New JT Gladiator Steering Issue TSB 08-074-20 (for "Improved Steering Feel")

[Sergek9]

Just dropped mine off. The service rep said "...we'll take a look at it". Was very apprehensive and asked if the Jeep was modified...

As I was writing this I got sent home. Parts are on order and no date was given. Was told parts are listed as 'unavalaible'. Wonder how much the shortage is COVID and how much is the sheer number of affected vehicles??

Sponsored

 

[danielspivey]

@danielspivey - where in VA are you? I’m in Yorktown.

we are actually pretty close then- I’m in king William not far from west point.

 

[JKABBQ]

I just talked to my service department and they said it would be the end of the month before the parts are in. I called them originally about the TSB September 1 first thing in the morning so I’m not sure what the holdup Is in getting parts here in Virginia (4 week lag).

Jeep cares can you look into this ?

As Shadowpapa mentioned as well regarding consistency in members posting about dealerships only able to order in 1 per week or 2 every 4 weeks for TSB parts...consider what the parts manager stated to me when I ordered mine and was the 1st to be done in Vancouver BC...within 2-3 days of ordering my parts it went from 90 in stock to none available. This parts depot in Oregon was supplying BC, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Northern California. That’s only 90 parts to service all those dealerships! I guess the unknown factor is how often the depots get replenished.

 

[CG32]

Just wrapped up at the dealership and my new gear should be here by the end of the month. No problems at all. It was funny because as I was checking out, they said there’s a new TSB that was out out “because these things wander all over the road” so they’re working to fix them. I am leveled with 35’s and left my fox steering stabilizer and rubicon express track bar on, and they didn’t mention a thing.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Let us know, would love to hear your opinion on the difference!

I was in the same boat as you, never really thought it was terrible, because I didn’t have the expectation it would have remotely tight steering. When driving yesterday I did correct it a fair amount and do have a pretty large dead zone. I guess I’ve gotten used to it. I’m excited!

I didn't expect to see the night and day difference others have. Perhaps mine wasn't as bad as many (likely) and then I've driven it since last November and am SOO used to it.
Add to that my other vehicles are older and/or have high miles on them (except my wife's Grand Cherokee - it seems jerky, too fast steering for me - her GC has about 13,500 miles on it - tight, quick, responsive), my WJ has 126,000 miles on all original steering and suspension and it's a bit loose feeling - not snappy steering, and I'm used to driving it since my JT went in.

Leaving the lot I noticed that after a turn (pulling forward out of parking spot, going to their exit to the road) it pretty much self-straightened, better than before. I let go and it didn't take much at all to be going straight again after the turn. Around curves a steady hand is all it takes to keep the arc of the curve. No adjusting on a well engineered exit.
It was windy today so I felt that but it didn't bother me being next to a semi with a box trailer.
It does feel tighter - you move the wheel and it moves the front tires right now.
The ratio on these isn't a close ratio like many small cars, and not like my wife's GC where if you move the wheel a little you are turning a corner or headed for the ditch, but there is zero play.

Corrections as needed are very minor and minute. Unless there's wind or a road crown, I could actually eat a Blizzard while driving it now. I don't worry about it heading somewhere else while I take my eyes off the road to look at the display or look in the mirror.

I also noticed that it was quite simple to keep it centered between the lines.

Mine was minor as far as the issues that many had - but I do still feel a difference.
This should settle once and for all "it's a Jeep thing".
It's not, it never had to be, this proves it.

Before I forget, I do want to open the hood and double-check fluid level, though - I know they put some time on it driving it (it was still almost up to temp by the time I got there and in and started it) but it can't hurt to check in case of bubbles in the hydraulics.

 

[FREEZE451]

Well I finally got the service advisor on the phone - who said to bring it on Friday for an appointment.

When asked if their dealership would do it, he said they just need to make sure it needs to meet the criteria etc..

Anyways, if all goes well I'll keep this updated if it really impacts it.

We shall see!

Well I have to say that my dealer rocks.

I brought in, with the TSB paperwork that they requested I bring in, and they have the parts on order!

It'll be two weeks out, but I could care less being they agreed to do it

 

[BilletRUBI]

You betcha.

I was typing in another thread here and my phone rang - my truck is all ready to go.
The service writer said that the tech just came back with it and he thought it was a night and day difference, he said "huge difference". Really? And here I didn't think it was that bad.
And, they said they just had another one come in with the same issue - I was the first and now another has come in. The good news for that owner is that mine is done, the parts were ordered last Thursday, so this is a week later, his parts are on order and may come in pretty soon.
I wonder if it's the owner from the Johnston area?

Anyway - good news, mine is done, the tech made very positive comments. Again, that's really interesting when they thought it was worse than I did LOL.
Good thing my wife kept commenting on how bad she thought it was - I may have never taken it in!!
We're getting ready to go get it in a few minutes, I can't wait to see how it handles if the tech thought it was a big difference.

I was the same way in the fact I really didn't notice the steering at first. My last Jeep was a 1983 CJ-5 with 33x12.50r15s, so the steering didn't seem much different and thought "its just the way a solid front axle vehicle drives" or "its a Jeep thing". My girl friend and a good buddy of mine both made comments about how much I was moving the steering wheel at highway speeds in my Gladiator. A quick look at this forum and I realized that the JL/JT actually steer worse than the JKs, so this wasn't "just a solid axle/Jeep thing".

Long story short, the fix works and driving my Jeep is much more enjoyable...

 

[HWKIGRL]

Got my JT back last night, left the dealer and immediately had to jump on the freeway pick my son up from Covid adapted football practice, jump back on the freeway and drive 25 minutes to Covid adapted private pitching workout...the steering is a HUGE difference. First difference was right out of the driveway, steering smooth but quick return to center, I never realized it didn’t on its own before!

Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you see it, it wasn’t windy last night but it is the 5 so lots of semi trucks and curves, all I can say is it is an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT DRIVE!
Smooth around curves, consistent steady direction, passed trucks with NO white knuckles, didn’t get pushed out of lane or pulled into leave causing oversteer as trying to correct, NO weaving between the lines, STAYED RIGHT WHERE I PUT IT, NO ANNOYING sawing on the steering wheel driving straight, it used to be back and forth back and forth last night it was just SMOOTH! It was THE FIRST TIME IVE ENJOYED MY JEEP ON THE HIGHWAY!
I guess now, the funny thing is: I realize it was worse than I thought, now that it is as GOOD AS IT IS!

THE WAIT WAS WORTH IT (yep those darn bolts!)

Thank you to Paul B @ Ellis Glendale Dodge Chrysler Jeep!
He was fantastic, amazing communication, kept me updated from day 1. Checked and double checked to make sure everything was safe and sound when I got it back.

One little issue I’m sure will be rectified once I reach Paul, Just waiting on the call back. Tire Pressure Warning came on last night as soon as I got on the freeway, never went off. They did perform oil change, tire rotation while it was in so I’m sure it’s nothing to do with steering or flash.

 

[Lumberjack500]

I knew this went way too smooth. Also the dealer said the parts are in. This really leads me to believe it’s the old box. when I drop it off next week I’ll speak with the service manager.

Just got off the phone with Jeepcares. The dealer did order the wrong part but the system automatically updated it to the part specified in the TSB.
Hats off to Jeepcares thanks for the assist.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Just got off the phone with Jeepcares. The dealer did order the wrong part but the system automatically updated it to the part specified in the TSB.
Hats off to Jeepcares thanks for the assist.

Going on past experiences, I was thinking it should have been automatic - that the "system" would supply the part that superseded the other ordered part. That's how it used to work, anyway. I could have gone to a parts book from 1969 and ordered the radiator specified in that book for a specific car but the system would send the most current version instead. (going back to experience waay back LOL)

I checked the PS fluid - not low low, but it's a touch (1/8") below "minimum cold" line. It wouldn't take even an ounce or two to bring it up so I'll simply wait until the next service and mention it to them then. I'll probably check it again after it has sat overnigh and the temp is 60 outside to be sure.
In other words, folks, it would be good to check - again, trust but verify. All you have to do is open the hood and look over to YOUR left for the whitish/clearish small reservoir for the PS fluid. It's about 1/2 way back on the passenger side, maybe not quite half way. Not very big on these Jeeps.

As mentioned, one of the things I noticed first is that it wants to return to center or straight better than it used to. That's a good thing! You arne't hand-over-hand turning the thing back to straight so much. And yeah, if you watch your hands on the wheel, it's no longer like those old movies or TV shows where the driver is moving the steering wheel all over the pace - if that had been real, he'd have been all over the road!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

A quick PS - on the way to get my truck this AM - I set a record! I saw TWO Gladiators on the road going the opposite direction. Yeah, one was a white one on the road not 6 miles from us, the other was a gray JT headed south while we headed north on the "bypass".
WOW! That was cool - TWO IN ONE DAY! I normally go WEEKS or even months to see even one.

 

[aureovin]

No hassle from the dealer with this script.

"Hey I've noticed what seems to be excessive wander and steering corrections in my new Jeep. I tried hard to convince myself it wasn't that bad or that it's a solid axle 'Jeep Thing', but going down the highway, I find I need to give it constant corrections -- everything would be an over or under correction, and I could never get it away from wandering. I was really concerned because my partner noticed it a lot more than I did, and felt it was unsafe. I did some research because of how concerned she was and found that there was a TSB that I think might relate to my Jeep: TSB-08-074-20."

Dealership took the Jeep, decided it applied, but also told me there's a restriction on parts ordering so it'll be 2-3 weeks.

edit: Thanks for the 60+pages of advice in this thread! I probably would have been living with this subtle disappointment forever

 

[Jwhaugen]

Made an appointment on Friday for the following Friday due to being out of town. The dealer here in N.D. Had one in stock. After they did there due diligence. The advisor came out and said that they are charging it out. 1 1/2 hours later I’m driving out. I was shocked at the improvement. I did not expect the great response. Now the wife can’t say that it looks like I’m driving drunk.

Thanks all for keeping this post alive.

 

[CMFINC]

JUST PICKED MINE UP LIKE 3 HOURS AGO.. steering for sure stiffer seems more instant with input.. im woundering with it being stiffer if thats why the DUI driver thing gone. dont have a lot of time on it. will see..LOL dealer asked me to call them and let them know what i think about the 2 boxes. im there 1st and only one they have done..

 

[Geekjeep]

What is the volume of the power steering system. I’ve needed to add fluid three times. I don’t see any leak. Looks like they barely filled it when they swapped box

Sponsored