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Loose steering feels like it has play and drifts

californiajeeping

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This Star case is interesting. I know it says intermittent steering effort, but a constant weak ground connection could cause a constant lower voltage to be sent to the power steering component causing loose steering. Perhaps one of the forum members who has multiple JLs, one with steering issues and one without could use a voltmeter and compare. Many of us have found finger tight ball joint nuts, loose fuses, etc. so it wouldn’t be surprising to find a loose ground wire. So those with loose steering might want to check to see if the ground is at least tight, then clean it per the Star case.

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grandsrus

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Well I took my Jeep JL to the dealer yesterday and talked to them about my loose steering showed them this thread and they adjusted my gear box 3/16 and the difference is night and day. They gave me no problems at all, I gave the mechanic the link to this thread and 5 hours later they called me and said it was fixed....no charge!!! I have to say I did not think they would do it and surprisingly they gave me absolutely no problem and we’re willing to even read something off a forum. I’m shocked and now my JL drives better then when I drove it off their lot.
This is exactly what they did to my 2019 JLUR and it drives much better, no dead spot. Now i am getting a new trackbar (RK) for stiffer bushings and longer lower control arms for closer to 6* caster. Ball joints were already tightened.
 
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Thats great news!...I adjusted mine last summer by 1/4 turn and its just about perfect...I still notice temperature has an influence on it...so colder it is the tighter it feels. Its been in the back of my mind though, why are the dealers reluctant to turn this screw? should I turn it back? good news indeed.
BTW -Is that 3/16 of a turn? or did the dealer thread it 3/16 of an inch tighter?
 

californiajeeping

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Thats great news!...I adjusted mine last summer by 1/4 turn and its just about perfect...I still notice temperature has an influence on it...so colder it is the tighter it feels. Its been in the back of my mind though, why are the dealers reluctant to turn this screw? should I turn it back? good news indeed.
BTW -Is that 3/16 of a turn? or did the dealer thread it 3/16 of an inch tighter?
Dealers are reluctant to adjust the steering box screw because FCA says it isn’t adjustable and instructs them not to adjust it.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...o-help-cure-steering-issues-68394087aa.25299/



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Bearded_Dragon

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This was posted today. You can see where the box is flexing away from the frame before the bracket was installed.

 

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mreloc

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This was posted today. You can see where the box is flexing away from the frame before the bracket was installed.

Is this an appropriate application for a non-lifted JLU as well? I wouldn’t put mine in the camp of being wildly defective but anything I can do to tighten things up without masking with different approaches like a beefier steering damper is something I’d like to consider.
 

californiajeeping

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This was posted today. You can see where the box is flexing away from the frame before the bracket was installed.

Makes sense that this bracket would fix flexing. Why would some JLs have steering box flexing that causes steering problems and some don’t? Welding related? Is there a place to measure distance between welding positions on one that doesn’t flex and compare to one that does flex? Can someone without drifting, excessive play check to see if there is any steering box flex or not?
 

Tire Guy

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I had decided to order a couple weeks ago. The video and the discount made me do it today.
 

Bearded_Dragon

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Makes sense that this bracket would fix flexing. Why would some JLs have steering box flexing that causes steering problems and some don’t? Welding related? Is there a place to measure distance between welding positions on one that doesn’t flex and compare to one that does flex? Can someone without drifting, excessive play check to see if there is any steering box flex or not?
Maybe the bolts are not torqued properly? I'm going to check mine over the weekend.
 

Holymoly1963

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You mean like this:
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I complained about the JL steering play greatly in 2018 and Jeep has replaced the track bar and I think a stabilizer. My steering is better but still sucks. Wife and I took it on about a 400 mile trip last November and after that I said never again, and this was with the "fixed steering". It has been put out to pasture in my new garage and we only use it locally. It's 2 years old in May and has 7500 miles on it. What a waste, love the Jeep, except that steering. Kind of like saying Castro had a good literacy program, but he just might shoot your a$$ some day if he felt like it, and then confiscate your JL. Now there's a thought.

The bar chart showing reduced steering complaints in 2019 and following is because guys like me are sick and tired of trying to get Jeep's attention and have stopped filing complaints. I wonder if this is part of their strategy. The fricking steering still sucks. Period. Anyone out there? ....Buehler? Jeep? NHTSA?
 

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richk225

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I bought my wife a new Rubicon JL and I drove it the other day and it seems to have some play in the steering and feels like I am constantly trying to correct the direction we are traveling. I thought it was out of alignment but I went and drove another one and it felt the same way. Is anyone else feel this issue and is it just the way it is or is it just a jeep thing? We just sold our 2013 JKU and it was like that too but I expected improved steering on the new JL model. I would like to hear other peoples thoughts about this steering play or drifting feeling. O by the way, She loves her new ride!

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Congratulations on the new ride! I you take the time to read this forum about loose steering it will make your head spin. Check your tire pressure, make sure you have the updated track arm, make sure you have the latest steering stabilizer, make sure you have the updated software.
DON`T EVER accept it`s a Jeep thing. I had a 18 JLUR Rubicon that had the same issue, did all of the above including a alignment. Took factory 33`s off and took a new set right off a MOAB, and even a set off of a sport and none of this solved the issue. My Jep had 1700 miles give or take a few. I have owned Jeeps my entire life and newer had any issue with any of the JK`s I had from stock to lifted with 40`s
I had swapped out the front track bar with a Synergy or steer Smarts and the track bar with the mentioned manufactures. I put a teraflec adjustable steering stabilizer on it and had it aligned again. It drove exactly the same.So I took everything off and put the stocp parts back on and went back to the dealer, once again they updated the steering stabilizer and it drove the same. They had replaced the steering box twice but they did not change the electric pump or modify the software. The system is new ant is what I think the problem is. I drove a similar Jeep that had the same issue as mine and it was changed over to a PSC system PK1880 installed on it and the problem went away. It sucks that you would have to dump another $1500. plus labor into a $50k vehicle. The deal breaker for me was the warranty, if the steering box or any other component failed I would have to swap everything back to stock and I had enough of that.
I loved my Rubicon and did not want to give it up but why should I have to deal with this issue and who`s o say it won`t get worse?
I test drove a new Rubicon and it was actually worse then mine, salesman`s response was "It`s a Jeep thing" Then we took out a 2018 JK for a test drive and it drove a sweet as mine did lifted and 35`s and 37`s on it. So I asked him why there was such a difference in the steering and was told he would have to talk to the service manager. I thanked him for his time and got back in my new Raptor and drove off
I did not want a Raptor nor did I want a high dollar Jeep that steering took all of the fun out of driving a Jeep. Hopefully Jeep will start paying attention to what owners are saying and finally fix the problem. As far as Jeep Cares, they don`t, they closed my case before I even picked up my Jeep for the umteenth time. I don`t remember the exact amount of time it was at the dealers but I know it was over 6 weeks total,
This is from Jeeps website:
Electro-hydraulic power steering delivers a more natural steering feel and actually improves fuel economy. The steering system’s pump draws power from an electric motor that activates when it senses driver input and applies a variable amount of torque to assist the driver while steering.

This motor works with an adaptive engine control unit to monitor steering speed, steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This allows for variable amounts of steering assistance to be applied when more is needed at low speeds, such as when off road, or less when at highway speeds

I never had a issue turning my JK with the 35`s or 37`s on it
 

grandsrus

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Got tired of dealing with Jeep after 27k miles on my JL. At this point the warranty hasn’t done a damn thing so I broke down and tightened the steering box. Took me half hour and I couldn’t be happier. No more doable fisting the damn wheel.
Yep this is what fixed mine 80%. Now a RK trackbar. I have the old mopar PN and decided if i lift ill be ready.
 

richk225

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Good point on checking the torque settings, all 4 of my ball joint castle nuts erer hand tight, another long story from the dealer on how they checked them after I had tightened and seated them. I used my own cotter pins and marked the nut and stud so I could see that they did not remove to check if they were tight. Let alone remove the front wheels to get to the lower nuts. They had no idea where the key was to my wheel locks and they never asked either. Bad taste, hopefully hot forever
 

Jammer

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I've been to the dealer multiple times for the deadspot. I now have 35k miles on it and will be out of warranty soon (not that it would matter) . Just got it back for the last time yesterday after having a regional tech come out to drive it and.....
Once again told it drives/steers as designed and nothing will be done.

I'm so bummed about this. This is my 6th jeep and will be my last.
Make them driving it at 70 miles an hour and videotape it with your phone
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