Steering Wheel keeps coming off center- possible drag link issue?

[RubiSc0tt]

This is the second or third time this has happened in the last few months: I’ll go wheeling, on a harder trail, mostly rock crawling northeastern US forest trails, so lots of hard turns and turning the wheels against rocks to get the proper line- and when I get off the trail I notice my steering wheel is misaligned. I know this occasionally happens, and used to with my TJ’s, but never this frequently.

Each time I readjust to center, crank the nut on the collar down, and make sure everything is tight, only to have it happen again next time. This seems to be happening more frequently.

Here’s the weird part: there’s no wheel to wheel alignment issue as far as I can tell- the Jeep tracks straight and steers with no issues at 70mph on the Highway.

I did have the Steering box replaced with the steel one

Has this happened to anyone else? I’m genuinely running out of ideas here.

Also, if I’ve missed anything , please link me. Thanks!

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[kah.mun.rah]

It’s the reason I carry a 15mm wrench in my center consol….to re-adjust my drag link when off-roading in boulders.

 

[AnnDee4444]

Is the drag link adjustment slipping?

 

[RubiSc0tt]

Is the drag link adjustment slipping?

I believe that’s what is happening, but I’m not quite sure how. Just posting because I’m curious if this is a common thing with JL/JT’s or if anyone has a solution.

I readjusted everything today, and torqued the nut on the collar down pretty tight. I guess we’ll see how it goes after the next trail ride in a couple weeks.

 

[At Risk Ute]

Same. Forgot to pack the big speed wrench and goofy 10mm 12 pt teraflex socket on my trip to Moab last week.

Either the steering wheel being off from wheeling, using the off-road plus button, or a combo of both caused my electronics to go haywire at the end of Cliffhanger. Think ESC was trying to engage while in 4L.

 

[3TV]

That has happened with every Jeep I have ever owned. It is less common on a JL because steering components are beefed up relative to a JK>TJ>YJ. I've even had to readjust the steering on my JLUR 392 XR one time, after Steel Bender trail in Moab.

I assume something gets slightly bent or shifts slightly with hard use. I have not figured out what causes it, other than inadequate steering parts strength. If someone knows the answer to this I would like to know.

 

[Roky]

I’m not exactly sure what’s happening, but has anyone had or heard of it happening with aluminum drag link/ tie rod and/or with jam nuts. I haven’t….. it’s not happening with mine, and y’all know I don’t baby it…..no rocks, but a rut is as damaging, stuck is stuck…….?

 

[somedude922]

I’m not exactly sure what’s happening, but has anyone had or heard of it happening with aluminum drag link/ tie rod and/or with jam nuts. I haven’t….. it’s not happening with mine, and y’all know I don’t baby it…..no rocks, but a rut is as damaging, stuck is stuck…….?

I have the MC steering. While my draglink doesn't come out of adjustament, I am having having a hell of a time keeping the jam nuts tight. Proabaly my fault though, I was a tad zealous with the anti seize on the threads....that shit is everywhere...lol

 

[Roky]

I have the MC steering. While my draglink doesn't come out of adjustament, I am having having a hell of a time keeping the jam nuts tight. Proabaly my fault though, I was a tad zealous with the anti seize on the threads....that shit is everywhere...lol

Yeah, copy that, I’m glad I’m not having this issue because to straighten my steering wheel I have to use a big f-ing wrench and a crow foot torque wrench and torque to 250 ftlbs …

 

[ghorsepower]

I have had to recenter once so far. I dropped into a fairly deep rut while turned near full lock and I assume something slipped when the tire impacted the rut wall. I was about 5* off center to the left after leaving the trail. Once home I re-centered by adjusting the drag link and haven't had an issue since. I only have 33's so not as much twisting torque when crawling on the rocks as someone with bigger tires so I assume that has kept me straight?

 

[GATORB8]

I’m not exactly sure what’s happening, but has anyone had or heard of it happening with aluminum drag link/ tie rod and/or with jam nuts. I haven’t….. it’s not happening with mine, and y’all know I don’t baby it…..no rocks, but a rut is as damaging, stuck is stuck…….?

It's happened twice on my MC setup, first time I hit an antelope, second was on trail. The trail one wasn't enough to throw off ESC/cancel cruise, I think I was a little loose from my field adjustment from the beast.

 

[Roky]

It's happened twice on my MC setup, first time I hit an antelope, second was on trail. The trail one wasn't enough to throw off ESC/cancel cruise, I think I was a little loose from my field adjustment from the beast.

Ok then….the only difference left is aluminum versus steel…..more forgiveness, I don’t know, I’m just spitballing here…..I’ve definitely hit hard enough for the steering to be off, so far so good, I’m glad cuz I can’t pack my wrench in the center console, I need to pull a trailer to carry it ..… ?

 

[Roky]

Hey Matt, is your pitman arm still pointing straight, I wonder if the slippage is happening in the steering box ?

 

[GATORB8]

Ok then….the only difference left is aluminum versus steel…..more forgiveness, I don’t know, I’m just spitballing here…..I’ve definitely hit hard enough for the steering to be off, so far so good, I’m glad cuz I can’t pack my wrench in the center console, I need to pull a trailer to carry it ..… ?

Ha, yup, I now have a very expensive large adjustable in the Jeep, emergency purchase at the Jackson Hole Ace Hardware (which I'm sure is well known for their competitive pricing, lol).

 

[GATORB8]

Hey Matt, is your pitman arm still pointing straight, I wonder if the slippage is happening in the steering box ?

I looked last time, and I'm pretty sure it was.

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