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

[ShadowsPapa]

How are we to know what’s “normal”, “correct”…

That's easy. It should steer like another small truck. It should not wander, there should not be excessive play, you should be able to drive it straight down the road and not worry that the car behind you is the highway patrol looking for drunk drivers and is going to pull you over because you can't drive a straight line.
These are more troublesome in wind, but on a calm day (hahaha, don't expect that around here) it should go straight down the highway with almost no correction from you. IF someone was watching your hands and the steering wheel it would not look like an old TV show where they are moving the wheel back and forth, back and forth.

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[SkyKing]

It still requires constant input... in my opinion. It’s hard to explain. I’m still not satisfied with the new gearbox. Sitting at a light tonight I felt the steering wheel move uncommanded. It’s done this before in my garage with wet tires, I heard them squeak on the cement.
I drove a friend‘s Rubi. It felt similar but his is also a 2020 with 10,800 miles. Don’t know what’s correct or not.
I need to reread this entire post and search for symptoms that fit my situation.
As my friend and I discussed the situation we mentioned the Jeep axle. Why would a “straight” axle impact how the truck drove in a straight trajectory? I have no idea.
I’ve read that some owners have had more than one gearbox installed. I’m considering asking to drive a 2022 from the lot. Maybe that will provide some insight.
Repair invoice does not mention software update.
To top it all off… the scratched the crap out of both fenders and I can see a line on the hood where they let it lay up against the Top of the windshield frame… and left my right front valve stem off after servicing the tires… clown show…

 

[ShadowsPapa]

As my friend and I discussed the situation we mentioned the Jeep axle. Why would a “straight” axle impact how the truck drove in a straight trajectory? I have no idea.

It doesn't. Grand Cherokee had a straight or solid front axle up through the WJ years. They drove and rode like a dream and it was the Grand Cherokee that brought a lot of women into the Jeep fold.
Really rough roads things are different, but highways, in town, etc. - no difference.

 

[Scrubb84]

It still requires constant input... in my opinion. It’s hard to explain. I’m still not satisfied with the new gearbox. Sitting at a light tonight I felt the steering wheel move uncommanded. It’s done this before in my garage with wet tires, I heard them squeak on the cement.
I drove a friend‘s Rubi. It felt similar but his is also a 2020 with 10,800 miles. Don’t know what’s correct or not.
I need to reread this entire post and search for symptoms that fit my situation.
As my friend and I discussed the situation we mentioned the Jeep axle. Why would a “straight” axle impact how the truck drove in a straight trajectory? I have no idea.
I’ve read that some owners have had more than one gearbox installed. I’m considering asking to drive a 2022 from the lot. Maybe that will provide some insight.
Repair invoice does not mention software update.
To top it all off… the scratched the crap out of both fenders and I can see a line on the hood where they let it lay up against the Top of the windshield frame… and left my right front valve stem off after servicing the tires… clown show…

I’ve posted about this before way earlier in this thread…The internal valving on these boxes are hit or miss, some are so bad that it’s criminal straight from china (mopar). I have a video showing the box will indeed move without any input because the fluid leaks past one side or the other.

 

[SkyKing]

I’ve posted about this before way earlier in this thread…The internal valving on these boxes are hit or miss, some are so bad that it’s criminal straight from china (mopar). I have a video showing the box will indeed move without any input because the fluid leaks past one side or the other.

Appreciate the input. I’ve started reading from the beginning looking for something that will help out the situation.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

There is another NEW TSB for the steering gear issue.
This one has been changed to include NEW PITMAN NUT.
If you had your steering gear done prior to this latest TSB, I suggest the dealer owes you a new pitman nut or at least to check your current pitman nut for proper torque.

Several people have found they re-used the old nut and it was found to be loose later.
This TSB is in response to that as dealers were apparently not following protocol. This one spells it out.

From what I can tell it's the only change - new pitman nut is now part of the lit of parts needed.

 

[seven30]

There is another NEW TSB for the steering gear issue.
This one has been changed to include NEW PITMAN NUT.
If you had your steering gear done prior to this latest TSB, I suggest the dealer owes you a new pitman nut or at least to check your current pitman nut for proper torque.

Several people have found they re-used the old nut and it was found to be loose later.
This TSB is in response to that as dealers were apparently not following protocol. This one spells it out.

From what I can tell it's the only change - new pitman nut is now part of the lit of parts needed.

Anyone know if the JT actually has an electric steering pump?

 

[SkyKing]

The clown show continues.

I’m considering the PCS mod to add sanity to this situation.

https://www.pscmotorsports.com/psc-sk551.html

The “new” gearbox is a joke. This is so disappointing.
I need to find a different dealership because I don’t trust the one that installed the “updated” gearbox

 

[SkyKing]

Anyone know if the JT actually has an electric steering pump?

https://www.pscmotorsports.com/psc-sk551.html

 

[Hootbro]

Anyone know if the JT actually has an electric steering pump?

JT has a OEM electric steering pump

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Anyone know if the JT actually has an electric steering pump?

Like Hootbro says - yes - the term "EHPS" is a giveaway = Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering.

The clown show continues.

I’m considering the PCS mod to add sanity to this situation.

https://www.pscmotorsports.com/psc-sk551.html

The “new” gearbox is a joke. This is so disappointing.
I need to find a different dealership because I don’t trust the one that installed the “updated” gearbox

It may have taken a second time for mine but the second steering gear is just fine.
I would not have taken it up over 90 mph, nor driven around Colorado and Colorado springs if I had any qualms about my steering. It's stable, no play. I'm sitting at minimal caster (about 4.5 as I recall) but it's still what I'd call ok - I am going to install the longer lower control arms to get caster into the 5s but I'm in no hurry since it does so bloody well.

This latest TSB simply ensures that dealers do what should have been done - new pitman nut. The problem is, with the prior TSB that part wasn't covered under warranty so if a dealer had replace it, it was on them.
There are NO OTHER changes to the TSB - don't take it as "clown show continues" - it's not saying there was any other problem or that prior TSBs were technically wrong - all it does is add the pitman nut to the list of parts approved and required for the fix. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing different.

Again, mine has been all over, including extreme winds, high speeds, mountain driving, switchbacks, snow and ice, and the steering is fine. It handles as well as anything I've ever had as non-rack and pinion steering and other trucks. It's a heck of a lot better than my F250 was.

 

[Hootbro]

FWIW, a new in package pitman arm nut comes with thread locker pre-applied on the threads.

Lack of the TSB instructions telling the tech to reuse the nut and reapply new thread locker tells me the pitman arm nut probably is intended as a one time use item.

 

[SkyKing]

Like Hootbro says - yes - the term "EHPS" is a giveaway = Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering.



It may have taken a second time for mine but the second steering gear is just fine.
I would not have taken it up over 90 mph, nor driven around Colorado and Colorado springs if I had any qualms about my steering. It's stable, no play. I'm sitting at minimal caster (about 4.5 as I recall) but it's still what I'd call ok - I am going to install the longer lower control arms to get caster into the 5s but I'm in no hurry since it does so bloody well.

This latest TSB simply ensures that dealers do what should have been done - new pitman nut. The problem is, with the prior TSB that part wasn't covered under warranty so if a dealer had replace it, it was on them.
There are NO OTHER changes to the TSB - don't take it as "clown show continues" - it's not saying there was any other problem or that prior TSBs were technically wrong - all it does is add the pitman nut to the list of parts approved and required for the fix. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing different.

Again, mine has been all over, including extreme winds, high speeds, mountain driving, switchbacks, snow and ice, and the steering is fine. It handles as well as anything I've ever had as non-rack and pinion steering and other trucks. It's a heck of a lot better than my F250 was.

When I say Clown Show I’m referring to the dealership I, unfortunately, selected….
Not going back but it’s bad image for the Jeep brand.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

FWIW, a new in package pitman arm nut comes with thread locker pre-applied on the threads.

Lack of the TSB instructions telling the tech to reuse the nut and reapply new thread locker tells me the pitman arm nut probably is intended as a one time use item.

Yes, it is.

"In the old days" instructions were to apply locker (such as a LocTite product) and stake the thread at the bottom edge of the nut after installing and torqueing the nut.

IMO, dealers would have, or should have known that - especially if they did as the TSBs often say "refer to procedure xxxx..........." but then if they hurry and don't want to eat the cost of the nut....

When I say Clown Show I’m referring to the dealership I, unfortunately, selected….

Ah, I misinterpreted that. Got it. Yeah, there are dealerships like that for sure.
Sometimes the sale is good the shop is crap, sometimes the sales people are jerks and the shop is pretty good, sometimes both are crap, sometimes both are good - the latter appears to be rare.

 

[Toyfrog]

Ok so my 2021 Mojave is stock other than 315/70/17 & some Method 17x8.5 with zero offset wheels. I took it to a local dealership, not the one I ordered it from though. They said that yeah it wonders some, but there is nothing they can do about it. I don’t think they put it on an alignment machine because this was done in a little over an hour and that was with an oil change. They just basically said live with it and said that nothing can be done it it and gave me this?

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