Loose steering feels like it has play and drifts

[Warz2k4]

Hey dude why you scaring me with those loose bolts? What’s going on in that video?

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[Tomoro]

Only way to fix it properly is weld in new brackets with proper tolerances and a bolt that fits snug in the track bar bushing wouldn’t hurt.
It’s a new Jeep and I shouldn’t have to fix this issue myself

 

[Warz2k4]

Only way to fix it properly is weld in new brackets with proper tolerances and a bolt that fits snug in the track bar bushing wouldn’t hurt.
It’s a new Jeep and I shouldn’t have to fix this issue myself

What year

 

[Tomoro]

After taking my Jeep to 10 different dealers, having 5 alignments done and everyone telling me the wondering, play in the steering wheel, death wobble, and constantly having to correct the steering to keep it driving straight is normal and a characteristic of a owning a Jeep. Had all the tsb and recalls done just made the issue worse
I contacted FCA and the manager told me I should go to the dealer and trade it in for something I feel comfortable driving.
So being a licensed technician and in the industry for close to 30 years I decided to inspect it for myself
I asked my dealer to remove the track bar and check the mounting brackets and they told me fca doesn’t recommended doing that unless you replace that part, I even offered to pay!
I had someone inside turn the steering wheel and noticed the track bar moving, I removed it and found this

 

[Tomoro]

2018 Jl rubicon

 

[9SecVmax]

Jeep Sucks. Im tired of this. I want all of my money back.

 

[Tylerjcloud92]

2018 Jl rubicon

Says the YouTube account was terminated did fca send people after you? lol what was the video?

 

[Tire Guy]

Round 1 to the the dealer. Picked up my Gladiator today. Apparently, even with a phone call from Jeep Wave, 4 inches steering wheel play and wandering all over the road they could not find anything to fix. ROUND 2 will be in a few weeks at another dealer.

 

[Tylerjcloud92]

R.I.P

Says the YouTube account was terminated did fca send people after you? lol what was the video?

 

[HoundDude]

remember, FCA sent their goons to threaten Jeep Informant after he posted the really helpful steering box adjustment video, I bet they have @Tomoro in solitary confinement right now...

 

[RagTopDeluxe]

here is the thread on my 2019 Journey...
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...oose-hvac-issues-etc-new-2019-3-6-jlur.23404/

Even with the issues I had with my 2019, I put 10k miles on it in 5 months with a good chunk of those off-road (and it was in the shop over 40 of those days). So far I only have about 400 miles on my 2020, but as it sits right now I would not hesitate to drive across country (something I do a lot to explore all around the western US.) In fact next week I will be heading to Albuquerque, then into CO to see some Aspens turning and then through Utah and back home in AZ. this weekend I hope to hit a few local mountains.

while I 100% agree with everyone on here that we should not have to change parts on a brand new vehicle to make it drive nice, I also feel it is easier than fighting with a dealership and will end up better in the long run. Since this is not my first JLUR I had a good idea of what to expect, and what I wanted to try to fix it based on what others on here had done. there is still a little room for improvement with mine that I think the aftermarket drag link, tie rod and track bar will solve but it is not critical. I can drive on the highway and uneven roads now with no issues, and can actually relax now when driving. it's still not a Grand Cherokee, or even full-size truck as far as how it drives, but it is really nice for a vehicle that I can take pretty much anywayere I want to go off-road with no issues.

if you need any suggestions or advice feel free to message me on here, if I don't know the answer the local shop I use is great and they are always willing to help answer questions.

Thank you for the link—you had quite an adventure with your Jeep. My steering is like your video.

I have a little over 4K miles in five months. We cancelled our trip to Colorado (I am envious of your fall Colorado trip and please post photos!) and had to turn around from a day trip to Lake Tahoe because it was so scary to drive on the highway in the mountains. Driving to work is stressful, even on surface streets.

I don’t expect my Jeep to drive like a GC or truck (have had both), but want it to be comfortable enough to drive on a trip. Everyone seems to be running out of ideas on what to do.

 

[RagTopDeluxe]

Unfortunately some Jeep dealers will deny warranty on anything suspension or steering related if you use aftermarket LCAs. You can scroll back through this thread and find several examples of this. I've also called a few random dealerships and they said the same thing. You could always put the original LCAs back on before you bring it to the dealer of course, but what a pain.

I have the Mopar LCAs and the dealer didn’t notice. Of course they noticed the track bar and stabilizer, but the FCA engineers (edit: notes say “representative”) said it’s ok to leave them on while the dealer works on my Jeep. My taking my Jeep in after two weeks for steering while it was completely stock helped in that decision.

 

[Cypher]

Thank you for the link—you had quite an adventure with your Jeep. My steering is like your video.

I have a little over 4K miles in five months. We cancelled our trip to Colorado (I am envious of your fall Colorado trip and please post photos!) and had to turn around from a day trip to Lake Tahoe because it was so scary to drive on the highway in the mountains. Driving to work is stressful, even on surface streets.

I don’t expect my Jeep to drive like a GC or truck (have had both), but want it to be comfortable enough to drive on a trip. Everyone seems to be running out of ideas on what to do.

I know what that's like to have a trip cancelled. we ended up having to leave my 2019 in the shop 1500 miles from home for a few days, then cut our trip short as we had to drive it home messed up (the parts we needed were on backorder).

that sucks that you are having the issues you are. same thing I was dealing with on my old one. I am very happy with the new one as it sits now, so I know they "can" be fixed. however I have heard of a lot of people running into issues getting the new steering box and drag link. seems track bar is easier to get.

you sound a lot like me with the trips you take. I will soon be doing a day trip to lake Tahoe as well.

 

[NCPolock]

I'll need to check for myself although paperwork I believe indicated they torqued everything to spec. They also adjusted toe per recent star cases.

I'm leaning more towards in the near future hitting a reputable 4wd shop and have them look at it and give me there thoughts on "the jeep thing". Hats off to those of you that have been going round and round with the dealerships. I'm only 2 visits in and I'm exhausted.

So after driving some more in the "fixed" jeep I'm going to circle-back with my Jeep Wave rep and get it back in because it drives even worse. Not sure if it's the alignment that's off but the deadspot has moved more to the right and I have to make more even more adjustments than before to keep it straight...even with what appears to be a slight reduction in the "slop". Per recommendations I did look at the cotter pin and it appears to be straight with a perfect right angle which leads me to believe they have not torqued everything.

Question: without a new steering box, how much of an impact can a PCM flash/update make? Guessing it's hit or miss.

 

[RagTopDeluxe]

I know what that's like to have a trip cancelled. we ended up having to leave my 2019 in the shop 1500 miles from home for a few days, then cut our trip short as we had to drive it home messed up (the parts we needed were on backorder).

that sucks that you are having the issues you are. same thing I was dealing with on my old one. I am very happy with the new one as it sits now, so I know they "can" be fixed. however I have heard of a lot of people running into issues getting the new steering box and drag link. seems track bar is easier to get.

you sound a lot like me with the trips you take. I will soon be doing a day trip to lake Tahoe as well.

I’ll be willing to put in my own aftermarket drag link and adjustable LCAs to improve the drive *if* the dealer can get it driving properly. It is ridiculous to have to do that to an otherwise stock Jeep (mine isn’t lifted).

I want to give FCA another opportunity to get it right, but I’m close to the end of my rope.

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