Steering Play

[Wabujitsu]

I have been told and read that an inch or less of steering play is normal. Thoughts?

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[robaw]

I have been told and read that an inch or less of steering play is normal. Thoughts?

I have virtually zero. If I recall correctly, some 18's like yours had some issues (and maybe some 19's), but mine is tight.

 

[JimLee]

Search the forums, there are dozens of threads and probably thousands of posts talking about "loose steering", and "steering wanders". Look in the section that covers issues and warranty work.

 

[JeepCares]

I have been told and read that an inch or less of steering play is normal. Thoughts?

Hi Wabujitsu,
If you feel your vehicle is not operating as designed, we would be happy to connect you with a case specialist to work with you and your dealer towards a resolution. If this is something you would be interested in, please send our team a private message!
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[higbyz]

I have been told and read that an inch or less of steering play is normal. Thoughts?

I have play in the steering wheel. What surprises me, is that when I let go of the wheel , the damn thing tracks nicely. Im gonna guess that there should not be play in it but you get used to it. Still waiting on a radio fix.

 

[Cogent]

I have play in the steering wheel. What surprises me, is that when I let go of the wheel , the damn thing tracks nicely. Im gonna guess that there should not be play in it but you get used to it. Still waiting on a radio fix.

“higbyz” makes the point that his JL holds a good track when the steering wheel is released, but otherwise has what seems like play in the steering. Same goes for my new 2019 Sport S Wrangler. Let go of the wheel and it tracks a good line. BUT, try this: while driving on a good road, nudge the wheel briefly either right or left and the steering wheel will not spring back to center track as in normal steering. It’s like there is no caster or correct toe in the steering system. Instead, it drifts in the direction of the nudge right or left until you manually correct to bring it back to center track. You have to manually correct for every steering wheel movement, giving the sensation of play or wandering in the steering, and requiring more tiring concentration when driving the vehicle. I don’t know the correct terminology for this weird steering behavior, but this jeep sure steers differently from my previous jeeps, and lots of other vehicles I’ve owned. It may be that this problem is what lots of JL owners describe as wandering, vague steering, or loose steering. The service manager where I bought my JL was not aware of any steering problems with new JL’s. Really!? Rather than pursue this with uninformed service people who may do more harm than good, I am waiting for FCA to address these steering problems in new JL’s with specific directives to their service departments. Will this ever happen??

 

[higbyz]

“higbyz” makes the point that his JL holds a good track when the steering wheel is released, but otherwise has what seems like play in the steering. Same goes for my new 2019 Sport S Wrangler. Let go of the wheel and it tracks a good line. BUT, try this: while driving on a good road, nudge the wheel briefly either right or left and the steering wheel will not spring back to center track as in normal steering. It’s like there is no caster or correct toe in the steering system. Instead, it drifts in the direction of the nudge right or left until you manually correct to bring it back to center track. You have to manually correct for every steering wheel movement, giving the sensation of play or wandering in the steering, and requiring more tiring concentration when driving the vehicle. I don’t know the correct terminology for this weird steering behavior, but this jeep sure steers differently from my previous jeeps, and lots of other vehicles I’ve owned. It may be that this problem is what lots of JL owners describe as wandering, vague steering, or loose steering. The service manager where I bought my JL was not aware of any steering problems with new JL’s. Really!? Rather than pursue this with uninformed service people who may do more harm than good, I am waiting for FCA to address these steering problems in new JL’s with specific directives to their service departments. Will this ever happen??

I have had the v41 recall done. Steering is the same.

 

[jmcdtucson]

I have had the v41 recall done. Steering is the same.

As expected. V41 has nothing to do with wandering or play. It's for shimmy/wobble.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Actually I think my steering is just fine - very good. Then again, I have driven TONS of vehicles in civilian and military work, up to tractor-trailers. Every vehicle steers differently. It may not even be steering components - it could very well be the tires; not just over inflation, but also type of tread, material of the tire, etc.

I dropped my stock A/Ts to 32psi and it’s totally fine. Put fine Michelin road tires on it and it would probably steer like a caddy. Whenever you have to correct for corrections, and the vehicle with no hands tracks straight, it’s usually the tires, not the steering components.

When I went from my FJ Cruiser with hydraulic power assisted rack and pinion to my wife’s Saturn Vue with electric power steering back in the day, I was ALL OVER the road until I got used to her steering. Nothing wrong with the car at all. I just had to adjust to a totally different steering system.

 

[jdubya421]

“higbyz” makes the point that his JL holds a good track when the steering wheel is released, but otherwise has what seems like play in the steering. Same goes for my new 2019 Sport S Wrangler. Let go of the wheel and it tracks a good line. BUT, try this: while driving on a good road, nudge the wheel briefly either right or left and the steering wheel will not spring back to center track as in normal steering. It’s like there is no caster or correct toe in the steering system. Instead, it drifts in the direction of the nudge right or left until you manually correct to bring it back to center track. You have to manually correct for every steering wheel movement, giving the sensation of play or wandering in the steering, and requiring more tiring concentration when driving the vehicle. I don’t know the correct terminology for this weird steering behavior, but this jeep sure steers differently from my previous jeeps, and lots of other vehicles I’ve owned. It may be that this problem is what lots of JL owners describe as wandering, vague steering, or loose steering. The service manager where I bought my JL was not aware of any steering problems with new JL’s. Really!? Rather than pursue this with uninformed service people who may do more harm than good, I am waiting for FCA to address these steering problems in new JL’s with specific directives to their service departments. Will this ever happen??

Mine definitely doesn't auto-straighten. The one I test drove was the same way. I took a u-turn on the test drive and let go of the wheel and started accelerating to let the wheel straighten out and it just didn't. I felt like an idiot and had to correct it really fast. The sales lady was just like "oh thats just how the Jeep steering is" and I believed her because I had never driven a Jeep before. I got my 19 JL like a month ago and it also does this, but not as bad.

 

[Firemadz]

Mine definitely doesn't auto-straighten. The one I test drove was the same way. I took a u-turn on the test drive and let go of the wheel and started accelerating to let the wheel straighten out and it just didn't. I felt like an idiot and had to correct it really fast. The sales lady was just like "oh thats just how the Jeep steering is" and I believed her because I had never driven a Jeep before. I got my 19 JL like a month ago and it also does this, but not as bad.

I can tell you there’s a distinct difference between my 2018 JLUR and my daughter’s 2018 Sahara. Mine has more play in the steering, but everything else is fine. Hers has absolutely no play. Hers handles the same as the 2016 Durango SSV I drive for work.

 

[higbyz]

“higbyz” makes the point that his JL holds a good track when the steering wheel is released, but otherwise has what seems like play in the steering. Same goes for my new 2019 Sport S Wrangler. Let go of the wheel and it tracks a good line. BUT, try this: while driving on a good road, nudge the wheel briefly either right or left and the steering wheel will not spring back to center track as in normal steering. It’s like there is no caster or correct toe in the steering system. Instead, it drifts in the direction of the nudge right or left until you manually correct to bring it back to center track. You have to manually correct for every steering wheel movement, giving the sensation of play or wandering in the steering, and requiring more tiring concentration when driving the vehicle. I don’t know the correct terminology for this weird steering behavior, but this jeep sure steers differently from my previous jeeps, and lots of other vehicles I’ve owned. It may be that this problem is what lots of JL owners describe as wandering, vague steering, or loose steering. The service manager where I bought my JL was not aware of any steering problems with new JL’s. Really!? Rather than pursue this with uninformed service people who may do more harm than good, I am waiting for FCA to address these steering problems in new JL’s with specific directives to their service departments. Will this ever happen??

My wife and I have to go on a road trip this weekend ,which is a 4 hour ride each way. As much as I would love to take the jeep, I am going drive the Audi because it requires much less effort than the Jeep . Oh yeah , and the radio works ! The jeep is great for short trips, but making steering corrections for 4 hours, gets tiring.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

My steering wheel is pretty tight. I'd probably say I have less than an inch of wheel play. I mean it slow speeds there's definitely a little bit of wiggle room, but that's normal. At higher speeds it tightens up, also normal.

 

[Old Jeeper]

I have been told and read that an inch or less of steering play is normal. Thoughts?

Depends upon what you call an inch. Inch L and inch Right?

How many miles on that puppy and what % or how often do off road?

I just went out to my Jeep 2023 JLR 3106 mi, 37 x 12:50 x 17, GY Duratrac, 32 psi. Very mild OR, live in FL and don't do Mud so light trials only.

Here is what occurred: Standing still, concrete driveway. Centered my steering wheel and measured 1 in L, 1 in Right. I immediately incur resistance at the wheel and then the tire begins to move and it picks the pace as I continue, both L and Right.

TIre is rubber, rubber gives some and you got rubber bushings on that tierod.

So if you got DEAD SPACE ( both L & R) when you start turning, and that dead space is immediate before your tire begins to absorb the input you might want to either buy a new tire road or if can replace the bushings.

Let us know the results and your mitigation.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Depends upon what you call an inch. Inch L and inch Right?

How many miles on that puppy and what % or how often do off road?

I just went out to my Jeep 2023 JLR 3106 mi, 37 x 12:50 x 17, GY Duratrac, 32 psi. Very mild OR, live in FL and don't do Mud so light trials only.

Here is what occurred: Standing still, concrete driveway. Centered my steering wheel and measured 1 in L, 1 in Right. I immediately incur resistance at the wheel and then the tire begins to move and it picks the pace as I continue, both L and Right.

TIre is rubber, rubber gives some and you got rubber bushings on that tierod.

So if you got DEAD SPACE ( both L & R) when you start turning, and that dead space is immediate before your tire begins to absorb the input you might want to either buy a new tire road or if can replace the bushings.

Let us know the results and your mitigation.

Yup Don; you necroed an old comment of mine, brother! ? I’ve come to learn, that especially with lower tire pressures, it doesn’t take more steering input, but perhaps more time for the vehicle to react to that steering input, based on lower tire pressures. The higher the pressure, the less time it takes for the vehicle to respond to input.

This is a feature of our Jeeps. I’m convinced, after three JLs, there is ZERO dead space. Cut the wheel a hair to the left at road speed, and the vehicle responds. It just takes longer due to larger tires and lower pressure. The tire takes half a second (or less) to flex.

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