Loose steering feels like it has play and drifts

[FWB FL]

2018 JLUR...same loose steering / wandering feel the rest of the folk here have.

So far...Dealer flashed the computer with the TSB, replaced steering box...no help (maybe 10-15% improvement with the steering box).

Had a chance to drive a buddy's JK (3.5" MC lift, ~34" Ridge grapplers) the other day. Here are my thoughts...

I've been thinking, like everyone else, that it's "loose" steering giving me this wandering feel...that I'm constantly correcting the steering at highway speeds. After driving his JK, I'm rethinking. His JK drove 100% better...but it still had play in the steering wheel. Less than mine, but way more than other vehicles I drive (2016 F150 for example...that has NO play).

What his DID have, was an EXCELLENT return to center feel. Mine has a HORRIBLE return to center feel. When I make a steering correction in mine...it stays where I left it...doesn't return to center at all. His would immediately return to center. I could still "wiggle" his steering wheel and feel play, but it drove great!!

Mine will try to return to center from a sharp turn, but when it gets ~10-15 degrees from the center...it stops trying to center itself. When making small corrections on the highway, it never wants to center. If I enter a shallow curve and set the steering wheel for the curve, I can let go of the wheel and it will hold the curve. It shouldn't do that!! Should try to recenter...

Caster can play into the "centering" ... but there is no adjustable caster to the JL's. Has anyone tried adjustable control arms to dial in caster? Has anyone checked their factory caster setting? I'd be curious to know what it was.

What else can affect the "centering" feel?

My new hypothesis is that it's the lack of centering in the steering that is causing the wandering feel for me. I'm going to work on this angle for a while and I'll post back if I figure it out.

No bashing...but please post back if you agree...and why or disagree...and why. Oh, and if you have fixed your centering feel, please let me know what you did that worked.

TIA!

Agree with you, but the fix I do not think there is one at this point and it should be a TSB, but I'm not sure FCA knows the fix!

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[FWB FL]

I'd like to explore this same line of thinking - no pun intended. My JLUR has very similar symptoms that you described. And I drove a 2018 JK that returned to center perfectly, didn't wander all over the road. But I have 2 different steering symptoms in my JL, which of course could be the same cause / culprit. When driving around 45 MPH or faster, it feels like I'm in a wind storm and have to constantly correct the steering wheel to stay in lane. It gets worse as the temperature gets warmer, 88 - 95 degrees. But the pull you described happens at any temperature. So there might be two problems since one set of steering symptoms is temperature related and the steering pull isn't. Both steering symptoms happen equally left and right. Seems more right when roads are crested to the right, but on flat roads, it is 100% equal left and right.

As I've mentioned in previous posts, if I go into a large empty parking lot, turn the steering wheel, let go of the steering wheel, speed up a bit to make it go back to center, it won't. I end up going in a very large circle. Someone commented that my steering box adjustment was too tight. The steering box has been replaced and has the factory setting. The previous steering box did the same exact thing. TSB was applied too. Checked ball joints, control arm torque, yada yada. I have no dead spot but I'm concerned if the adjustment to the steering box is made to loosen it up, the dead spot will appear, but as you mentioned, the JK has the play in the wheel but doesn't pull. So maybe it would be a good idea to have it adjusted lose by 1/16 or 1/8 of a turn. However, I don't think this would fix the "wind" symptom that I described especially since the wind symptoms go away when the weather is in the mid 70s or lower.

I've called around to alignment shops, Rough Country, even the company that makes the high end alignment equipment and "castor" comes up all the time. But as you mentioned, there isn't an adjustment for castor. I called a couple of 4x4 shops and they said something about grinding off part of the control arms that would allow them to put an oblong fitting it so they can adjust castor. They say they have done this before and it has fixed the pulling symptoms that I've described, especially on lifted Wranglers. Mine is stock, not lifted by the way. However, this type of steering arm modification would 100% guarantee a warranty issue on any steering related problems.

1. Does your JL steer differently in weather in the upper 80s or higher? Most won't notice this because they don't live in extreme weather climates.

2. It would be interesting to pay an alignment shop to just check castor without asking them to hack a fix into it just to include/exclude castor as the culprit. The dealership said all alignment (castor, camber, toe-in, etc.) is within spec, but it is good to get a second opinion. Paying an alignment shop $120 is nothing compared to the bigger picture of $50K+.

I sure would not modify and thing or they, FCA< do have the legal right to dump your warranty, no way would I do that.

 

[WIJLU]

Mine doesn't have a pull...as you would normally think of a pull. On a straight, flat road, it'll go straight until I hit a bump, or the wind blows it, or the tires follow a groove in the road, etc.

Once that happens, though, and I correct by moving the steering wheel, the steering will will stay where ever I left it...no return to center. Since it won't return to center, I have to keep correcting back and forth...again, the steering won't center itself. This creates the wandering feel, I think.

I have checked the relationship between the steering wheel and steering shaft...all seems good there. It's been in the 90's here, and in the 60's. I can't say that I notice a difference. I'll pay a little more attention as the temp swings increase in the coming months.

I would not grind on parts. I would, however, (and am very strongly considering) replace the lower control arms with adjustable. These can easily be changed back to the stock ones if needed. I could then find an alignment shop and have them dial in a little more caster and see if that helped. Shouldn't have to do any of this on a $50k brand new vehicle, but I'm determined to get this issue behind me so I can get my $50k worth of fun from my JL!!

As in my original post...has anyone tried MC or RE or ?? adjustable control arms? Did they help? What castor angle did you end up with?

I agree...I don't think FCA has figured out what is causing the vague / wandering steering that we all experience.

 

[vavaroutsos]

Has anyone took apart their steering wheel yet? I mean, its a long shot but were at 1200 replies with no solution. Maybe there is something in there that is causing problems, its what turns the shaft that goes to the steering box.

I have checked my steering components, and at least on my Jeep, the play is in the steering box.

 

[vavaroutsos]

2018 JLUR...same loose steering / wandering feel the rest of the folk here have.

So far...Dealer flashed the computer with the TSB, replaced steering box...no help (maybe 10-15% improvement with the steering box).

Had a chance to drive a buddy's JK (3.5" MC lift, ~34" Ridge grapplers) the other day. Here are my thoughts...

I've been thinking, like everyone else, that it's "loose" steering giving me this wandering feel...that I'm constantly correcting the steering at highway speeds. After driving his JK, I'm rethinking. His JK drove 100% better...but it still had play in the steering wheel. Less than mine, but way more than other vehicles I drive (2016 F150 for example...that has NO play).

What his DID have, was an EXCELLENT return to center feel. Mine has a HORRIBLE return to center feel. When I make a steering correction in mine...it stays where I left it...doesn't return to center at all. His would immediately return to center. I could still "wiggle" his steering wheel and feel play, but it drove great!!

Mine will try to return to center from a sharp turn, but when it gets ~10-15 degrees from the center...it stops trying to center itself. When making small corrections on the highway, it never wants to center. If I enter a shallow curve and set the steering wheel for the curve, I can let go of the wheel and it will hold the curve. It shouldn't do that!! Should try to recenter...

Caster can play into the "centering" ... but there is no adjustable caster to the JL's. Has anyone tried adjustable control arms to dial in caster? Has anyone checked their factory caster setting? I'd be curious to know what it was.

What else can affect the "centering" feel?

My new hypothesis is that it's the lack of centering in the steering that is causing the wandering feel for me. I'm going to work on this angle for a while and I'll post back if I figure it out.

No bashing...but please post back if you agree...and why or disagree...and why. Oh, and if you have fixed your centering feel, please let me know what you did that worked.

TIA!

This accurately describes how my Jeep drives. I have not yet noticed any temperature dependence, but it's been hot where I live.

I agree it seems like the caster is too low, but not being adjustable, I really haven't spent much time on it. I have focused on the play in my steering box. If I have time today, I'll measure my caster angles and report back.

 

[mischman]

Good news for me:

Heres the cliff notes of my story:
-Jeep drove horrible, had loose steering, dead spot in steering wheel and drifting.
-Checked my ball joints and they were loose, I tightened them and the jeep handled and drove better but still had a giant dead spot and loose steering.
-Took it to Jeep, had the TSB applied, did absolutely nothing. Tried to adjust the steering box and couldn't get it to adjust.
-Put Rubicon take off wheels on it yesterday, did nothing for steering
-Finally got the steering box adjuster to move with a heat gun and vise grips, I moved it a littler more than 1/8" turn, probably closer to 3/16 of a turn but no where near 1/4 turn.
-Took the Jeep for a drive and it is totally different. Feels great, I have no complaints as of right now. Im obviously going to keep a close eye on it but I'm very happy right now with how it reacts and how the steering feels.

 

[jeremyjeep]

Good news for me:

Heres the cliff notes of my story:
-Jeep drove horrible, had loose steering, dead spot in steering wheel and drifting.
-Checked my ball joints and they were loose, I tightened them and the jeep handled and drove better but still had a giant dead spot and loose steering.
-Took it to Jeep, had the TSB applied, did absolutely nothing. Tried to adjust the steering box and couldn't get it to adjust.
-Put Rubicon take off wheels on it yesterday, did nothing for steering
-Finally got the steering box adjuster to move with a heat gun and vise grips, I moved it a littler more than 1/8" turn, probably closer to 3/16 of a turn but no where near 1/4 turn.
-Took the Jeep for a drive and it is totally different. Feels great, I have no complaints as of right now. Im obviously going to keep a close eye on it but I'm very happy right now with how it reacts and how the steering feels.

That's great news. Was it not returning to center as described by WIJLU or something different? If different, can you describe the symptoms?

 

[vavaroutsos]

This accurately describes how my Jeep drives. I have not yet noticed any temperature dependence, but it's been hot where I live.

I agree it seems like the caster is too low, but not being adjustable, I really haven't spent much time on it. I have focused on the play in my steering box. If I have time today, I'll measure my caster angles and report back.

I measure about 6.5 degree caster relative to the frame and about 6 degree relative to the ground. This is using the flat surface on the bottom of the "C" for reference. Both passenger and driver sides are about the same, at least within measurement certainty. I don't know what the JL spec is, but this doesn't seem to be a problem from my experience.

 

[jeremyjeep]

I measure about 6.5 degree caster relative to the frame and about 6 degree relative to the ground. This is using the flat surface on the bottom of the "C" for reference. Both passenger and driver sides are about the same, at least within measurement certainty. I don't know what the JL spec is, but this doesn't seem to be a problem from my experience.

I forgot - does your JL pull left/right and doesn't return to center well?

 

[Holymoly1963]

Adjust the damn adjuster

After spending many hours trying to get Jeep's attention on this sloppy steering problem and reading virtually all 2000 posts under various headings, I have come to at least one conclusion: the steering box needs to be adjusted. It bothers me a great deal that FCA has been unable to figure out this problem in half a year. Why would you design and manufacture a steering box with an adjustment and then not allow someone to adjust it? Makes no sense. Period!

 

[vavaroutsos]

I forgot - does your JL pull left/right and doesn't return to center well?

It doesn't pull in either direction. However, return to center is slow and it doesn't return all the way without some help. After checking the caster, I wonder if it's not the steering stabilizer causing the slow return.

 

[jeremyjeep]

It doesn't pull in either direction. However, return to center is slow and it doesn't return all the way without some help. After checking the caster, I wonder if it's not the steering stabilizer causing the slow return.

Does the steering stabilizer have any adjustments on it? Could any bolts/nuts on each end be over tightened?

 

[vavaroutsos]

Does the steering stabilizer have any adjustments on it? Could any bolts/nuts on each end be over tightened?

No adjustments on the stock stabilizer as far as I know. Maybe it just has too much dampening, or friction from cheap seals. I remember some people saying there steering improved with more miles, but it made no sense to me. This is one place where it would make sense. Maybe the seals break in and loosen up a bit, allowing the steering to return better.

I suppose the mounting bolts could be over tightened causing the bushings to bind a bit. If the bushing by the steering knuckle was binding, that might cause a problem.I don't think the one on the axle bracket sees much, if any, rotational movement during operation.

 

[SURF CTY]

No adjustments on the stock stabilizer as far as I know. Maybe it just has too much dampening, or friction from cheap seals. I remember some people saying there steering improved with more miles, but it made no sense to me. This is one place where it would make sense. Maybe the seals break in and loosen up a bit, allowing the steering to return better.

I suppose the mounting bolts could be over tightened causing the bushings to bind a bit. If the bushing by the steering knuckle was binding, that might cause a problem.I don't think the one on the axle bracket sees much, if any, rotational movement during operation.

After 1200 replies and FCA doesn't have a clue ???

 

[Jebiruph]

As I've mentioned in previous posts, if I go into a large empty parking lot, turn the steering wheel, let go of the steering wheel, speed up a bit to make it go back to center, it won't. I end up going in a very large circle.

In all the posts I've read about steering issues,I've never seen anybody bring up the possibility of having a bad tire. Over the years, I have occasionally had new tires installed that caused a pull to one side or the other, symptoms as described above. The test is to swap tires front to back or front left and right to see if symptoms change. Could some of these steering issues be related to bad tires?

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