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

[Rayzzz]

MOPAR part # 68088485AB (Mopar Electric Power Steering Fluid)

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[steve68]

drove mine yesterday, still happy as pie..............................

now lift wheels and tires,

 

[DanHillAK]

Anyone else feel the steering is notchy at low speeds after the TSB?

I wouldn't say notchy, but it's way.... tighter? Not sure what word to use, but it's definitely different.

 

[Tire Guy]

Had the new gear installed yesterday. It now drives like it should from the beginning. I had removed just the Synergy sector shaft brace for the install. After a week of driving I will probably reinstall.

The only negative was the steering wheel was quite a bit off after the alignment, which seems to be a common occurrence. And proves the lack of quality control in the service department. It was very noticeable. Luckily it is a easy fix I did this morning.

Overall very happy with the new steering gear.

And to the dealership that told me a year ago, "Drives normal for a Jeep", F_ck YOU!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Had the new gear installed yesterday. It now drives like it should from the beginning. I had removed just the Synergy sector shaft brace for the install. After a week of driving I will probably reinstall.

The only negative was the steering wheel was quite a bit off after the alignment, which seems to be a common occurrence. And proves the lack of quality control in the service department. It was very noticeable. Luckily it is a easy fix I did this morning.

Overall very happy with the new steering gear.

And to the dealership that told me a year ago, "Drives normal for a Jeep", F_ck YOU!

They did an alignment? The steering gear swap won't impact that - so it was off to begin with. The steering wheel centering is so simple it takes minutes to do - surprised any JT is leaving a shop with that off-center.
IF it's off after the steering gear swap - that means something was amiss as far as toe or steering wheel centering before the swap. It's a like-for-like swap so the pitman ends up in the same spot - unless the steering gear was messed with as far as the over-center adjustment, etc.

In short -an alignment isn't required for the steering gear change - any shop doing such is doing so on their own, or being asked by the customer. They don't get reimbursed for it by FCA as it's not included in the TSB - because there's no need.

Mine was spot-on as far as steering wheel centering when I got it back - and rightly so, the fix doesn't impact it at all. No alignment was done.

 

[CMFINC]

thanks people. will cheek fluid today.. my stearing wheel is off a little after install as well. not much maybe a 1/4 turn max on the drag link.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

thanks people. will cheek fluid today.. my stearing wheel is off a little after install as well. not much maybe a 1/4 turn max on the drag link.

Makes me wonder if those other original steering gears had enough play or were off so bad that it actually caused the steering wheel to be off once a tighter gear properly adjusted was installed. Wow, that means yours was likely pretty bad. Mine wasn't so bad - some wander, not easy to keep between the lines according to my wife, but there wasn't play in the steering.
For those who had to have the wheel re-centered, or did so themselves - I wonder - bet those folks had play in their original steering gear, it wasn't just "drift" or pulling.
You should be able to swap "boxes" all day and not impact the steering wheel.
Yeah, a wrench to loosen the clamp bolt, in my case, careful use of channel-lock pliers to turn the adjustment, and a couple minutes time - I had to do that after the spring swap, but not after the steering gear change. The spring swap moved my axle to the left about 1/8" to 3/16" at most, enough to cause the wheel to be off level.

 

[DMaria]

They did an alignment? The steering gear swap won't impact that - so it was off to begin with. The steering wheel centering is so simple it takes minutes to do - surprised any JT is leaving a shop with that off-center.
IF it's off after the steering gear swap - that means something was amiss as far as toe or steering wheel centering before the swap. It's a like-for-like swap so the pitman ends up in the same spot - unless the steering gear was messed with as far as the over-center adjustment, etc.

In short -an alignment isn't required for the steering gear change - any shop doing such is doing so on their own, or being asked by the customer. They don't get reimbursed for it by FCA as it's not included in the TSB - because there's no need.

Mine was spot-on as far as steering wheel centering when I got it back - and rightly so, the fix doesn't impact it at all. No alignment was done.

I inquired about how the TSB could effect the alignment when they did mine, and they told me it was FCA's guideline so they had to to it.

 

[watarski]

shout out to Leith Jeep in Wendell, N.C. for fixing up my gladiator. It now drives normal! Part numbers above for anyone that needs it. They also updated the powertrain module.

Thank you for posting. I just realized that my dealership put in the steering gear for a JL Wrangler! (part # 68507569AA). I would expect there to be a difference, am I correct? If so, I'm going to be calling back ASAP...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I inquired about how the TSB could effect the alignment when they did mine, and they told me it was FCA's guideline so they had to to it.

REALLY?? It's not in the TSB at all.
I wonder where they got that from?
If there's another bulletin or notice from FCA - that's good. It's just not in the original TSB.
I'll have to look to see if there's been an amended version.

Of course when we say alignment, there's only two things they can change - toe and steering wheel centering. Nothing else can be changed, only checked. So technically, they are checking toe and steering wheel.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thank you for posting. I just realized that my dealership put in the steering gear for a JL Wrangler! (part # 68507569AA). I would expect there to be a difference, am I correct? If so, I'm going to be calling back ASAP...

YES - the TSB lists three distinct steering gear! One for the 4 door JL, one for the 2 door JL and another only for the JT.
You've seen this TSB - look at page two - very specific.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/attachments/tsb-08-074-20-pdf-356442-pdf.95902/


Qty. Part No. Description
1 (AR) 68507569AA Gear, Steering - Four Door, Left Hand Drive (JL)
1 (AR) 68507571AA Gear, Steering - Two Door, Left Hand Drive (JL)
1 (AR) 68507576AA Gear, Steering - Left Hand Drive (JT)

 

[Tire Guy]

They did an alignment? The steering gear swap won't impact that - so it was off to begin with. The steering wheel centering is so simple it takes minutes to do - surprised any JT is leaving a shop with that off-center.
IF it's off after the steering gear swap - that means something was amiss as far as toe or steering wheel centering before the swap. It's a like-for-like swap so the pitman ends up in the same spot - unless the steering gear was messed with as far as the over-center adjustment, etc.

In short -an alignment isn't required for the steering gear change - any shop doing such is doing so on their own, or being asked by the customer. They don't get reimbursed for it by FCA as it's not included in the TSB - because there's no need.

Mine was spot-on as far as steering wheel centering when I got it back - and rightly so, the fix doesn't impact it at all. No alignment was done.

My alignment was perfect before the gear install. Had it done twice in the last year. Once by the dealer when I had it in for wandering and once by a local shop that I trust. Not sure why they did an alignment, but the top of the steering wheel was at 2 o'clock before I fixed it this morning.

I had both the wandering problem and a huge amount of play in the steering. Before I installed the synergy brace it was hard to drive straight.

 

[CMFINC]

Like others.. NO FLUID AT ALL IN REZ.. WTF is this a dealer service over look,, they wanted to know what i though.. ill be on the phone tuesday..

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My alignment was perfect before the gear install. Had it done twice in the last year. Once by the dealer when I had it in for wandering and once by a local shop that I trust. Not sure why they did an alignment, but the top of the steering wheel was at 2 o'clock before I fixed it this morning.

I had both the wandering problem and a huge amount of play in the steering. Before I installed the synergy brace it was hard to drive straight.

WOW, yours had it bad. the play alone could help explain your steering wheel being off. But the dealership should have noticed the wheel being off center just parking the darned thing.
IMO, it's a given they should make sure it's straight.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Like others.. NO FLUID AT ALL IN REZ.. WTF is this a dealer service over look,, they wanted to know what i though.. ill be on the phone tuesday..

That's just so crazy anyone would replace anything hydraulic, and these ARE hydraulic in that there's fluid, pressure and flow - and not run it through it's paces and triple check the fluid - and let it sit and check it again.
I think I'll check mine again today since it has sat since last evening.

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