Play In Steering

[Smess]

My 2021 Mojave was not fun on the drive home from the dealer wandering all over the lane and dropping the tire pressure to about 34psi helped a lot. But on the fwy in the right lanes where big trucks have made ruts it still wanders around more than I would like so I did the steering box adjustment and that reduced most of the play and its much better.

I just installed a Fox steering stabalizer and have not been on the fwy yet but it feels like another bump in the right direction. I plan on re-torqueing most of the steering component bolts and if its still a problem on the fwy after that I will visit my local alignment shop and have a conversation.

Can you be specific about what you did to the steering box?

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[Mac]

But all that for a brand new vehicle……

Agreed but the Mojave sits higher than other JT models but uses the same lower control arms so it has less caster from the factory.

 

[calicorks]

I drove 3 Gladiators on the day I bought mine. One, had the steering you described and the other two were straight, All Rubicon’s. It’s important to test drive more than 1 if your going to buy a JT to ensure your getting the “good one”.

 

[Radio Guy]

Here’s the play. I was stopped when I took this but it’s the same when I’m driving. That much play and no wheel movement

Can you be specific about what you did to the steering box?

After measuring roughly how much the steering wheel moved before causing the front wheels to move I loosened the lock nut on the top of the steering box, tightened the hex screw about 1/8 of a turn then tightened the lock nut back to its starting position. The took the roughly +- 3 inches of steering wheel movement needed to affect the front wheels to less than 1" of movement needed to do the same. The results are a much more positive feel of the road and less wandering.

Here is a video explaining the process.

 

[SC Doberman]

Just dropped it off at the dealership to have them look at the steering. I thought it was interesting that the first question he asked was “What kind of vehicle did you drive before?”. I thought here come the excuses. I let him know I’ve been riding on mud terrain tires for over 25 years. We’ll see what they say.

 

[SC Doberman]

Well here’s the diagnosis. If it’s true, then it’s a little concerning having components not torqued correctly from the factory. But even with that, the problem still exists…..

 

[Trickster]

Well here’s the diagnosis. If it’s true, then it’s a little concerning having components not torqued correctly from the factory. But even with that, the problem still exists…..

Did you ask if the tech road tested before AND after?
Get it on an alignment rack, go from there.

 

[Renegade]

Well here’s the diagnosis. If it’s true, then it’s a little concerning having components not torqued correctly from the factory. But even with that, the problem still exists…..

Unfortunately, that has been discovered on quite a few JLs and JTs.

 

[Radio Guy]

So if something has become "out of position" due to insufficient torque at the factory, then it sounds like its moot for the customer to go over his truck and torque everything to spec since we probably can't measure what might be out of position.

 

[Renegade]

So if something has become "out of position" due to insufficient torque at the factory, then it sounds like its moot for the customer to go over his truck and torque everything to spec since we probably can't measure what might be out of position.

The ball joints aren’t really “positioned”, they’re just pressed in there. You can tighten the castle nut, replace the cottter pin, and move on.

 

[SC Doberman]

Did you ask if the tech road tested before AND after?
Get it on an alignment rack, go from there.

They claim they did

 

[Trickster]

They claim they did

Next dealer! Get that rig on a alignment rack and get some data.
Actual numbers vs factory recommended.

 

[Renegade]

Next dealer! Get that rig on a alignment rack and get some data.
Actual numbers vs factory recommended.

It may just need the sector shaft preload screw adjustment. I developed some play in my new steel box, and the adjustment did the trick. Jeep steering boxes have pretty much always been this way to some extent.

 

[SC Doberman]

Next dealer! Get that rig on a alignment rack and get some data.
Actual numbers vs factory recommended.

Talked to another dealer today. He laughed at the original dealers diagnosis. Said one has nothing to with the other. Getting an appt scheduled. We’ll see how this one goes.

 

[JeepCares]

I have the wandering problem with my 21 Rubicon MFG date 9/21. I find myself always correcting.
Stock tires at recommended pressure.

I apologize for my delay here, BluRubY; but wanted to see if you still needed assistance with your steering concern. If so, please send us a private message!

Kate
Jeep Cares

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