Steering wheel wobble?

[Bearman95]

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[desert runner]

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[brewtus98]

New damper installed under STAR bulletin last Friday. New one was date coded x044N - Feb 13th manufacture. We'll see how this one lasts, but so far it did take care of the wobble. Drove it over same areas that induced wobble before and its gone now. If nothing else, at least its documented with the dealer under warranty.

 

[xpsruler]

The Fox Steering stabilizer has been installed in mine and so far so good.

I've hit the same bumps that caused the issue the worst and it didnt occur. Only been on for a couple days though so time will tell.

 

[DanW]

I just got mine back. They checked the steering stabilizer that was replaced not too long ago and it was not of the newest spec, so they put a new one on. It is a big improvement, but I'd say about 85% of where I want the feel to be. Most bumps produce no shake at all, but larger ones still generate a very little bit, which I don't like. My dealership said the next step will be a new drag link. I'm going to have them go ahead and order it and when the part arrives, have them install it and then we'll see how it goes. If that doesn't cure it, then the new spec track bar will be next. If that doesn't 100% cure it, then I'll try and get them to pay for a set of adjustable lower control arms to improve the castor. It is close now, though, so I think the drag link might just be the ticket. I'm also running at 37psi of pressure right now and I know it does better at 30 to 32, but I want it 100% right even at the highest pressure.

 

[Leights7]

I just got mine back. They checked the steering stabilizer that was replaced not too long ago and it was not of the newest spec, so they put a new one on. It is a big improvement, but I'd say about 85% of where I want the feel to be. Most bumps produce no shake at all, but larger ones still generate a very little bit, which I don't like. My dealership said the next step will be a new drag link. I'm going to have them go ahead and order it and when the part arrives, have them install it and then we'll see how it goes. If that doesn't cure it, then the new spec track bar will be next. If that doesn't 100% cure it, then I'll try and get them to pay for a set of adjustable lower control arms to improve the castor. It is close now, though, so I think the drag link might just be the ticket. I'm also running at 37psi of pressure right now and I know it does better at 30 to 32, but I want it 100% right even at the highest pressure.

Good to hear. Any reason why the dealer mentioned a drag link? My understanding is the new track bar is step two, after the SS.

 

[DanW]

Good to hear. Any reason why the dealer mentioned a drag link? My understanding is the new track bar is step two, after the SS.

I think they may feel there is more play in the joint with the Pittman arm than with the track bar, but he also could have just mispoken. Overall, it feels pretty decent right now.

 

[WranglerMarty]

Around a month after the new steering dampener not working, the dealership replaced the track bar with the new one this week. Not even a bandaid, started the death wobble the next day. Decided today I was fed up with just going back and forth to the dealership 2 times a month so decided to call @JeepCares to see if they could escalate it or offer some sort of advice on fixes or anything, and got brushed off. This sucks.

 

[californiajeeping]

Around a month after the new steering dampener not working, the dealership replaced the track bar with the new one this week. Not even a bandaid, started the death wobble the next day. Decided today I was fed up with just going back and forth to the dealership 2 times a month so decided to call @JeepCares to see if they could escalate it or offer some sort of advice on fixes or anything, and got brushed off. This sucks.

Did they check torque on all of the steering components and did they check the drag link - pitman arm connection? Many times it takes 2 fixes, not just one to fix the wobble problem.

 

[WranglerMarty]

Did they check torque on all of the steering components and did they check the drag link - pitman arm connection? Many times it takes 2 fixes, not just one to fix the wobble problem.

I asked them to, and they said they did, but there was nothing in the paperwork given that actually said they did.

 

[californiajeeping]

I asked them to, and they said they did, but there was nothing in the paperwork given that actually said they did.

You can check the cotter pins in the 4 ball joint nuts to see if they look like factory bent or manually bent. That will at least tell you if they checked those. Then you can have someone turn your steering wheel back and forth while you look at the drag link and pitman arm connection to see if there is any play, like in this video.

 

[JeepCares]

Around a month after the new steering dampener not working, the dealership replaced the track bar with the new one this week. Not even a bandaid, started the death wobble the next day. Decided today I was fed up with just going back and forth to the dealership 2 times a month so decided to call @JeepCares to see if they could escalate it or offer some sort of advice on fixes or anything, and got brushed off. This sucks.

Hi WranglerMarty,
We regret to hear that you have experienced this steering concern. Please send us a private message if you would like some additional assistance!
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[wbee]

Around a month after the new steering dampener not working, the dealership replaced the track bar with the new one this week. Not even a bandaid, started the death wobble the next day. Decided today I was fed up with just going back and forth to the dealership 2 times a month so decided to call @JeepCares to see if they could escalate it or offer some sort of advice on fixes or anything, and got brushed off. This sucks.

Many people who have solved the wobble issue including myself have three changes in common: 1. Quality steering stabilizer, it will stop the wobble but it is a mask and not a solution 2. Aftermarket track bar. 3 New drag link and possibly a tierod. All of this costs about $1500 so it’s not cheap but it seems to work.

Other items that have helped are:
1 adding caster by adjustable control arms
2 making sure all ball joints and other joints are the proper torque.
3 making sure you tires are balanced properly, particularly with oversized tires.

Probably not what you want to hear. If you want to do one thing that will make the biggest impact, add a good steering stabilizer. It is a mask but it works.

There is no silver bullet fix. I wasn’t willing to wait on Jeep for a solution so i went with steersmart, falcon steering stabilizer and adjustable lower control arms 6 degrees caster and the front feels rock solid.

 

[DanW]

Around a month after the new steering dampener not working, the dealership replaced the track bar with the new one this week. Not even a bandaid, started the death wobble the next day. Decided today I was fed up with just going back and forth to the dealership 2 times a month so decided to call @JeepCares to see if they could escalate it or offer some sort of advice on fixes or anything, and got brushed off. This sucks.

I'm surprised they brushed you off. I've worked with them on a couple of issues, including this and experienced the opposite. On this issue, an FCA rep has called me nearly every day, even after I told them I was 100% happy with my dealership's efforts. They told me they'd call again Monday. I spoke to my dealership today. They ordered a new drag link and will install it as soon as it arrives. They reiterated that if that doesn't do it, the track bar is next. They then also said that if none of that works, they'd be willing to look at aftermarket solutions, starting with adjustable lower control arms to adjust castor. I couldn't ask for better effort from @JeepCares or my dealership.

Btw, yesterday I thought the new steering stabilizer made things 85% better. As of today, after some highway driving, I'd say only 20% better, at best. It still has the shakes. I haven't had a death wobble, but the shakes occur occasionally. Occasionally is too much.

 

[WranglerMarty]

I'm surprised they brushed you off. I've worked with them on a couple of issues, including this and experienced the opposite. On this issue, an FCA rep has called me nearly every day, even after I told them I was 100% happy with my dealership's efforts. They told me they'd call again Monday. I spoke to my dealership today. They ordered a new drag link and will install it as soon as it arrives. They reiterated that if that doesn't do it, the track bar is next. They then also said that if none of that works, they'd be willing to look at aftermarket solutions, starting with adjustable lower control arms to adjust castor. I couldn't ask for better effort from @JeepCares or my dealership.

Btw, yesterday I thought the new steering stabilizer made things 85% better. As of today, after some highway driving, I'd say only 20% better, at best. It still has the shakes. I haven't had a death wobble, but the shakes occur occasionally. Occasionally is too much.

When I called them originally yesterday, they did brush me off hard. Thankfully, the @JeepCares team on this forum reached out and asked for a ton of info and opened a case for me, they have given an experience that has been much better so far. Overall it remains to be seen, but I definitely appreciate their follow up here so far.

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