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

[Scrubb84]

Direct from Mopar to a steering specialty company that rebuilds all shapes and sizes of steering boxes, racks, etc.

I shipped this company 3 of our steering boxes directly from mopar over the past year. One aluminum box (68418449AE) and 2 steel boxes (68507576AB) to see what could be done & what the actual problems were internally.
The following are all direct quotes from them...

* The ball sizing in the worm-gear needs to be upsized to get the proper fitment for NO play
* The preload on the valving is incorrect
* The valve is misbalanced
* The bearing preload is incorrect on the gear, the adjustment cap for the valving wasn’t properly staked causing damage to the threads
* Since we have done yours, I had another guy send one directly from mopar parts. His was even worse, we had to send it back because there was nothing we could do to fix it.

All of those were the same for All 3 boxes, and here is an added bonus they found inside the current box they just opened up from mopar...

* What are these ppl thinking when they build these? There is loctite everywhere on this one, to the point we had to clean all the bores out because of it getting inside the housing. It would have done some pretty bad damage to your pump - DIRECTLY FROM MOPAR!!!

I still have the video of them putting the hydro to the first box they received from me (direct from mopar) before they did anything else.
It shows the horrendous dead zone and once you stopped turning the input shaft (steering wheel) it would move the pitman arm to the right 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch with ZERO input. They sortof jumped back so it’s clear as day (with nobody touching it) the valving issues causes it to essentially turn slightly to the right ALL BY ITSELF!!!

I’m not saying all the boxes are like this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you guys have a strange left pull at times too. I do keep hearing about the right pulls tho.

I’ve mentioned all of this many times throughout the steering threads, but I figure more of you will pay attention if I stop being an Ahole about it. Can you blame me tho? This is what I have been dealing with since the day I drove this overpriced great looking POS home.

Things will only get worse as time goes on with FCA and whoever they sell to/buy from.

Be nice if someone with morals and values was able to buy JEEP brand and produce a quality vehicle. If not, I don’t think they will last another year building shit like this. IMO.

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[MoparMadness]

I

Direct from Mopar to a steering specialty company that rebuilds all shapes and sizes of steering boxes, racks, etc.

I shipped this company 3 of our steering boxes directly from mopar over the past year. One aluminum box (68418449AE) and 2 steel boxes (68507576AB) to see what could be done & what the actual problems were internally.
The following are all direct quotes from them...

* The ball sizing in the worm-gear needs to be upsized to get the proper fitment for NO play
* The preload on the valving is incorrect
* The valve is misbalanced
* The bearing preload is incorrect on the gear, the adjustment cap for the valving wasn’t properly staked causing damage to the threads
* Since we have done yours, I had another guy send one directly from mopar parts. His was even worse, we had to send it back because there was nothing we could do to fix it.

All of those were the same for All 3 boxes, and here is an added bonus they found inside the current box they just opened up from mopar...

* What are these ppl thinking when they build these? There is loctite everywhere on this one, to the point we had to clean all the bores out because of it getting inside the housing. It would have done some pretty bad damage to your pump - DIRECTLY FROM MOPAR!!!

I still have the video of them putting the hydro to the first box they received from me (direct from mopar) before they did anything else.
It shows the horrendous dead zone and once you stopped turning the input shaft (steering wheel) it would move the pitman arm to the right 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch with ZERO input. They sortof jumped back so it’s clear as day (with nobody touching it) the valving issues causes it to essentially turn slightly to the right ALL BY ITSELF!!!

I’m not saying all the boxes are like this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you guys have a strange left pull at times too. I do keep hearing about the right pulls tho.

I’ve mentioned all of this many times throughout the steering threads, but I figure more of you will pay attention if I stop being an Ahole about it. Can you blame me tho? This is what I have been dealing with since the day I drove this overpriced great looking POS home.

Things will only get worse as time goes on with FCA and whoever they sell to/buy from.

Be nice if someone with morals and values was able to buy JEEP brand and produce a quality vehicle. If not, I don’t think they will last another year building shit like this. IMO.

Interesting you mention a strange left pull. I think my second box pulls left a little when engine rpms are high. I am still evaluating it but it feels like it and goes away once rpms drop.

 

[Mouse]

Hopefully PSC builds a whole new box as they did for the JK. I'm doing fine with the replacement box, but if it acts up, I'll look to the aftermarket to resolve it.

 

[93civej1]

I’ve mentioned all of this many times throughout the steering threads, but I figure more of you will pay attention if I stop being an Ahole about it. Can you blame me tho? This is what I have been dealing with since the day I drove this overpriced great looking POS home.

I am thankful you posted up that info you just did, but even though we are paying attention to what you said, what good does that do us who are in the hands of FCA and the dealerships? Not much. The majority of us are just consumers with no say, though we can try out best to be heard.

 

[Scrubb84]

Hopefully PSC builds a whole new box as they did for the JK. I'm doing fine with the replacement box, but if it acts up, I'll look to the aftermarket to resolve it.

I’ve also been told that the PSC boxes are made in the exact same plant overseas that our garbage boxes (mopar) are made.
I’m not saying anything good or bad about that, yet. Just stating what I was told. Might be false info. Or maybe on the PSC production line, they pay enough for the product so the employees are able to have feeler gauges and such. Seriously.

 

[Scrubb84]

I am thankful you posted up that info you just did, but even though we are paying attention to what you said, what good does that do us who are in the hands of FCA and the dealerships? Not much. The majority of us are just consumers with no say, though we can try out best to be heard.

Very good point.
I can not detail the problem any further. I think I’m as deep as anyone (even shadowspapa) can get to the actual root of the problem. The best everyone can do now is share that info everywhere and see if one of the crooks at FCA will step-up and get it fixed-? Fat chance, I know.
I don’t have any social media besides this great forum. Maybe someone will share it on the fb groups & other sites.
It seems like a hard ask tho, because most ppl don’t give a chit about what is said unless there’s a video attached. And I’m not sure I can post it yet...legal stuff.

 

[JeepCares]

Hi Kate, i have sent 2 messages. Just sent my most recent:



Ok, so they just came back and are trying to tell me all is in spec and all looks good and that is has to be road crown or the 34.5 tires. That is not true, because this did not start until Friday after the new gear was installed.
I told them everything was fine on Friday before the new gear, there was no sign of pull. Just only a hair wonder / looseness in steering. Now its a constant right pull fight.

At first they told me sorry, not much else they can do. I would be ok with that, but it didnt start until the TSB update for steering.
I did go back in to the office and tell them I dont agree. They are asking me to bring it in on Tuesday 7/13 in the morning to have one of the "best guys" look at it. To quote "if he thinks its tires, then its tires". Not true, it didnt do that before friday. So does this also means that their other techs are subpar?

The dealer has been great so far, i just dont agree with their answer now after looking at this the 3rd time since 7/2. The 2 people that drove it agree that is has a pull.

I answered you there, thanks.

Kate
Jeep Cares

 

[seven30]

Direct from Mopar to a steering specialty company that rebuilds all shapes and sizes of steering boxes, racks, etc.

I shipped this company 3 of our steering boxes directly from mopar over the past year. One aluminum box (68418449AE) and 2 steel boxes (68507576AB) to see what could be done & what the actual problems were internally.
The following are all direct quotes from them...

* The ball sizing in the worm-gear needs to be upsized to get the proper fitment for NO play
* The preload on the valving is incorrect
* The valve is misbalanced
* The bearing preload is incorrect on the gear, the adjustment cap for the valving wasn’t properly staked causing damage to the threads
* Since we have done yours, I had another guy send one directly from mopar parts. His was even worse, we had to send it back because there was nothing we could do to fix it.

All of those were the same for All 3 boxes, and here is an added bonus they found inside the current box they just opened up from mopar...

* What are these ppl thinking when they build these? There is loctite everywhere on this one, to the point we had to clean all the bores out because of it getting inside the housing. It would have done some pretty bad damage to your pump - DIRECTLY FROM MOPAR!!!

I still have the video of them putting the hydro to the first box they received from me (direct from mopar) before they did anything else.
It shows the horrendous dead zone and once you stopped turning the input shaft (steering wheel) it would move the pitman arm to the right 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch with ZERO input. They sortof jumped back so it’s clear as day (with nobody touching it) the valving issues causes it to essentially turn slightly to the right ALL BY ITSELF!!!

I’m not saying all the boxes are like this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you guys have a strange left pull at times too. I do keep hearing about the right pulls tho.

I’ve mentioned all of this many times throughout the steering threads, but I figure more of you will pay attention if I stop being an Ahole about it. Can you blame me tho? This is what I have been dealing with since the day I drove this overpriced great looking POS home.

Things will only get worse as time goes on with FCA and whoever they sell to/buy from.

Be nice if someone with morals and values was able to buy JEEP brand and produce a quality vehicle. If not, I don’t think they will last another year building shit like this. IMO.

Are these boxes all from your JT? Or are these old ones that were swapped out?

 

[T8T]

Does anyone else’s do this?
Had the TSB done in October 20. It’s been back 2 times since then… one oil change and another to address the pulling to the right… and well a hissing noise coming from the steering column. They couldn’t reproduce the hissing noise. “ because they weren’t smart enough o have the engine running when trying to reproduce. So the just replaced the drag link instead.
when I picked it up from service and had to show them the noise ….. “oh yeah, I hear it now” when can we get you back in?
so I am on a waiting list…. For a loaner car.
This is really frustrating….

 

[Scrubb84]

Are these boxes all from your JT? Or are these old ones that were swapped out?

These 3 boxes I talked about were purchased from mopar and shipped directly to the steering shop out of my pocket. I also had 3 boxes replaced under warranty, but they kept those boxes for a core charge.
How much you wanna bet that the latest box is a returned garbage box that mopar put a new sticker on and called it new? That could explain the massive amount of loctite found leaking into the box core. That’s just a suspicion I have.

 

[Scrubb84]

Does anyone else’s do this?
Had the TSB done in October 20. It’s been back 2 times since then… one oil change and another to address the pulling to the right… and well a hissing noise coming from the steering column. They couldn’t reproduce the hissing noise. “ because they weren’t smart enough o have the engine running when trying to reproduce. So the just replaced the drag link instead.
when I picked it up from service and had to show them the noise ….. “oh yeah, I hear it now” when can we get you back in?
so I am on a waiting list…. For a loaner car.
This is really frustrating….

I have this hissing too. I don’t know what is causing it yet, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the slop in the box.

 

[93civej1]

New version just became available today. 68507576A’B’
Not that it really matters. I bet nothing has changed except for the sticker on the side of the box. Still no quality control. Still sloppy and dangerous.
They will continue to come out with “new revised boxes” every so often to make it seem like they are trying to fix the problem. In reality they simply don’t want to spend the money to actually have the unethical manufacturing process fixed.
IMO

This is the part number I have that I am having a right pull with.

 

[93civej1]

IMHO, it is not a matter of "if" but a matter of "when" a problem would arise for these aluminum box. I would advise any owner before they get out of warranty to get it replaced under warranty with the improved steel steering box. Since the whole TSB is reliant on the customer making the claim, it is a no brainer in my opinion to get it done.

I did this, and am sad I did. I held off for a good while because I wasnt worried about it, and well mentioned the TSB to my service dept, and no issue, they just auto ordered the parts and scheduled me. Currently I miss my aluminum gear and wish I never said OK to doing the TSB.

 

[93civej1]

Mine started pulling right after the new box. I am on the second one and it seems ok but need to drive it a few more miles before I can be sure.

So how is your 2nd box feeling??

 

[MoparMadness]

So how is your 2nd box feeling??

I noticed when I am stopped and turn left slowly, there is a position where it jumps and you feel the steering wheel jolt slightly. I think this is the same area that causes a sensation of a left pull when driving. Almost like the wheel should straighten out after lane change but doesn’t and feels like its pulling left. I am going to bring it back in to the dealer and show the service manager. In general, its better than the last steering box as the right pull was pretty hard but its not yet correct.

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