Loose steering feels like it has play and drifts

[californiajeeping]

They are supposed to implement a fix for the "death wobble" today.... We'll see how that goes..... As for the "stop sale " they are probably doing it to cut down warrenty and purging what inventory we have on the lots so peoples time isnt wasted in service would be my guess

What specifically are they going to do for your JL's death wobble fix?

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[GinjaNinja]

Yep, that's the one...and I just realized it applies to Jeeps built prior to 5/8/2019...but mine was built in early June.

Just got back from dropping it off and I pushed to have the lead tech ride with me to show the problem...the tech printed out the Star case and read it prior to the drive and had it with him during the drive. He was insinuating nothing was wrong and that some play is normal (no shit), but he would just check the steering components for tightness and the alignment. I asked about checking the steering box for over center rotating torque, which would necessitate a replacement if out of spec and he said it is not adjustable so they would do everything else...I told him I am aware of that but one of the early steps of the Star case is to check this and I firmly believe it is a large contributor to the issue.

Long story short...they tried to provide the standard responses and I did my best to educate in the most friendly/positive manner. Once we got back to the dealership he told the service adviser they would perform every step of the Star case, so we shall see!

Cheers.

Quick update - I picked up the Jeep the very next day. The frustrating part is the lead tech blamed the loose steering on driver error, which pissed me off as I was intentionally showing him how the steering reacts during our drive. So ultimately they did the easy stuff...not sure if they actually put a wrench on the steering components to ensure everything is torqued correctly, but they did replace the track bar with the new updated bushings. They were insistent that the steering box is fine despite not even testing the over-torque measurement as it would require work to remove to test.

Ultimately, the track bar seems to have improved the wandering quite a bit. The front feels noticeably tighter and I think longer lower control arms will solve the last bit of wandering and slow return to center at least. However, the slop in the steering box still exists...so I adjusted the lash adjustment screw that FCA claims cannot be adjusted and magically, all the slop in the steering is gone (shocking right?). I will readjust the box back to the factory setting before returning to the dealership and insist the steering box is replaced. It blows my mind that it has taken FCA a year to only sort of figure this stuff out...its just mechanical parts not rocket science.

Cheers

 

[californiajeeping]

Quick update - I picked up the Jeep the very next day. The frustrating part is the lead tech blamed the loose steering on driver error, which pissed me off as I was intentionally showing him how the steering reacts during our drive. So ultimately they did the easy stuff...not sure if they actually put a wrench on the steering components to ensure everything is torqued correctly, but they did replace the track bar with the new updated bushings. They were insistent that the steering box is fine despite not even testing the over-torque measurement as it would require work to remove to test.

Ultimately, the track bar seems to have improved the wandering quite a bit. The front feels noticeably tighter and I think longer lower control arms will solve the last bit of wandering and slow return to center at least. However, the slop in the steering box still exists...so I adjusted the lash adjustment screw that FCA claims cannot be adjusted and magically, all the slop in the steering is gone (shocking right?). I will readjust the box back to the factory setting before returning to the dealership and insist the steering box is replaced. It blows my mind that it has taken FCA a year to only sort of figure this stuff out...its just mechanical parts not rocket science.

Cheers

You can verify if they checked the torque on the ball joint nuts. Look at the cotter pins in the 4 upper and lower ball joint castle nuts. Just turn the steering wheel hard left or right so you can see into the wheel well better. If the cotter pins are bent perfectly together, then it is most likely still factory. If the cotter pins look manually installed, either re-using the existing cotter pins or new cotter pins, they will looked a bit messy since a human used a pair of pliers. There are some pics of the cotter pins earlier in this thread.

 

[W1ck3d]

What specifically are they going to do for your JL's death wobble fix?

I wont discuss that yet because i don't want to say anything and have people rush to a dealership asking for parts and fixes yet when they aren't available since it got implement last night.... Its supposed to help steering on the highway to i guess... Part of it is software changes

 

[JeepRider10]

I bought my wife a new Rubicon JL and I drove it the other day and it seems to have some play in the steering and feels like I am constantly trying to correct the direction we are traveling. I thought it was out of alignment but I went and drove another one and it felt the same way. Is anyone else feel this issue and is it just the way it is or is it just a jeep thing? We just sold our 2013 JKU and it was like that too but I expected improved steering on the new JL model. I would like to hear other peoples thoughts about this steering play or drifting feeling. O by the way, She loves her new ride!

I test drove 3 Rubicon JLU's prior to ordering mine and the steering was crisp and clean. This is in fact what finally made me go with a Jeep over the Toyota 4Runner TRD. I have had 2 4Runners and they are awesome except customizing them is difficult. I picked up my Rubicon JLU yesterday and it wanders quite a bit and I have a video of the steering wheel traveling 2 inches in each direction before steer actually engages so constact corrects are required to keep it between the lines. Less than 24 hours after I picked it up I had back and Criswells Jeep in Gathersburg Maryland and they drove it and said that is normal. I could not be more disappointed with my purchase. While waiting for my Jeep to be delivered I picked up the Hot Head Headlines, a winch and winch mounting plate. it doesnt seem to be all wranglers just a smaller percentage, so FCA/Jeep dealers are just saying there is no problem and writing people like us off. Its all very sade.

 

[MeepMeepJeep]

My steering issues are 100% fixed! I drove from Massachusetts to NYC, and then across Long Island over a series of days and on the windy, rainy days I could barely control the car, so I felt like I was done playing around with it. Brought it in, wrote out a ten bullet point list and it came back with this:

1. Steering damper-Mexico code-bad part
2. tire pressure WAY too high


I waited about a week for the new damper to come in, and the car now drives like a dream. (2018 JLU four door)

 

[RagTopDeluxe]

I test drove 3 Rubicon JLU's prior to ordering mine and the steering was crisp and clean. This is in fact what finally made me go with a Jeep over the Toyota 4Runner TRD. I have had 2 4Runners and they are awesome except customizing them is difficult. I picked up my Rubicon JLU yesterday and it wanders quite a bit and I have a video of the steering wheel traveling 2 inches in each direction before steer actually engages so constact corrects are required to keep it between the lines. Less than 24 hours after I picked it up I had back and Criswells Jeep in Gathersburg Maryland and they drove it and said that is normal. I could not be more disappointed with my purchase. While waiting for my Jeep to be delivered I picked up the Hot Head Headlines, a winch and winch mounting plate. it doesnt seem to be all wranglers just a smaller percentage, so FCA/Jeep dealers are just saying there is no problem and writing people like us off. Its all very sade.

I also have a stock Rubicon that is six weeks old that had steering that was loose and wandering. It has been greatly improved by fixing the toe to .25 total and swapping out the stock lower control arms to the lower control arms from the Mopar lift kit.

https://parts.allmoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-arm-lower-control-68322798aa
https://parts.allmoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-lower-control-arm-bolt-6512085aa
https://parts.allmoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-upper-control-arm-nut-6104720aa

I’m thinking a better track bar will help even more, but for now it’s much improved and doesn’t take the exhausting level of effort to keep in the lane.

Good luck!

 

[JeepRider10]

I also have a stock Rubicon that is six weeks old that had steering that was loose and wandering. It has been greatly improved by fixing the toe to .25 total and swapping out the stock lower control arms to the lower control arms from the Mopar lift kit.

https://parts.allmoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-arm-lower-control-68322798aa
https://parts.allmoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-lower-control-arm-bolt-6512085aa
https://parts.allmoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-upper-control-arm-nut-6104720aa

I’m thinking a better track bar will help even more, but for now it’s much improved and doesn’t take the exhausting level of effort to keep in the lane.

Good luck!

Thanks and will try to get the dealer to fix it a couple of more times, than will try the above. I bought a Jeep so not looking for race car handling but as you mention the exhausting level of effort is absolutely unacceptable.

 

[RagTopDeluxe]

Thanks and will try to get the dealer to fix it a couple of more times, than will try the above. I bought a Jeep so not looking for race car handling but as you mention the exhausting level of effort is absolutely unacceptable.

I'm fortunate that my local dealer service department was very helpful. They checked the alignment and fixed the toe. If your dealer will do that for you, you'll be able to get the caster angle. From what I've read, you want the caster close to 6. Mine was 4.7. The longer Mopar LCAs will give you another one degree, which means mine should be 5.7—a big improvement (I haven't had time to take it to get checked).

The nice thing about using the longer Mopar LCAs is that you can improve the drive without vendor parts that some dealers will balk at.

My husband has a 981 with sport suspension. I drove his car then immediately drove my Jeep. OMG, what a difference . I don't expect the Jeep to ever be close to that, but I remember our lifted JKUR drove better than the JL, and that's what I'm hoping for—better.

 

[JeepCares]

I test drove 3 Rubicon JLU's prior to ordering mine and the steering was crisp and clean. This is in fact what finally made me go with a Jeep over the Toyota 4Runner TRD. I have had 2 4Runners and they are awesome except customizing them is difficult. I picked up my Rubicon JLU yesterday and it wanders quite a bit and I have a video of the steering wheel traveling 2 inches in each direction before steer actually engages so constact corrects are required to keep it between the lines. Less than 24 hours after I picked it up I had back and Criswells Jeep in Gathersburg Maryland and they drove it and said that is normal. I could not be more disappointed with my purchase. While waiting for my Jeep to be delivered I picked up the Hot Head Headlines, a winch and winch mounting plate. it doesnt seem to be all wranglers just a smaller percentage, so FCA/Jeep dealers are just saying there is no problem and writing people like us off. Its all very sade.

Hi JeepRider10,
We're sorry to hear about your experience. Has a case been opened on the Customer Care side to document this as well as connect you and your dealer with a case specialist? If not, please send our team a private message and we would be happy to get this process started for you.
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[Dennis Castro]

dealer replaced my steering stabilizer, and said it drives perfect now. i got in it, started it, and could tell the steering was as awful as before. you dont even have to be moving and with your pinky can move the wheel a good 2 inches each way with no resistance. even worse driving. the permanent fix is a new, updated, steering box. i dont think track bars and stabilizers will ever fix this. sucks the steering is sooo bad, i love everything else.

 

[HoundDude]

so I was driving home from work on a 3-lane highway tonight when I came up behind a Jeep JL, it was a nice Sting Gray Sport... I couldn't help but notice s/he was weaving from side-to-side in the lane
¯\_( ツ)_/¯

 

[Kyanche]

you dont even have to be moving and with your pinky can move the wheel a good 2 inches each way with no resistance.

Yikes! My JK has a little bit of play. Maybe 1/2 or 3/4"? But not 2" That's quite a lot!

 

[Billis79]

Mine too has loose steering, 2018 Sarah Unlimited 4 door manufactured 9/18. I took it to the dealer 1 week after I got it on 5/7 at 700miles for this and a separate seat issue, neither were fixed. Gave it some time and scheduled another for today, Service manager drove it and said its a Jeep thing an the steering should be loose but would check it out, I referenced S1819000003. He called me hours later to pick it up and said he talked to his technician who worked on it a month ago and said there was no issue they didn't and wouldn't do anything. I asked if they checked the ball joints his response was absolutely not, we don't do that or check alignment on anything with 700 miles. I asked if they checked the track bar and he said I didn't interrogate my technician on what he did. I am livid, they have no interest in troubleshooting my problem. He even put on the notes "Owner unable to demonstrate concern", I can move the wheel several degrees with no movement of the vehicle. How can that be normal?? At least they ordered a part for the seat that they should've fixed last month but its on back order and I really don't want to go back to this dealer (Turpin Motors of Geneseo, IL). This is so frustrating to have an issue on a new car and the dealer refusing to help. Now I am going to have to go to another dealer and start all over in a more inconvenient area. Worse vehicle I have bought.

 

[RagTopDeluxe]

Mine too has loose steering, 2018 Sarah Unlimited 4 door manufactured 9/18. I took it to the dealer 1 week after I got it on 5/7 at 700miles for this and a separate seat issue, neither were fixed. Gave it some time and scheduled another for today, Service manager drove it and said its a Jeep thing an the steering should be loose but would check it out, I referenced S1819000003. He called me hours later to pick it up and said he talked to his technician who worked on it a month ago and said there was no issue they didn't and wouldn't do anything. I asked if they checked the ball joints his response was absolutely not, we don't do that or check alignment on anything with 700 miles. I asked if they checked the track bar and he said I didn't interrogate my technician on what he did. I am livid, they have no interest in troubleshooting my problem. He even put on the notes "Owner unable to demonstrate concern", I can move the wheel several degrees with no movement of the vehicle. How can that be normal?? At least they ordered a part for the seat that they should've fixed last month but its on back order and I really don't want to go back to this dealer (Turpin Motors of Geneseo, IL). This is so frustrating to have an issue on a new car and the dealer refusing to help. Now I am going to have to go to another dealer and start all over in a more inconvenient area. Worse vehicle I have bought.

Definitely go to another dealer. I had 500 miles and one week on mine when I took it in for defective rear diff bearings. I also mentioned the steering. They checked the alignment and fixed the toe, which was way off. They said they checked the connections for torque. That helped, but the Mopar lift LCAs helped more. I still want to improve the steering, but it’s a lot better.

I hope someone helps you. Have your contacted @JeepCares or the Jeep Wave people? Maybe some pressure on the dealer will help.

Good luck. The steering issues are frustrating, but I still love my Jeep.

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