xtopherm
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2019
- Threads
- 7
- Messages
- 239
- Reaction score
- 372
- Location
- Boston, MA
- Vehicle(s)
- HellaYella 2019 JLUR
From what I have been able to glean reading everything about this issue and working on my own steering in my '19 JLUR, there are a number of potential factors here, any or all of which might apply to your situation:Since FCA refuses to fix my steering/wandering issue with my Jeep.
I have two options, to either sell it or fix it out of my own pocket.
If I choose to fix it, are there any "TRUE" fixes out there in which I can purchase quality products the first time so I can enjoy my Jeep the way I intended to when I purchased it.
- Some early JLs shipped with inadequately filled steering stabilizers that did essentially no damping on center
- Some JLs were (are still?) shipping with steering systems that had inadequately tightened bolts - people have described "finger tight" bolts on the ends of tie rods and drag links
- Over-inflated tires and upgrades to larger mud terrain treads which tend to wander seems to be something of a problem
- Folks putting lifts on that change the castor (by effectively rotating the front axle forward) and changing the roll center of the vehicle (by making the trackbars less parallel to the axles) can mess up the handling and make the jeep feel pretty squirrelly
- Some 4 door models apparently had 2 door steering software installed by mistake (according to @Sbnewsom )
- Some folks complaining that the lighter and thin-walled parts used in the new JL steering systems (trackbars, drag links and tie rods) are not up to the job of controlling larger wheels and tires and therefore start to resonate or vibrate back and forth in wobble situations accentuating it rather than preventing it
- Some folks complain that their steering box had defects in it - bad/loose gears and/or bad electro hydraulics
- People with incorrect toe-in specs
- Track bars with soft bushings (added by edit with credit to @Arrowhead and x-ref to: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...o-help-cure-steering-issues-68394087aa.25299/)
- Drag Link ends wearing out prematurely (added by edit with credit to @Arrowhead and x-ref to: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...steering-issues-68394087aa.25299/#post-601234)
- FREE/EASY: Check inflation and set it to spec or even a pound softer than spec
- FREE/EASY: Check steering bolts and torque to spec
- FREE/EASY: Check toe-in - super easy to check at home and adjust at home - google it
- CHEAP: Throw an upgraded aftermarket steering stabilizer on it if you want - not expensive, and it is an easy install anyone can do (side note: the adjustable Teraflex Falcon Nexus EF 2.2 one is a very nice part and has the advantage of letting you adjust between soft, med, firm to give you a very good sense of exactly what a steering stabilizer does and doesn't do (hint: not as much as some people think)
- SORTA CHEAP: Throw a beefier trackbar on to eliminate the flexy OEM trackbar
- SORTA CHEAP: Throw on some adjustable front lower control arms that allow you to make the arms a little longer and recover 100%-105% of factory castor angle
- MODERATELY EXPENSIVE: throw an upgraded aftermarket tie rod and draglink (with upgraded bushings) on as well - if you throw this kind of $$ at it, you are pretty much guaranteed to lick the problem, assuming your steering box is good)
- MINOR HASSLE: get your dealer to install the proper 4Door steering software
- BIG HASSLE: get your Jeep dealer to replace the steering box or the OEM steering stabilizer (good luck with that, especially if you have made any mods - waste of time in my book).
That said, I am concerned (probably overly concerned) about death wobble and in particular, I worry that it could go nuts when my spouse is driving, which, in addition to being unsafe, would completely sour her on the vehicle, so over time I may go totally belt and suspenders and toss on an upgraded aftermarket tie rod and drag link too. But it is not the top priority right this minute.
Hope that helps.
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