My Steering Issues Have Been Fixed!

[ekimgnuj]

I dropped my JL Rubicon off this morning to my local dealer to fix my wandering speedometer issues.

They have known about my steering issues since I bought it new in April. Wandering on the road, and dead spot of about an inch in each direction from dead center (basically all the issues everyone has been talking about).

The Lead Tech working on my JL today found a new TSB that came out last night and applied the update to mine.

He explained it to me that the hydro-assist was turned down from 0 to -8 in my Rubicon.

I got in and immediately noticed that the steering was a little more difficult to turn, but not bad. I would say if is was 100% before it might me 150% now.

My dead spot is GONE, and it drives straight! Feels like any other SUV or truck that I have driven.

I do not have a TSB number, and it is not listed on my paperwork.

I wanted to let everyone know if you are having the steering issues to get it to your local dealer and have them apply/flash the steering update.

Thanks for sharing this!

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[chadc880]

Ok here is my final conclusion for now. I drove my friends 16 JKU Sahara for about 20 minutes today. Fully stock 79,000 miles on it.

There is no dead spot in the steering. I know electro-hydraulic this and that and comparing a JK to a JL, but from what I can tell the actual steering box on the JL is hydraulic. Correct me if I am wrong, I see now wires going to the steering box like you see on most electric steering cars. Or Maybe I didn't look hard enough.

I had him drive my JL Sahara and he noticed the smoothness, more power and better ride immediately but he did say he felt like he had to move the steering wheel to the left and right to keep it the Jeep centered.

What I felt is I feel I got the JL steering resistance or lack of play or looseness dang near the same as the JK where as before it felt sloppy loose. (probably the loose ball joints.)

So my conclusion to my and I stress "MY" Steering Issue.

1. Command Line RC was dead on when telling us about the loose ball joints. I think this is a huge concern for the JL's and obviously make a huge difference with how the JL drives especially with wandering around from left to right.

2. Tire Pressure - Bringing the 45+ PSI from the factory back to factory settings.

3. The steering box adjustment - While I still believe in my case adjusting this did help quite a bit, there is still a dead spot in the factory steering box giving you that sensation of adjusting the steering wheel left to right.

Something I noticed last evening while waiting for my wife in a store in a parking lot, I can move the steering wheel to the left and right about 1/2 inch with what feels like no resistance. No saying the hydraulic electro whatever isn't working, but meaning there is some sort of dead space in the steering box.

What is causing it ? Who knows. I will relay this information to my service manager with the dealer I am working with.

With that said I will say this,

With the above stuff completed above I feel my issue is a huge significant improvement from what I was dealing with on a daily basis before.

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

I know electro-hydraulic this and that and comparing a JK to a JL, but from what I can tell the actual steering box on the JL is hydraulic. Correct me if I am wrong, I see now wires going to the steering box like you see on most electric steering cars. Or Maybe I didn't look hard enough..
.

Steering gearbox in not electric. The electric motor drives the power steering pump instead of using a belt. Other than that, it’s still a traditional hydraulic power steering system like the JK.

The JL steering gear box is now made from aluminum. Other than that, not sure about other changes to the JL box vs the JK. Maybe FCA is using a new supplier who can’t get it adjusted properly.

 

[Sublime]

I'm a potential new JL newb, maybe. But after my test drive yesterday not so sure. I currently drive a 2017 RAM 1500 4x4. I test drove a brand new JL Rubicon and once I got on the freeway, it was a little windy, this thing felt like it was all over the road. I was probably having to turn the steering wheel a quarter turn to compensate. After not buying it I left and drove the same road with my RAM, rock solid, so not the road or the wind. I think I'll not be buying that one.

 

[COBoarder]

I have an appointment at the local Jeep store to do the flash deal (TSB 08-092-18). Hopefully that helps with tracking on the highways. Feeling optimistic! Will report on results.

I just had that TSB applied and the steering is definitely tighter for me. 1" play each way is now less, maybe 1/2" and feels much better. Dear gave me a bit of push back but when I insisted that I'm feeling a steering issue, they relented and applied.

 

[Killians42]

I just had that TSB applied and the steering is definitely tighter for me. 1" play each way is now less, maybe 1/2" and feels much better. Dear gave me a bit of push back but when I insisted that I'm feeling a steering issue, they relented and applied.

Mine goes in tomorrow for the steering issue. I called and gave the dealer the TSB# ahead of time. Did this also fix the wandering issue? Thanks!

 

[chadc880]

Please Remember when going to the dealer to bring up the potential loose ball joints and to be sure they check that. Unless they put a wrench to the nuts and or remove the cotter pins they will never know.

 

[Killians42]

Please Remember when going to the dealer to bring up the potential loose ball joints and to be sure they check that. Unless they put a wrench to the nuts and or remove the cotter pins they will never know.

Ok. I will mention it. I feel my issue isn’t that bad, I can drive with one hand, even on the highway. I do have excessive play and it wanders, I really want to see if that can get resolved.

 

[sm16]

Please Remember when going to the dealer to bring up the potential loose ball joints and to be sure they check that. Unless they put a wrench to the nuts and or remove the cotter pins they will never know.

Is it easy to adjust the ball joints?

 

[Killians42]

Does anyone have a link to the TSB, I am taking my JLU in on the 6th of Aug and would like to have a copy of it in hand @JeepCares Jasmine can you make sure my Case worker is advised of this

Was the TSB performed today? Did it fix the steering issue you are having?

 

[WranglerMan]

Well I just got back from the dealer and had the TSB update on steering done and maybe it’s a placebo effect but it does feel better, it still has what I perceive as a dead spot of maybe 1.5” or so and feels slightly more responsive on the highway, could it be better it sure could but at least it not the 4” of play I had so we will see how it progresses.

I did mention about them adjusting the steering box and was promptly told NO..... they will not do anything like that unless instructed by FCA so for now I will live with the slightly loose wheel, as I was told by some Jeep friends of mine it’s not a sedan car that has super tight steering it’s an off road vehicles that has a solid axle and the steering is designed to be somewhat loose but I call BS.

I also had them do a oil change which was free with the Wave program I got included when I bought it so for now I’m good to go and can go on with trying to enjoy my Jeep, all in all I honestly have not had that many issues but the ones I have had have been annoying

Here is a copy of the service invoice but it does not state what TSB was applied

 

[Specter491]

How do you fix the ball joints? To what torque do you tighten the bolts?

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

Well I just got back from the dealer and had the TSB update on steering done and maybe it’s a placebo effect but it does feel better, it still has what I perceive as a dead spot of maybe 1.5” or so and feels slightly more responsive on the highway, could it be better it sure could but at least it not the 4” of play I had so we will see how it progresses.

I did mention about them adjusting the steering box and was promptly told NO..... they will not do anything like that unless instructed by FCA so for now I will live with the slightly loose wheel, as I was told by some Jeep friends of mine it’s not a sedan car that has super tight steering it’s an off road vehicles that has a solid axle and the steering is designed to be somewhat loose but I call BS.

I also had them do a oil change which was free with the Wave program I got included when I bought it so for now I’m good to go and can go on with trying to enjoy my Jeep, all in all I honestly have not had that many issues but the ones I have had have been annoying

Here is a copy of the service invoice but it does not state what TSB was applied

5W-20? Doesn't the manual specify 0W-20 for the JL?

 

[chadc880]

Is it easy to adjust the ball joints?

It is very easy to correctly torque and tighten them.

 

[sm16]

It is very easy to correctly torque and tighten them.

Would you be able to post instructions? I took a quick peek earlier this afternoon and saw a pin in both of them. Do I just pull the pin and tighten?

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