$1000 Budget for Handling Improvements - Best Parts for Highway Wandering?

[BATomov]

Hey everyone,

To be honest, my dad had a 2020 Gladiator, and it drove well. I just got this ‘24, and it drives just as good too—really no complaints. I think people are getting the wrong idea in this thread. I’m trying to build the perfect on-road Gladiator. I want it to drive like, or even better than, my Ranger did. I understand it’s a different frame and drivetrain, and it’s built for off-road—which is why I bought it—but I’m still on-road 99% of the time, so I’m building it specifically around that.

For example, I’m getting SoundSkins/Hotheads headliners to quiet the cabin, and I have BulletPoint mounts for my phone, radar, and dashcam. I’m putting on 285/75R17 on-road all terrains, and I’m not planning on lifting it at all, even if I upgrade the suspension—maybe just a level. I want to improve the handling in any way I can, and that’s what I’m trying to learn.

So far, I’ve learned to re-torque everything to spec before upgrading, keep each tire around 35 PSI, re-torque the steering box, and then upgrade the track bar and add a steering stabilizer.

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[Jefe1018]

You have a good list, but I’ll add this to your train of thought:

1) start cheaper: look at tire pressures, tire balancing, alignment, inspect for wear and retorque the entire suspension to spec

2) is your jeep stock? If so, an aftermarket track bar won’t do you any good - the track bar’s job is primarily to center your axle and on a stock suspension you shouldn’t need one.

3) the steering stabilizer doesn’t really do much other than in some cases, mask the real causes of death wobble

4) the sector shaft brace was known to help with earlier models… but there is a tsb out there if your steering box has excessive play and you should be able to get it replaced with a cast iron box under said TSB

 

[BATomov]

You have a good list, but I’ll add this to your train of thought:

1) start cheaper: look at tire pressures, tire balancing, alignment, inspect for wear and retorque the entire suspension to spec

2) is your jeep stock? If so, an aftermarket track bar won’t do you any good - the track bar’s job is primarily to center your axle and on a stock suspension you shouldn’t need one.

3) the steering stabilizer doesn’t really do much other than in some cases, mask the real causes of death wobble

4) the sector shaft brace was known to help with earlier models… but there is a tsb out there if your steering box has excessive play and you should be able to get it replaced with a cast iron box under said TSB

Thanks so much for the quick response and the advice! It’s a 2024 Gladiator Sport S, completely stock for now, but I’m planning to throw on 285/75R17s soon. It drives fine overall, but it’s definitely a bit of a downgrade compared to what I’m coming from, which I’m okay with because, hey, I can take the roof and doors off!

I’m really looking for upgrades I can make rather than repairs, since there’s no death wobble or major issues (it’s brand new with less than 5k miles). Just trying to tighten up the handling a bit before I put on the larger tires.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[Whiteoak323]

I just installed steer smarts yeti front track bar, sector shaft brace and a Fox ATS steering stabilizer. The front end feels lighter and there is less highway wandering. Complete improvement over stock and I only have 20K.

 

[2tall]

I found Mohave shocks to be a huge change on the highway. Much less bouncy and more stable. Prior to, if I was in a corner at highway speeds and hit a bump the truck became unstable. This would prob blow your budget on one item but I do see 2.5” diameter shocks for less than $1k.

 

[kevman65]

Before you BUY anything, check all the hardware on the front end for tightness.

If you don't have one, buy a 1/2" torque wrench, search this Board for Torque values, and make sure EVERYTHING is torqued to the factory specs.

Start with ball joints, yes you'll probably need new cotter pins, tie rod ball joints, drag link ball joints.

 

[kevman65]

Now, as for upgrades, you can get a "steering upgrade" kit from several places.

If you're not lifting, you really only need the tie-rod bar and the drag-link bar, but most kits include the track bar. Usually the kits are about 10% less than buying each individually.

I won't go into brands, others will do that and it's usually what they are running.

 

[BATomov]

Now, as for upgrades, you can get a "steering upgrade" kit from several places.

If you're not lifting, you really only need the tie-rod bar and the drag-link bar, but most kits include the track bar. Usually the kits are about 10% less than buying each individually.

I won't go into brands, others will do that and it's usually what they are running.

https://www.polyperformance.com/syn...7uX_O85Ny3sFkDaZQbqeXiYXa-2f4ohoaAiY6EALw_wcB
will this have an noticeable effect on a stock jeep gladiator?

 

[Murgatroid]

What a difference it made on my Gladiator. Changed the whole ride on the highway, not having the steering wheel jerk out of my hand when I hit something with just one wheel, even the wind doesn't jerk me around. I've not had a wobble in a year and a half and I was lucky to get a year before (dealer had replace the dampener twice) the wobble would show up when I hit a big expansion joint or pot hole. I can hit a pot hole now and I don't even get a shutter, I can drive one handed in 30 mph wind at 80 mph. My Gladiator now handles like a sports car.

 

[kevman65]

https://www.polyperformance.com/syn...7uX_O85Ny3sFkDaZQbqeXiYXa-2f4ohoaAiY6EALw_wcB
will this have an noticeable effect on a stock jeep gladiator?

You don't need the steering stabilizer. When you do need one you don't need an expensive one.

As to the other two items, Synergy is what I run and I have no complaints.

An FYI to everyone, Poly Performance is Synergy's retail side.

 

[Main Line Willys]

You mentioned highway wandering.
The first thing I thought of was the LCA.
Mopar has one available that is slightly longer then stock.
Pretty inexpensive and easy to install.

 

[MudderNuker]

Stock everything and almost new shouldn't wander. First, check alignment and components for anything lose and tire pressures. Live suspensions are different that independent suspension so in comparison they may feel a little sloppy. JTs drive much better than past Wranglers. When you lift no matter how small a lift you do, geometry will change so will the axle shifting to one side. Adjustable track bar, longer links, longer shocks or extensions and longer lower CA or a geo brackets will bring caster to optimal numbers and center the axle. No shortcuts and you should be good.

 

[RHINO79]

Just give yourself some time to adapt the straight axle steering habits.

 

[RHINO79]

Stock everything and almost new shouldn't wander. First, check alignment and components for anything lose and tire pressures. Live suspensions are different that independent suspension so in comparison they may feel a little sloppy. JTs drive much better than past Wranglers. When you lift no matter how small a lift you do, geometry will change so will the axle shifting to one side. Adjustable track bar, longer links, longer shocks or extensions and longer lower CA or a geo brackets will bring caster to optimal numbers and center the axle. No shortcuts and yo should be good.

Absolutely

 

[tysongladiator]

Upgrading and repairing are two different things.

If you're getting parts for an upgrade, you're starting off with a couple good parts.

If you're getting parts for repair, don't. Diagnose the issue first. There may be parts that aren't torqued properly. Or you may end up replacing a part that doesn't need replacing or you may end up replacing the wrong part.

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