New Steering box install

[roaniecowpony]

I’m still running the aluminum box in my 2018 JLUR. It seems to be steering fine, but I don’t have anything to compare it to. I’d like to get it changed before I run out of warranty. I’m at about 35K now. Do I have to prove some malfunction to the dealer to get it done? Or, can I just claim that the steering wanders a bit, and assume they’ll just change it on my request? Any thoughts?

John

John,
All I had to do was to show them the TSB and ask if they'd do it.

I bought a 2018 new and found it had rediculously loose steering. So much so that I had it in an alignment shop after driving it an hour. It is the reason I joined this forum. Upon reading the issue was being experienced by most new owners and that they were getting the "that's normal" from the dealers, I elected to spend my money solving it.

I installed a bunch of aftermarket steering parts: tierod, draglink and a trackbar. The trackbar took out 3/4ths of the loose feel. I adjusted the aluminum (V 1.0) steering box down to have very little play. The steering was very good. I wanted to get the new steering box for a long time and finally took it in before the warranty expired. After they put it in, I was less than impressed. It's ok. But it's not better than the aluminum (V 1.0) that I had adjusted. Maybe not quite as tight.

Your 2018 will have a earlier part number trackbar (if it hasn't been replaced) that gets replaced during the TSB. That part alone is worth getting the TSB done.

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[InjectedCJ7]

John,
All I had to do was to show them the TSB and ask if they'd do it.

I bought a 2018 new and found it had rediculously loose steering. So much so that I had it in an alignment shop after driving it an hour. It is the reason I joined this forum. Upon reading the issue was being experienced by most new owners and that they were getting the "that's normal" from the dealers, I elected to spend my money solving it.

I installed a bunch of aftermarket steering parts: tierod, draglink and a trackbar. The trackbar took out 3/4ths of the loose feel. I adjusted the aluminum (V 1.0) steering box down to have very little play. The steering was very good. I wanted to get the new steering box for a long time and finally took it in before the warranty expired. After they put it in, I was less than impressed. It's ok. But it's not better than the aluminum (V 1.0) that I had adjusted. Maybe not quite as tight.

Your 2018 will have a earlier part number trackbar (if it hasn't been replaced) that gets replaced during the TSB. That part alone is worth getting the TSB done.

roaniecowpony,
From one retired engineer to another, thank you for the helpful info! I doubt my track bar has been replaced, as I bought it with about 27K on the clock. Do you happen to know what the earlier part number is, so I can check it? Actually, my steering doesn’t feel too loose, right now, but there seems to be a bit of overall looseness when hitting bumps. I have two other solid front axle vehicles, a 1978 CJ7 and a 2015 F250, and the new JL seems worse than both. I’ve even had a few episodes of death wobble, when hitting large bumps while going through a corner. I haven’t driven any other JLs, so I’m not sure if mine is normal or not. Also, do you know the TSB number?

Thanks,
John

 

[roaniecowpony]

John,
The TSB and discussion are at this link. https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...b-08-074-20-for-improved-steering-feel.56363/

I don't know old part number for the trackbar, but the picture is of the latest part

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