2026 Steering Box Changed?

[Wraith]

Hello all, I was on a trip this past weekend to upstate NY and rented a 2026 JLU and the steering felt noticeably less vague and more direct than my 2021 JLU. Even new, my 2021 steel steering box felt better than my 2019 with the aluminum steering box, but I was never blown away by the change. Even on my 2019 I got the TSB done and it was better but still not great. My current JLU is my 21st Jeep so I am well versed in the steering feel (or lack thereof), and on previous Jeeps I always swapped out the steering gear for something better (PSC, etc) with the addition of bigger tires. I have not done so on my 2021 yet but am considering it.

My question is, has Jeep made significant changes to the steering gears on the newer models? The rental felt great and I was sort of shocked at how good the steering felt. I was expecting the same vagueness as my 2021 but it was noticeably better with much less wander and dead spot in the steering. Curious if there have been updates and if its worth tracking down the part numbers to swap a box in. Has anyone swapped in an XR or 392 box to a base Rubicon? Thanks in advance.

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[ASSFROW]

They did stuff to the 2024s with the refresh, but I cannot find exactly what they did to the Steering, but it's so much better that prior years. I was told that it was software changes, but someone here claims that's not possible. I still believe it is software related until someone tells me what else was changed.

 

[Odyssey USA]

19 had the issue. Was better with the cast steel steering gearbox TSB done. Went from 1/2 to maybe 1/4” or less slop. My 21 feels completely different. Never had a complaint about it. Maybe it’s manufacturing tolerances to an extent?

 

[Wraith]

Not sure to be honest. I called PSC and spoke to them at length about it. They even said Jeep has released multiple iterations of the steering gears. My 19 was awful and got better with the TSB, but my 21 isnt great either. The boxes for the 24-26 use a different part number and it doesn't appear to be a supersceding part number from prior years, so new box entirely? Unless im reading the parts websites incorrectly, it seems like a new steering gear was introduced for the 24s. Ill keep trying to track down information.

 

[THAW]

There could be a noticeable difference in steering feel (i.e. "wandering" and "vagueness") between 2 Wranglers based simply on being at opposite ends of the 1° range in factory caster spec. If one of the Jeeps had a stronger "return to center", it probably had more positive caster.

 

[2nd 392]

There could be a noticeable difference in steering feel (i.e. "wandering" and "vagueness") between 2 Wranglers based simply on being at opposite ends of the 1° range in factory caster spec. If one of the Jeeps had a stronger "return to center", it probably had more positive caster.

Agree, another Wrangler inconsistency. 21 is straight and true until at least 80 road condition dependent. Negligible wander over 90 a couple times. …. That said my ACC sucks with abrupt all stop or full speed ahead, others report theirs don’t, but some others likewise abrupt.

 

[THAW]

Agree, another Wrangler inconsistency. 21 is straight and true until at least 80 road condition dependent. Negligible wander over 90 a couple times. …. That said my ACC sucks with abrupt all stop or full speed ahead, others report theirs don’t, but some others likewise abrupt.

I recently flipped the upper control arm alignment chip on my AEV drop brackets; measured caster went from ~4.3° to ~5.2°, and steering very noticeably improved.

 

[blackJLURubi]

Yep the 24 and up have a different steering box. I can’t remember exactly but I think it is from the 392 XRs just tuned slightly different and they have a stiffer torsion bar in them. There is no question the steering feel is better

 

[2nd 392]

I recently flipped the upper control arm alignment chip on my AEV drop brackets; measured caster went from ~4.3° to ~5.2°, and steering very noticeably improved.

My steering, handling, and ride so far surpasses expectations I quickly determined I wasn’t touching it unless issues and needed. … got high top fenders for 37’s next tires. … Next time after all but giving away the 33’s to get 35’s, too damn expensive to repeat. Yeah I know, shouda the first time.

 

[THAW]

Yep the 24 and up have a different steering box. I can’t remember exactly but I think it is from the 392 XRs just tuned slightly different and they have a stiffer torsion bar in them. There is no question the steering feel is better

The '24 front sway bars have harder bushings, larger end link mounting hole diameter, and the end links have correspondingly larger bolts. I don't think the sway bars themselves are actually any thicker/stiffer.

 

[blackJLURubi]

The '24 front sway bars have harder bushings, larger endlink mounting hole diameter, and the endlinks have correspondingly larger bolts. I don't think the sway bars themselves are actually any thicker/stiffer.

You are correct but the torsion bar inside of the steering box is stiffer

 

[Wraith]

I recently flipped the upper control arm alignment chip on my AEV drop brackets; measured caster went from ~4.3° to ~5.2°, and steering very noticeably improved.

What suspension do you have in yours? I have the AEV 2.5" and have mine aligned with the 2.5-3" caster orientation. Curious what yours was at versus what you changed it to.

 

[THAW]

What suspension do you have in yours? I have the AEV 2.5" and have mine aligned with the 2.5-3" caster orientation. Curious what yours was at versus what you changed it to.

I have the AEV 2.5"-3" DualSport RT with High Capacity springs. I started on the middle setting and moved to the highest setting. It took maybe 15 minutes to switch the tabs.

If you don't already have one, get a $30 digital angle gauge and stick it on the axle to measure caster. If the parking spot isn't completely level, take 2 measurements with the Jeep facing opposite directions.

 

[Wraith]

I have the AEV 2.5"-3" DualSport RT with High Capacity springs. I started on the middle setting and moved to the highest setting. It took maybe 15 minutes to switch the tabs.

If you don't already have one, get a $30 digital angle gauge and stick it on the axle to measure caster. If the parking spot isn't completely level, take 2 measurements with the Jeep facing opposite directions.

Been digging in the garage trying to find it lol. Moved and can't seem to find anything. Im thinking I might swap to the highest setting for 3.5-4 and see how it goes. Reading other threads people are saying it got them closer to 5.8-6 degrees on the 2.5". Worth a shot and easy enough to do.

 

[jadmt]

I have the AEV 2.5"-3" DualSport RT with High Capacity springs. I started on the middle setting and moved to the highest setting. It took maybe 15 minutes to switch the tabs.

If you don't already have one, get a $30 digital angle gauge and stick it on the axle to measure caster. If the parking spot isn't completely level, take 2 measurements with the Jeep facing opposite directions.

What suspension do you have in yours? I have the AEV 2.5" and have mine aligned with the 2.5-3" caster orientation. Curious what yours was at versus what you changed it to.

you might want to take this measurement and compare. I have run them both ways ie the 2.5-3" and 3.5-4* and ultimately liked the 2.5-3" best and it put my caster where I like it. I don't have FAD so that would different as higher caster won't have an effect on front driveshaft.
I am at 13.75" on the below measurement.

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