Loose steering feels like it has play and drifts

[TopsOff]

great if you have a Rubicon...not so good for others since there is no caster adjustment and I don't know if you can add aftermarket LCA's

I'm grabbing a set of the 68322798AA LCA's to my Sport S. They are 1/4" longer than stock and I believe are meant to correct for larger lifts. $70 a pair shipped. I'm using them to just give me a bit more caster. I'll take the $70 chance.

Here's a thread about them:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/mopar-lca-swap.22474/

I'll report back when it's done.

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[Phillysays]

Biggest improvement for me was CASTER. Went from 5 to 7 and now am 95% happy with highway driving. Gearbox still has some "play" but the unacceptable wandering is gone and makes the gearbox play less noticeable. Aftermarket track bar helped but best improvement was caster.
2018 JLU

Same here! My caster went from 4.9 to 6.2 with the RK LCA and made a huge difference. Would highly recommend this to anyone that is dealing with the wondering/loose feeling in the steering wheel.

 

[Phillysays]

I'm grabbing a set of the 68322798AA LCA's to my Sport S. They are 1/4" longer than stock and I believe are meant to correct for larger lifts. $70 a pair shipped. I'm using them to just give me a bit more caster. I'll take the $70 chance.

Here's a thread about them:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/mopar-lca-swap.22474/

I'll report back when it's done.

I have also have a brand new set of the longer mopar lca that came with the 2 inch mopar kit. If anyone has a non lifted JL, and wants them I’ll sell it for $50. Pick up would be in Charlotte, NC, or shipping would be on your time. They are still in the bubble wrap since I went with the adjustable LCA with the mopar lift.

 

[HoundDude]

check out all the steering complaints at the bottom of NHTSA's frontal crash test report

https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/JEEP/WRANGLER%20UNLIMITED/SUV/4WD

 

[They call me...PaPa]

Took my JL in today because of the drifting - they said I should be good to go now after replacing the steering wheel.

 

[JeepCares]

Hi Alex, I replied to your DM with my info.

While me dealership has been accommodating, I don't get the impression they know what to do. After dropping my Rubicon off they had it for less than 24hrs and said it was fixed.....they adjusted the alignment again (toe-in settings). I told the service manager I was skeptical but I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. Sure enough, drove it and no difference. I asked if I could drive/compare to another Rubicon on the lot and they provided one. Drove with the technician again and noticed a difference. 3"+ was about 1" of play....significant difference. I was told that could be because mine was broken in. I have 2,700 miles on my Jeep. I was able to keep the loaner but not sure what they're going to do. I've mentioned fixes others have shared but they seem to indicate with each why it wouldn't work (with the exception of a new steering box...no response to that).

Hi David,
Thank you for the update. I have received your private message and will continue assisting you from there!
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[jimmydarnell]

check out all the steering complaints at the bottom of NHTSA's frontal crash test report

https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/JEEP/WRANGLER%20UNLIMITED/SUV/4WD

But people think we are making it up......frustrating

 

[Rdmitch]

But people think we are making it up......frustrating

I have filed complaint as well.

 

[Rdmitch]

I'm getting the same BS. Mine's been in 6 times and they've replaced everything but the steering box. The trackbar and new alignment specs helped the most but it still has about 1" of dead play in the steering wheel. I've asked repeated about the steering box and the dealer won't touch it without approval from Jeep and Jeep says if the dealer "thinks" it drives like another Jeep on the lot then it's normal.

Jeep says this is as good as it gets - Terrible steering is a normal attribute of the Jeep Wrangler! I asked for a buy back but of course they said no as it "drives as it should".

Jeep cares is not much help either -- looking like my first Jeep will be my last as I intend to check with a lemon law lawyer and then go down lemon law path or sell the thing and take a loss if Jeep has wiggled their way out of lemon law liability :-( very upset that I waited nearly 30 years to get to the point where I could buy a Jeep to end up with something I hate to drive due to the steering. I just checked my MOPAR report and like others it looks like the dealer is not listing the reason I brought it to them in some cases --- they just list vehicle inspection -- more BS.

I checked my records and it lists steering, suspension, and other items indicating the concern.

There are many reasons they may choose to NOT list steering problems due to potential legal issues.
I can speculate a few of these.

 

[powelld353]

I checked my records and it lists steering, suspension, and other items indicating the concern.

There are many reasons they may choose to NOT list steering problems due to potential legal issues.
I can speculate a few of these.

Put my complaint in yesterday. We'll see where this goes.

 

[tk2fast]

I feel like not much is going to happen until the NHTSA cases start piling up.

Everyone with the problem needs to file a complaint under the "Steering" category. Also be clear that this is separate from the weld investigation that has been opened. It seems like NHTSA might be thinking these issues are related.

Also get to the punch that this is a steering gearbox design issue and stop talking about all the band-aids that are being discussed like tire pressure, caster, alignment.

Agreed... The steering issues need to be highlighted & that is a great way to do it.

The squeaky wheel gets the oil

 

[Rdmitch]

Holy crap, you're right! Didn't think about how the service is posted and mine has been in 3 times for the steering and it only shows once and it states for an inspection. Never mentions the steering box and damper replacement. Plus nothing on the other 2 times at all and one of them was for a weld recall. That's piss poor. Making me really think twice about keeping this Jeep. It's really too bad FCA fucked these up. I still enjoy my TJ when my son isn't driving it and it steers better than my new JL.I told the dealer tech last time that I wouldn't have a big issue if I only paid 20k for this thing but that's not what I paid for it and although I do enjoy it and really like the Jeep, the steering is just a mess and turns what should be an enjoyable drive into a maddening adventure.

Agreed... The steering issues need to be highlighted & that is a great way to do it.

The squeaky wheel gets the oil

There is no squeaky wheel, it’s a normal noise and a jeep thing. But if it continues to make noise jeep cares will send you a note to PM them

 

[tk2fast]

Since increasing my caster to 7, total toe to 0.34 and replacing the track bar, I now enjoy driving my 2018 JLU again.

Jeep Cares did their best for me, even reimbursed me for my aftermarket RC track bar. Did not want my dealer to touch my Jeep again. Heck, they did not even install the steering stabilizer correctly, even after I made it clear to the service writer before. Then after nicly pointing their mistake out, I became the "problem."

 

[df007]

Since increasing my caster to 7, total toe to 0.34 and replacing the track bar, I now enjoy driving my 2018 JLU again.

Jeep Cares did their best for me, even reimbursed me for my aftermarket RC track bar. Did not want my dealer to touch my Jeep again. Heck, they did not even install the steering stabilizer correctly, even after I made it clear to the service writer before. Then after nicly pointing their mistake out, I became the "problem."

So do you still have any dead spot or play in the steering wheel? It seems to me all those changes can help the tracking/wandering of the car but if you have and steering gearbox play I don't see how those things would eliminate that.

 

[macycat]

I'm grabbing a set of the 68322798AA LCA's to my Sport S. They are 1/4" longer than stock and I believe are meant to correct for larger lifts. $70 a pair shipped. I'm using them to just give me a bit more caster. I'll take the $70 chance.

Here's a thread about them:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/mopar-lca-swap.22474/

I'll report back when it's done.

Where did you order the LCAs from?

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