Loose Steering?

[FREEZE451]

Going on over a month after I adjusted my steering box... Love it

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[Gladius]

On Dec 12th, FCA called me about the steering issue and suggested I take it to the dealer to have inspected. I didn't get around to that until Jan 24th. Of course the dealer gave me the "this is normal and all wranglers and gladiators drive like this" line. At that point I ordered the Falcon Nexus adjustable steering stabilizer and I installed that. It helps but doesn't eliminate it. In fact it makes it more noticeable when turning or changing lanes getting the steering back to center. The last couple of days I've just become completely annoyed driving it. Can't stand it anymore. I'm not going to try and mess with the steer box or replace it myself. I've sent FCA a message stating they either fix it or I'm trading it in on a competitors truck. So, if you don't see me back on this forum then FCA didn't come through.

 

[Hootbro]

On Dec 12th, FCA called me about the steering issue and suggested I take it to the dealer to have inspected. I didn't get around to that until Jan 24th. Of course the dealer gave me the "this is normal and all wranglers and gladiators drive like this" line. At that point I ordered the Fox Nexus adjustable steering stabilizer and I installed that. It helps but doesn't eliminate it. In fact it makes it more noticeable when turning or changing lanes getting the steering back to center. The last couple of days I've just become completely annoyed driving it. Can't stand it anymore. I'm not going to try and mess with the steer box or replace it myself. I've sent FCA a message stating they either fix it or I'm trading it in on a competitors truck. So, if you don't see me back on this forum then FCA didn't come through.

Best wishes in your new truck.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

On Dec 12th, FCA called me about the steering issue and suggested I take it to the dealer to have inspected. I didn't get around to that until Jan 24th. Of course the dealer gave me the "this is normal and all wranglers and gladiators drive like this" line. At that point I ordered the Fox Nexus adjustable steering stabilizer and I installed that. It helps but doesn't eliminate it. In fact it makes it more noticeable when turning or changing lanes getting the steering back to center. The last couple of days I've just become completely annoyed driving it. Can't stand it anymore. I'm not going to try and mess with the steer box or replace it myself. I've sent FCA a message stating they either fix it or I'm trading it in on a competitors truck. So, if you don't see me back on this forum then FCA didn't come through.

Just a thought - better for everyone else if you go through the feds and report it - and deal with it via the lemon law process. That at least adds you to the numbers and may get help for others. Otherwise it's just a threat of fix it or I go elsewhere. I like fix it or I raise a real ruckus and send my info to the feds and force the issue through the lemon law process.
I'd also consider another dealer - sometimes that helps. I know the dealer I went through to buy wouldn't have done squat on my bed cover - the other dealer was reluctant but in the end, it worked better as I got to talk directly with people out there instead of being stuck in a long line of chairs and desks.
BUT - it's your truck, your time, your money, your choice! All I can do is comment and wish you the very best.

 

[the-dude-abides]

I know no one wants to hear this but, I adjusted my steering box 1/8 turn and it took out most of the slop. I also added a teraflex 2.2 adjustable stabilizer and I'm 100% happier with my steering now. There's still a bit of slop and the steering stabilizer doesn't allow the steering wheel to return to straight as easy but the constant corrections and over corrections are gone.

One word of advise: do not over adjust your steering box. I started out with 1/4 turn and while it did take out near all the slop, the steering was noticeably tighter and harder to turn the wheel. I know that sounds good but it isn't. It was clearly too tight. I backed off to 1/8 and it turns as easy as it did and most of the slop is gone.

Also suggest white out to mark things as it's easily removed later. There was loctite for sure between the adjustment screw and surrounding nut.

Only the brave should proceed

 

[Slalom]

I know no one wants to hear this but, I adjusted my steering box 1/8 turn and it took out most of the slop. I also added a teraflex 2.2 adjustable stabilizer and I'm 100% happier with my steering now. There's still a bit of slop and the steering stabilizer doesn't allow the steering wheel to return to straight as easy but the constant corrections and over corrections are gone.

One word of advise: do not over adjust your steering box. I started out with 1/4 turn and while it did take out near all the slop, the steering was noticeably tighter and harder to turn the wheel. I know that sounds good but it isn't. It was clearly too tight. I backed off to 1/8 and it turns as easy as it did and most of the slop is gone.

Also suggest white out to mark things as it's easily removed later. There was loctite for sure between the adjustment screw and surrounding nut.

Only the brave should proceed

So just to be sure you went with the Falcon Nexus EF 2.2 stabilizer, if so what setting do you have it on?

 

[the-dude-abides]

So just to be sure you went with the Falcon Nexus EF 2.2 stabilizer, if so what setting do you have it on?

Yep. Medium setting. Soft makes it feel like stock.

 

[Slalom]

Yep. Medium setting. Soft makes it feel like stock.

Thanks, I might have to try it.

 

[Gladius]

Just a thought - better for everyone else if you go through the feds and report it - and deal with it via the lemon law process. That at least adds you to the numbers and may get help for others. Otherwise it's just a threat of fix it or I go elsewhere. I like fix it or I raise a real ruckus and send my info to the feds and force the issue through the lemon law process.
I'd also consider another dealer - sometimes that helps. I know the dealer I went through to buy wouldn't have done squat on my bed cover - the other dealer was reluctant but in the end, it worked better as I got to talk directly with people out there instead of being stuck in a long line of chairs and desks.
BUT - it's your truck, your time, your money, your choice! All I can do is comment and wish you the very best.

How can you get a lemon law action when the dealer and manufacturer aren't acknowledging a problems? the deck is stacked

 

[ShadowsPapa]

How can you get a lemon law action when the dealer and manufacturer aren't acknowledging a problems? the deck is stacked

There are some who have had dealers - and Jeep, acknowledge an issue. There are posts here but the problem is there are so many threads on the topic it could take hours to find them.
There are videos also showing how they should be compared to how they are.
Of course it's all up to you in the end, but the information is here related to how some actually got their dealer to say yes, Jeep is aware, and at least a couple have had steering sectors replaced.

 

[Scrubb84]

How can you get a lemon law action when the dealer and manufacturer aren't acknowledging a problems? the deck is stacked

I have it in writing (email) that Jeep is aware of the bad steering boxes and “they” are working on a fix/revision. For whatever thats worth.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have it in writing (email) that Jeep is aware of the bad steering boxes and “they” are working on a fix. For whatever thats worth.

You are one of the ones I was thinking of when I wrote the above post - but it seems there was at least one other, if not more, who have said the same.
Again, the problem is that there are several steering related threads, and it got further tangled when wander, pull and other things got lumped into "steering problems" instead of steering PLAY being a distinct item by itself.
I believe there is play for some, wander for others, "light front end" feel for others, and likely one or two other things tossed in there and when they get all tangled in the same threads, then no one can keep things straight as to who has exactly what going on.
And for all we know, there could be, and like are those, who have play in the wheel, AND wander, and that stacks up even worse - a vehicle that likes to wander around and the driver has to move the steering wheel a couple of inches to get it back on track then it wants to go the other way.

 

[Scrubb84]

You are one of the ones I was thinking of when I wrote the above post - but it seems there was at least one other, if not more, who have said the same.
Again, the problem is that there are several steering related threads, and it got further tangled when wander, pull and other things got lumped into "steering problems" instead of steering PLAY being a distinct item by itself.
I believe there is play for some, wander for others, "light front end" feel for others, and likely one or two other things tossed in there and when they get all tangled in the same threads, then no one can keep things straight as to who has exactly what going on.
And for all we know, there could be, and like are those, who have play in the wheel, AND wander, and that stacks up even worse - a vehicle that likes to wander around and the driver has to move the steering wheel a couple of inches to get it back on track then it wants to go the other way.

I agree. And I bet some of the other issues you mentioned do feel just as bad as my junk steering boxes.

 

[RickyR]

I tried to adjust my box, but the factory locktite was too much and I spun the allen screw, so now can't go any further..

 

[the-dude-abides]

I tried to adjust my box, but the factory locktite was too much and I spun the allen screw, so now can't go any further..

I’m not going to recommend any strategy but what I did was loosen the nut all the way out until there was resistance. Then I went about a 1/8 turn more with the nut and that broke loose the loctite between the nut and adjust screw. However, now the adjustment screw was effectively stuck all the way out since I was using it as leverage to break the loctite. In order to not strip the allen head, I used my air impact wrench to tighten/break loose the adjustment screw back towards where it was. Tighten the nut back down (which also tightens the adjustment screw) and you’re golden.

That impact wrench situation was hairy and requires some bravery. I tried just turning it with a wrench it was going to strip so I stopped and went the impact route.

Probably don’t do this unless you’re willing to drop 700 on a new steering box and installing it yourself in case you mess it up. I was willing.

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