Gladiator walks when you hit bumps.

[Gvsukids]

sure thing - SP2 2.1 set on "soft", and the nexus non-adjustable stabilizer

What springs do you use with them?

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[Jeeperjamie]

I had an aftermarket steering stabilizer on mine and they still replaced it with no issues. I asked them if they wanted me to put the stock one on and I left it on the PS floorboard just in case.

I was just saying to be on the safe side. You know how some dealerships can be.

 

[Stratus109]

Hi All - This is the first jeep I have ever owned so not sure if this is normal. My jeep walks left or right when I hit a bump in the road. I feel like I have to white knuckle drive at higher highway speeds. This only becomes very noticeable at higher speeds, 70+. I have a 2020 Sport S Max Tow running 285/70R17. Is this normal? Anything I can do to lessen this? Thanks All!

Air down.

 

[willhonkforparts]

Have you ever had a coil spring solid axle rig before? Are you talking about things like expansion joints, cracks/bumps in the road surface that go all the way across? The track bars are on opposite sides front to rear, so the axles swing left and right as the suspension suspension cycles. What you're describing kinda sounds normal, especially with an unloaded bed.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Have you ever had a coil spring solid axle rig before? Are you talking about things like expansion joints, cracks/bumps in the road surface that go all the way across? The track bars are on opposite sides front to rear, so the axles swing left and right as the suspension suspension cycles. What you're describing kinda sounds normal, especially with an unloaded bed.

Mine doesn't walk left or right when I hit a bump and I don't have to white knuckle mine at any speed. They do swing but unless your lifted with bigger tires you shouldn't be getting a huge amount of feedback from the road like that. I am lift on 37's and mine still doesn't walk. He either has something loose, the steering box needs replacing, tire pressure or something else needs adjusted. To say that sounds normal is not accurate. I've own 3 wranglers, TJ,JKU and my JT and once I found out how to set them up right I never had a issue with them driving in anyway but close to stock.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Mine doesn't walk left or right when I hit a bump and I don't have to white knuckle mine at any speed. They do swing but unless your lifted with bigger tires you shouldn't be getting a huge amount of feedback from the road like that. I am lift on 37's and mine still doesn't walk. He either has something loose, the steering box needs replacing, tire pressure or something else needs adjusted. To say that sounds normal is not accurate. I've own 3 wranglers, TJ,JKU and my JT and once I found out how to set them up right I never had a issue with them driving in anyway but close to stock.

I've had the same experience with mine. I've also had numerous Jeeps and other solid axle vehicles... albeit most were leaf spring vehicles... None of them would walk or drift when properly set up and adjusted.

Mine would kick out a little before I had the steering box replaced. Even though the truck would feel planted, bumps would unload and shift the steering to the opposite side of where the gear engaged, forcing you to chase it with the steering wheel.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Mine will walk around in its lane a little....but its usually when I'm doing 65 MPH through a 50MPH sweeping curve and I hit a bad patch in the road (usually a depression or a ripple in the asphalt, real common here) and that will upset the truck briefly. Nothing scary though unless a person is just a timid driver. Going straight it's very seldom, and only if I hit a bump that upsets one side of the axle at a time.

Sport S / Max Tow / 285 Rubi Takeoffs. All stock otherwise.

 

[Rusty PW]

All these posts talking about a problem that might not exist - only the OP can find out what the issue is.

One possibility is it's bump steer

https://blog.goodsam.com/what-heck-is-bump-steer-and-other-facts-of-life/

I don't think it would be bump steer. Because the OP is bone stock.

 

[willhonkforparts]

Mine doesn't walk left or right when I hit a bump and I don't have to white knuckle mine at any speed. They do swing but unless your lifted with bigger tires you shouldn't be getting a huge amount of feedback from the road like that. I am lift on 37's and mine still doesn't walk. He either has something loose, the steering box needs replacing, tire pressure or something else needs adjusted. To say that sounds normal is not accurate. I've own 3 wranglers, TJ,JKU and my JT and once I found out how to set them up right I never had a issue with them driving in anyway but close to stock.

I disagree that what I said was inaccurate. His definition of "walk" and "white knuckle" could be very different than yours and mine. Many people coming from ifs rigs and rigs with a different style of rear end suspension are not used to how the Jeeps handle. I'm not saying he doesn't have something loose or broken, but these Jeeps, at high speeds, over large bumps, simply handle/react differently than most vehicles on the road today. They absolutely do/can sorta jump sideways on big hits. It's part of their charm

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I disagree that what I said was inaccurate. His definition of "walk" and "white knuckle" could be very different than yours and mine. Many people coming from ifs rigs and rigs with a different style of rear end suspension are not used to how the Jeeps handle. I'm not saying he doesn't have something loose or broken, but these Jeeps, at high speeds, over large bumps, simply handle/react differently than most vehicles on the road today. They absolutely do/can sorta jump sideways on big hits. It's part of their charm

Never had it happen on a jeep properly dialed in, even running without a steering stabilizer.

 

[willhonkforparts]

Never had it happen on a jeep properly dialed in, even running without a steering stabilizer.

Ok

 

[DMZ33]

Thanks for the info on bump steer. Part of the article mentioned that weak shocks make bump steer more noticeable. I am getting the TSB done and hopefully that will be enough. However maybe a shock upgrade will help overall.

 

[Rusty PW]

You and others likely don't know what bump steer is and didn't read the link I posted. I can't say it's bump steer for sure but talking about "what's wrong with the OP's JEEP" or "how to fix it" without knowing what the issue even is isn't helpful.

There's an elevated freeway ramp I drive on occasion and it has gaps in between sections of the roadway around the long curve. When I drive that at the posted speed and the Gladiator or the F350 goes over those gaps/bumps the vehicle reacts how one would expect it to because of the solid front and rear axles.

From the article:
"Bump steer is found on any axle on a rig that is a solid axle, that is both wheels are connected to a solid piece of steel running from one side of the rig to the other. Bump steer does not effect independent suspension. Bump steer cannot be corrected with add on steering stabilizers. They can help in the after effects of bump steer to a point."

I know all about bump steer. Been building 4x4's since the mid '70's. Been racing cars too. And IFS do indeed get bump steer too.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

You and others likely don't know what bump steer is and didn't read the link I posted. I can't say it's bump steer for sure but talking about "what's wrong with the OP's JEEP" or "how to fix it" without knowing what the issue even is isn't helpful.

There's an elevated freeway ramp I drive on occasion and it has gaps in between sections of the roadway around the long curve. When I drive that at the posted speed and the Gladiator or the F350 goes over those gaps/bumps the vehicle reacts how one would expect it to because of the solid front and rear axles.

From the article:
"Bump steer is found on any axle on a rig that is a solid axle, that is both wheels are connected to a solid piece of steel running from one side of the rig to the other. Bump steer does not effect independent suspension. Bump steer cannot be corrected with add on steering stabilizers. They can help in the after effects of bump steer to a point."

I do know what bump steer is and steersmart makes a steering attenuator that helps reduce bump steer on the wrangler and JT. It's a part you can add to the XD draglink they sell. I had one on my 2010 JKU and it was a huge improvement and greatly reduced bump steer. It acts differently than a steering stabilizer.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

I know all about bump steer. Been building 4x4's since the mid '70's. Been racing cars too. And IFS do indeed get bump steer too.

I was just going to say that bump steer is indeed able to affect IFS.

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