) diameter in the liquid medium by means of light scattering measurements.