Ineligible for TSB because of Mopar lift...

[sirsamuel764]

WOOO HOOO! officially got a dealership to order the new steering gear for me.

Now the next question is exactly what y'all brought up above: Are they gonna charge me extra if I buy the fox steering stabilizer and a new track bar and install them on my own? They quoted me $895 to install a track bar

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[ShadowsPapa]

Just dropped the truck off at Grapevine Jeep Chrysler Dodge this morning at 7:00. We will see how it goes. If they refuse to realize there is a problem, then I have decided plan #4 is to call the dealership I bought the truck from in Lubbock. I am hoping that they will have mercy on me and just order the dang part after I tell them the story. My mother-in-law works with the dealership and the GM is a good friend, so I am hoping they will help me get this done without having to drive all the way there for an initial appointment.

That sounds like a decent plan. Just factually explain the stuff going on and ask for their help.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

WOOO HOOO! officially got a dealership to order the new steering gear for me.

Now the next question is exactly what y'all brought up above: Are they gonna charge me extra if I buy the fox steering stabilizer and a new track bar and install them on my own? They quoted me $895 to install a track bar

WAIT on installing the other stuff. Once they are done with it, YOU can install the track bar, etc.
Why risk it when you really aren't going to gain anything yet until they are done.
That price is crazy for the track bar unless it includes the part as it's less than an hour work - of course they'd have to re-center the steering wheel, but that's easy, too.
Frankly, I'd not tempt fate - I'd wait on the other parts. Let them work on it first.
Just my opinion - to avoid a fuss that isn't necessary.

 

[BuckSawLilandtheGoose]

WOOO HOOO! officially got a dealership to order the new steering gear for me.

Now the next question is exactly what y'all brought up above: Are they gonna charge me extra if I buy the fox steering stabilizer and a new track bar and install them on my own? They quoted me $895 to install a track bar

You can install the track bar and steering stabilizer in about 20min. $895 is ludicrous.

 

[sirsamuel764]

You can install the track bar and steering stabilizer in about 20min. $895 is ludicrous.

Yup, my thoughts exactly. I have the stabilizer on order and I will install that for the time being. It looks like two bolts, so even if they give me a hard time about "aftermarket parts" I can swap it back out with the factory one in no time.

 

[Eric Kern]

So just a quick question for everyone with the “steering issue”, and I’m not trying to be an a**hole, but didn’t you drive the truck before you bought It? Or is this something that degraded over time? I feel like I’ve read quite a few posts with folks saying “I’ve only had my truck a month....my steering....”. My curiosity revolves around the fact that i have an LE, so I definitely have the aluminum box, but It drives just like my TJ, which drives just like my JKU....

 

[BuckSawLilandtheGoose]

So just a quick question for everyone with the “steering issue”, and I’m not trying to be an a**hole, but didn’t you drive the truck before you bought It? Or is this something that degraded over time? I feel like I’ve read quite a few posts with folks saying “I’ve only had my truck a month....my steering....”. My curiosity revolves around the fact that i have an LE, so I definitely have the aluminum box, but It drives just like my TJ, which drives just like my JKU....

I bought mine over the phone 800 miles away. Fly in took an Uber to the dealer and drove 800 miles home.

 

[sirsamuel764]

So just a quick question for everyone with the “steering issue”, and I’m not trying to be an a**hole, but didn’t you drive the truck before you bought It? Or is this something that degraded over time? I feel like I’ve read quite a few posts with folks saying “I’ve only had my truck a month....my steering....”. My curiosity revolves around the fact that i have an LE, so I definitely have the aluminum box, but It drives just like my TJ, which drives just like my JKU....

That is a fair question. I test drove 3 or 4 different gladiators. I knew this would be a problem but the TSB was already out. The one that I bought was the best driving of the bunch. But I also didn't drive it long distances. It bothers me most on long distance drives and it really bothers my wife (so much so that she won't drive it). The wife also didn't test drive it. But it's one of those things that once she pointed it out it started to drive me crazy driving it. We've both driven jeeps but the way she put it: "this isn't just a Jeep thing, this is more unstable than jeeps usually drive... Even with all the Jeep things."

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So just a quick question for everyone with the “steering issue”, and I’m not trying to be an a**hole, but didn’t you drive the truck before you bought It? Or is this something that degraded over time? I feel like I’ve read quite a few posts with folks saying “I’ve only had my truck a month....my steering....”. My curiosity revolves around the fact that i have an LE, so I definitely have the aluminum box, but It drives just like my TJ, which drives just like my JKU....

I assume you have seen how many times this has been asked - and answered?...........

Many bought from afar, of course. In my case yes, I test drove one and then ordered one, and picked it up late in the evening, the drive home in heavy commute traffic.

Situations making this all worse -
* Jeep people on this VERY FORUM and other Jeep forums insisting "you do NOT have a steering issue, it's a JEEP THING, get over it" (how often was that thrown in our faces and were some yelled at over it?)
Being told - It's not loose steering, let the air out of your tires, there, it's fixed!
Or being told - You need a brace and other Jeep stuff, you don't have steering issues....
People were pushed back at for months, almost shamed into no longer talking of steering issues - and that from JEEP people.

I suspect I was among the few pushing back against that BS (because I've worked on vehicles of all sorts for decades and worked with some privately on the side) - insisting there is ZERO reason for a straight axle vehicle to be like some were seeing - and I was smacked several times for my support of those talking of steering issues.

* Then you have the fact that this manifested itself differently under different conditions for different people, some had it worse, some not so bad. For some it pulled, for some it was more of a "wander" - for me it took my wife suggesting "man this thing really wanders" and saying "why can't you keep it in the middle between the lines".
For some it took passing or being passed by a big semi trailer, for others the open road on a straight smooth highway, and so on.

 

[Eric Kern]

Gotcha, and again wasn’t trying to be a dick, just confused as to how many are having a problem with this....but just some things to consider from my personal experiences....For me, It doesn’t feel any looser than any other Wrangler I’ve owned, maybe I got lucky and haven’t experienced the problem I don’t know. While I was getting my back window fixed, had a brand new Cherokee rental and literally thought, “the steering on this is so tight, I feel like any small correction and I’m going to roll this thing”( that was 3 days ago)....

Another interesting thing, my brothers wife has been wanting to get a wrangler for quite a while (drives a Durango RT currently). She’s into the JK 2 doors, took a 2012 for a ride, immediately texted me and asked me how “soft”the steering is supposed to be (made me laugh, told her about the gladiator forum “issue”),last week she took a 2016 for a ride, same exact thing....finally I recorded myself driving down the street and “wiggled” my wheel back and forth (which is not really different than any other wrangler I’ve owned) and sent her the video...her response “yes that’s exactly what it’s like, I hate this, It feels dangerous”.

So now to me, the ultra tight steering on the Cherokee felt dangerous, but I’ve been driving a wrangler in one form or another for 15 years, and that’s the first wrangler she’s ever driven, so Itwas a major difference to what she is used to. I have to wonder, and I’m not saying there isn’t a problem, but the JTs caused a lot of folks, who previously had no interest in jeeps/wranglers, to buy a jeep, do they just not like what a jeep feels like?!?!?!

 

[jurfie]

Another interesting thing, my brothers wife has been wanting to get a wrangler for quite a while (drives a Durango RT currently). She’s into the JK 2 doors, took a 2012 for a ride, immediately texted me and asked me how “soft”the steering is supposed to be (made me laugh, told her about the gladiator forum “issue”),last week she took a 2016 for a ride, same exact thing....finally I recorded myself driving down the street and “wiggled” my wheel back and forth (which is not really different than any other wrangler I’ve owned) and sent her the video...her response “yes that’s exactly what it’s like, I hate this, It feels dangerous”.

Weird. I have both a '14 JK 2-door and a '16 Audi A5 that I go between depending on mood; I've never felt the JK was "dangerous". Of course the A5 feels tighter and more planted, but it's a very different vehicle from the Jeep. I did feel it wandered a bit on the highway during the test drive, but that was more due to the stock KM2s on the Rubicon.*

(*NOTE: I'm not saying the JT with the aluminum box doesn't have issues with steering, just that I've never thought the steering on a JK was "soft").

 

[Gladiator8258]

Wanted to entitle this post "ineligible for tsb because of mopar lift, or complete incompetence by stealership." I took my jeep to the stealership today to get it checked out for the TSB. I drove it back from west texas this weekend and it was unbearable to drive. White knuckle driving the entire trip. Every bump at 60+ felt like I was going to swerve into the other lane.

When I took it to the stealership the suit at the desk told me that he checked out my problem and that he recommends a track bar and a steering stabilizer (which I intend to do down the road, but I am not placing a bandaid over jeep's broken leg). He told me that the only problem with the steering is that I have 35s and only a mopar lift. I asked him several times why the mopar lift doesnt come with these components if these are potential problems. He had no answer. I walked to the parts desk and asked the parts guy if this was a potential problem (I approached him as if I were a prospective customer). He thought it was a ridiculous question and of course you shouldn't compromise drivability by installing a mopar lift kit and the 35 inch tires which the kit states it is capable of running. So these two gentlemen were on completely different pages.

I went back and talked to the suit behind the desk about the TSB. I asked him if the steering box in my truck is steel or aluminum. He stated that the TSB states that the steel and aluminum parts are for different vehicles. My gladiator doesn't have such a part available, according to suit.

Quite frankly, I have no idea what is going on with Huffines if DFW. I am pretty forlorn about the whole situation. I have wanted a jeep for a very long time and saved up to buy one, and now it is extremely unenjoyable to drive. Not only is it a very unpleasant driving experience, but the people at the dealership who are supposed to help me fix my $45k truck seem to lack the knowledge requisite to fix my problem, and the ambition necessary to at least be of some modicum of help.

What would you guys say the next step for me is? Do I take it to another stealership? Do I just buy the trackbar and steering stabilizer and install myself? Do I go trade the gladiator in and go with the Chevy Bison that I was thinking about? I really wanted my wife's next vehicle to be a grand wagoneer when they come out, but if this is how service works with Jeep then I can't imagine spending that much for an SUV. @JeepCares

Here's the paperwork:

This is exactly what I’m going through right now. I had a 2.5” ReadyLift spacer kit and 35” Nitto’s installed and the Jeep literally feels like it’s going to fall apart going over any uneven surface. Highways are a disaster. The lift and tires have nothing to do with causing the issue.

 

[sirsamuel764]

Gotcha, and again wasn’t trying to be a dick, just confused as to how many are having a problem with this....but just some things to consider from my personal experiences....For me, It doesn’t feel any looser than any other Wrangler I’ve owned, maybe I got lucky and haven’t experienced the problem I don’t know. While I was getting my back window fixed, had a brand new Cherokee rental and literally thought, “the steering on this is so tight, I feel like any small correction and I’m going to roll this thing”( that was 3 days ago)....

Yeah like i've said, 75% of the time the wander is completely manageable. But that 25% that it isn't, its unbearable, and I can understand why my wife feels unsafe driving it, especially on highways. What really made me realize that this is non-negotiable on my part was the loaner wrangler they gave me. Getting out of my truck and into a stock wrangler felt like I was driving my wife's mercedes, seriously. I don't mind a little bit of play, and I don't mind making corrections, but I really don't like feeling like at any moment I could lose control of my vehicle and it could start swerving unless I white knuckle it.

 

[RedRaptorJT]

So just a quick question for everyone with the “steering issue”, and I’m not trying to be an a**hole, but didn’t you drive the truck before you bought It? Or is this something that degraded over time? I feel like I’ve read quite a few posts with folks saying “I’ve only had my truck a month....my steering....”. My curiosity revolves around the fact that i have an LE, so I definitely have the aluminum box, but It drives just like my TJ, which drives just like my JKU....

Completely fair question. I can only share my story.

This is my first Jeep. When I first test drove a JTR, I noticed the wandering steering right away as I took it on the highway. Even the salesman made a comment of "Yeah...you have to get used to the loose steering at high speeds and on windy days" as he saw me struggle a little bit. I attributed this to being a Jeep thing and after doing some research here, I had the dealership install a Mopar/Fox steering stabilizer which helped dampened the loose/wandering steering feel.

Then this TSB came out and the majority of reviews range from "Day & Night difference" to "You definitely notice it but not significant difference". To me, this equates to the new steering box having a overall net positive effect to resolve the issue.

 

[Ravenron]

Completely fair question. I can only share my story.

This is my first Jeep. When I first test drove a JTR, I noticed the wandering steering right away as I took it on the highway. Even the salesman made a comment of "Yeah...you have to get used to the loose steering at high speeds and on windy days" as he saw me struggle a little bit. I attributed this to being a Jeep thing and after doing some research here, I had the dealership install a Mopar/Fox steering stabilizer which helped dampened the loose/wandering steering feel.

Then this TSB came out and the majority of reviews range from "Day & Night difference" to "You definitely notice it but not significant difference". To me, this equates to the new steering box having a overall net positive effect to resolve the issue.

Hey Red...just had the TSB issue fixed yesterday. Haven't driven the truck a lot (just home from dealer - ~10 miles) but the difference does appear to be "Night & Day". Wandering is gone and the steering feels heavier. Definitely a net positive effect for me and very glad I had it done! Absolute insanity for a dealer to deny this fix for anyone who owns this truck.

Glad I found a good dealer - Faricy Boys in Colorado Springs!

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