2022 gladiator death wobble

[Buckeye Jeeper]

I love you’re thinking about the cold, same thoughts here from me. Yes I know offset is a lot but a friend is running the exact same set up with probably 40k miles on it now and has wheeled the heck out of it with no problem this far. Yes pitman arm but has been checked as well as everything else. Apex steering is all brand new as well as the Fox stabilizer. I do have a steer smarts sector shaft brace on order. I do not like the amount of flex I’m seeing in my steering box. It’s supposed to be here this coming week. Shop said they really hated to adjust the caster passed the 5.6 they have it at now but....

Factory tie rod ends before the Apex install was just slight rocking side to side. No up and down

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[Buckeye Jeeper]

Add Geometry correction brackets. They really don't hang down any lower than neighboring components, AND they improve your off-road comfort. ?

Geometry is spot on with the Clayton adjustable track bar as the shop did check it also. And it’s been great until now all of a sudden.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I just went through this after installing 37s and mine ended up being a unique issue with my fox steering stabilizer. It had a spot where there was absolutely no resistance and then the last 25% of the piston wouldn’t compress at all. My dw went away after completely removing the stabilizer. I ran without one for about a week until fox sent a replacement.

Most are going to say one of the following:
- add geometry correction brackets (these are worthless if you off-road)
- add a sh!t ton of camber( I think 4-6 is spec)
- air down to 25psi
- get another alignment and have your tires re-balanced
- buy a track bar
- don’t run wheels with negative offset they’re the devil

Good luck

I run geo brackets on my JT and had them on my JKU and have never had a issue with them. If you know what your doing and pick the right lines Geo brackets are fine. Just saying, I haven't wheeled my JT much but the JKU saw the trails at least 3 to 5 times a month. Climbed Daniel in Uwharrie more times than I can count with Geo brackets And never damaged them or had trouble.

 

[Lunentucker]

Geometry is spot on with the Clayton adjustable track bar as the shop did check it also. And it’s been great until now all of a sudden.

That's not the geometry that they correct.

 

[IanNubbit]

Factory tie rod ends before the Apex install was just slight rocking side to side. No up and down

Side to side like the shaft of the ball joint was moving in the knuckle? Or the bar would move slightly rotationally? If the shaftwas moving in knuckle, the knuckle would be junk in my opinion. Hard to tell without seeing it though

 

[Buckeye Jeeper]

Also, if you have a garage and level floor, get someone to move the steering back and forth while you watch components for movement, slop, and flex. In park.

Absolutely I understand, I have done that for sure, had my wife move the steering wheel for me. Can’t find anything other than the deflection in the steering box. I’ve checked the ball joints with a bar under the tires as well as the shop also.

 

[Buckeye Jeeper]

Side to side like the shaft of the ball joint was moving in the knuckle? Or the bar would move slightly rotationally? If the shaftwas moving in knuckle, the knuckle would be junk in my opinion. Hard to tell without seeing it though

Just on the rod ends, no movement in the shafts going into the knuckles.

 

[Buckeye Jeeper]

That's not the geometry that they correct.

I’ll definitely look into it more but it has been great until now ?‍. It’s really had us all confused and aggravated lol

 

[Buckeye Jeeper]

So caster is good, im guessing the lift comes with correction brackets or changed the arm mounts. You did the damper good, you've changed all tierods and the front trackbar. Definitely toe in slightly. You can do that at home. Just go in like half to one rotation on the adjuster. That alone could do it, but doubtful, its very strange that it only happens below 50. Normally its always over 60 so this is certainly not the “normal” issues. Might sound crazy but im thinking maybe power steering related, these ESP systems arent very good for heavy rigs. Does your friend with an identical set uo have something like a PSC assist system or is he running stock steering?

He is still all factory, no assist on steering. The Clayton kit came with all 8 adjustable control arms so there was no need for correction brackets on the caster.

 

[IanNubbit]

Just on the rod ends, no movement in the shafts going into the knuckles.

You said you knew someone with an identical set up. Do they have PSC ram assist steering or is it totally stock?

 

[Buckeye Jeeper]

Are you toed in just a little like 1/8 of an inch?

They have them at dead 0

 

[Buckeye Jeeper]

You said you knew someone with an identical set up. Do they have PSC ram assist steering or is it totally stock?

No he doesn’t, still factory.

 

[Lunentucker]

If I am reading correctly, this is the first winter (cold weather) on the setup. You're in Ohio, so you get cold.
If the rig was just on the edge of wobble before the cold then the cold could've done just enough to push it past that point.
Even if it was just making the tires harder and stiffer.
I still think I would roll the caster to 6.5 and try it. It's an easy enough try and easy enough to put back.

 

[Buckeye Jeeper]

That's not the geometry that they correct.

Sorry I misunderstood your original comment. It does make sense, but is it the fix with it being great until now ?

 

[Buckeye Jeeper]

If I am reading correctly, this is the first winter (cold weather) on the setup. You're in Ohio, so you get cold.
If the rig was just on the edge of wobble before the cold then the cold could've done just enough to push it past that point.
Even if it was just making the tires harder and stiffer.
I still think I would roll the caster to 6.5 and try it. It's an easy enough try and easy enough to put back.

Correct, this is the first winter for the truck. I’ve read a lot of places and supposedly steer smarts has even proved it takes 6.5 caster to fix it in the gladiator. So when they install the sector shaft brace I’m gonna have them set it at 6.5 to see if it goes away. I had so many say change the tires, but they’re still almost brand new.

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