Do all Wranglers handle like this?

[Deleted member 59498]

My Stock Wrangler drives and acts like a champ on the road. I wonder how many of these are shitty suspension changes like big ass tires you don't need for cosmetics.

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[azjl#3]

6deg caster was enough to give me return to center and no more drunk great dane pup feeling, as my wife would call it.

 

[azjl#3]

My Stock Wrangler drives and acts like a champ on the road. I wonder how many of these are shitty suspension changes like big ass tires you don't need for cosmetics.

In my case, stocker jlur, horrible and only fixed when i paid to install LCA from a 2 inch mopar lift. Looks stock, but pushed caster to right at 6.

My current 2 dr is doing ok at 5.2deg, but I plan to work on that over time, because it's just OK, and needs to improve. BTW, I had to have it aligned out the door of the dealer, thats 3 out of 4 jeeps needing an alignment from the factory. Don't trust local dealers alignment table, I think it's jacked up, or they don't know how to use it. Of all places, Firestone lifetime alignment, works great, if it doesn't, take it back.

However, lifts, tires, can make a non problem, a big problem.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

In my case, stocker jlur, horrible and only fixed when i paid to install LCA from a 2 inch mopar lift. Looks stock, but pushed caster to right at 6.

My current 2 dr is doing ok at 5.2deg, but I plan to work on that over time, because it's just OK, and needs to improve. BTW, I had to have it aligned out the door of the dealer, thats 3 out of 4 jeeps needing an alignment. Don't trust local dealers alignment table, I think it's jacked up, or they don't know how to use it. Of all places, Firestone lifetime alignment, works great, if it doesn't, take it back.

However, lifts, tires, can make a non problem, a big problem.

I have owned 3 Wranglers in 10 years never had a suspension issue. Ever on any of them. Never an alignment etc. I really think many people use this as an excuse to replace the perfectly fine suspension on Jeeps.

 

[Whiskey Tango Foxtrot]

If you're hitting a bump and going flying this may be sign of loose steering components underneath. I experienced similar after 5K in a 2024, and after they tightened everything up, it was perfect.

Just looked at my service order. This is what they had to do to fix my fidgety and jumpy steering.

Retorque control arms, track bars, steering stabilizer, drag links, tierods, ball joints.
Front drag bar bolts were not tight.
check calibration for balancer -pass
l/f off balance by .75 oz
r/r off balance by .75 oz
l/r off balance by .75 oz

He said they also used the play in the bolts to add a tiny bit of caster. Overall, it's nicely dialed in now and feels great while driving, as it did when I first bought it. The balancing wasn't awful so I suspect the biggest problem were the front drag bar bolts.

Steering on the Jeep seems to be death by a thousand cuts.

 

[blnewt]

In my case, stocker jlur, horrible and only fixed when i paid to install LCA from a 2 inch mopar lift. Looks stock, but pushed caster to right at 6.

My current 2 dr is doing ok at 5.2deg, but I plan to work on that over time, because it's just OK, and needs to improve. BTW, I had to have it aligned out the door of the dealer, thats 3 out of 4 jeeps needing an alignment from the factory. Don't trust local dealers alignment table, I think it's jacked up, or they don't know how to use it. Of all places, Firestone lifetime alignment, works great, if it doesn't, take it back.

However, lifts, tires, can make a non problem, a big problem.

Had my 2dr sport w/ 2" Rubi suspension w/ Mopar lift LCAs (caster a bit over 6) and drove on rails, no effort to keep it tracking straight at 80 mph. Added another 1.5" of lift, caster lowered to 5 and didn't really like the overall hwy drive so went adjustable LCAs. Adjusted the LCAs to get in the 6.5 degree range and it's back to tracking great again. I can't believe they still use one LCA for all (non 392) Wranglers, putting these on the street w/ caster below 5 degrees in a short wheelbase live axle configuration is just asking for trouble. This is exacerbated by so many new Jeep owners that don't have experience driving vehicles w/ these dynamics, a perfect storm I believe

 

[2mnycars]

I had an alignment done AFTER the Mopar lift. It did nothing to reduce the strong pull or the numb steering.

Swapping the steering box under the TSB had the biggest effect, followed by swapping the OE stabilizer with a beefier Fox unit.

Thanks!
I think that adding lift kits affects caster. I know that our Jeeps have adjustable toe-in. I have no experience with changes mentioned elsewhere in the forum. But I *think* that caster is worse after a lift kit is installed.

My selling dealer for a '19 JLU did a wall job when I took it in. (did nothing!) Then took it for a test drive. But I had a dash cam and called them on it. @JeepCares and FCA Canada Jeep Customer Care solved it when the first TSB came out. Later TSB's were more thorough. Bought a JLUR. Didn't go back to the offending dealer.

 

[blnewt]

Thanks!
I think that adding lift kits affects caster. I know that our Jeeps have adjustable toe-in. I have no experience with changes mentioned elsewhere in the forum. But I *think* that caster is worse after a lift kit is installed.

My selling dealer for a '19 JLU did a wall job when I took it in. (did nothing!) Then took it for a test drive. But I had a dash cam and called them on it. @JeepCares and FCA Canada Jeep Customer Care solved it when the first TSB came out. Later TSB's were more thorough. Bought a JLUR. Didn't go back to the offending dealer.

Yes, lift will decrease caster approx .5 to .75 degrees per inch of lift (up to a point) so if you lift 2" and had 5.5 degrees caster prior to lift, you'd now be in the 4 to 4.5 degree range. Adding the Mopar lift LCAs will give you approx 1.5 degree increase in caster give or take. AFAIK only caster & camber can't be adjusted, both require additional parts.

 

[DCamp]

Sounds like there was an issue with your son's JL, or maybe that's how a 2 door drives? I'm assuming it's 2 door since you said JL, not JLU.

Has it improved in the x years since this post?

If the "professionals" can't find the issue, or admit there is an issue, I find someone better.

My 2021 JLU Sahara (94k miles) returns to center. I've had zero mods and I don't abuse it. It is maintained proper like. Rides and drives great on smooth surfaces. Steering perfect. Obviously it rides over rough-ish roads like our Ram 2500. Rough... In the farm fields it is rough and tumble. All bets are off, but still returns to center.

I've heard folks abuse them and don't properly maintain - which causes issues. I've heard folks cheap out on mods and that's no good. Dunno if "properly done" mods behave better. They are still mods... Still not what the engineers designed.

I can say Jeep Wranglers, even JL era, drive different. I tell people when they talk about getting a jeep but have not driven - "test drive as these are NOT a car. These are hands on 100%. No slacking".

 

[DCamp]

My Stock Wrangler drives and acts like a champ on the road. I wonder how many of these are shitty suspension changes like big ass tires you don't need for cosmetics.

Agree

 

[Guv]

I don’t mean to be rude, but how is this still news to some...?

You’re being rude.

 

[KCSgtMaj]

Straight axle vehicles never perform like independent suspensions. It’s a different animal all together. With that said, probably under inflated or over inflated tires. Look at the tire mfg tire inflation tables and inflate tires to match the weight that is actually carried by the tire. Door plaques/stickers with mfg tire inflate to pressure is hardly accurate or beneficial to the ride and performance of a vehicle.

 

[YBABRAT]

Sorry you have the issue. I have a stock 2019 without any steering issues. I can dive into a down and up S-turn at high speed and never fight it to center.

 

[FF5Cobra]

I have a stock 2025 Willy’s. 4 four ,No lift or suspension mods, factory 32” tires. Tire psi is 32 psi once warmed up but all tires even.
wheel returns to center after turns. No wandering at hiway speeds ect.

caster effects how well steering returns to center. too little caster will cause less return to center. Too much caster will require more increased effort when making turns but cause wheel to center more quickly

toe “in” keeps steering from being twitchy. Not enough toe in makes a difference in wanting the car to wander.

useing aftermarket parts that change akerman,, the amount inside wheel turns opposed to outside wheels turning radius is another thing to look at. If outside wheel is turning the same amount as inside wheel,a that too will cause wheel not to self center.

I drive down the hiway at 60 with one hand on the wheel, elbow resting on arm rest like normal car.

suspect loose components, mismatched upgrade parts or in
proper alignment specs.
jeep should not handle as you describe if proper alignment and no mismatched aftermarket parts installed

my 20188 4 door did not nor did my 2021 2 door drive like you describe

question, how did jeep drive before suspension mods ?
let us know what you find

 

[JL 2D]

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