Had Steering Box TSB Done And Now I Hate My Gladiator

[ShadowsPapa]

How is your tire pressure? They generally ship from the factory with 42 PSI and many time the dealerships when they do the PDI, do not lower it to the door label spec of 37 PSI. Even then, many to include myself will run a daily in the 30-32 PSI. There is also a chalk test method you can google if wanting to gain best contact vs. actual used PSI.

IT's not just dealers - I had a well-known 4+ star tire shop do the install of new TPMS sensors in Rubicon tires and wheels I was running for a while - mid winter and they had the tire pressure at over 41 psi!
I can see seating tires on rims run the pressure up, then drop it to operating pressure, but to let it go out the door like that?

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[Lunentucker]

Well I'll be darned. It's the wrong box. 680507569AB is what's listed on the invoice. HTF do they make a mistake like that?

Probably an on purpose "try".

 

[Lunentucker]

Going forward and looking past them correcting their mistakes, order this, since you've already indicated that you're mechanically adept enough to install it correctly.

https://metalcloak.com/sector-shaft-brace-jl-wrangler-jt-gladiator.html

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Probably an on purpose "try".

Makes me wonder - do they really HAVE to try to be that, whatever it is? Did they not drive it? (don't answer, it's a rhetorical question)

Like I said, FCA must have seen the number of mistakes being made and edited that TSB at least twice - even using primary colors in the TSB to appeal to them.

 

[aevgladitorrubi]

My 2020 has 21k miles on it and is just hitting it's 3 year anniversary. While the steering wasn't horrible, I thought I should take it in and try to get the steering box TSB done under warranty. I was planning on keeping this for a long time as I really like it. I put the stock wheels and tires back on so I wouldn't have to deal with the dealership blaming the 33x12.50 tires for the wander. TSB completed and new box installed. Immediately when picking it up I noticed the steering was significantly heavier. I only drove it home and thought maybe it would loosen up after some miles. FF to today for my first opportunity to put some more miles on it. There's now a huge dead spot in the steering. On the interstate if I'm in the right lane, the wheel is turned to left with noticeable pressure to hold it on the road. Move to the left lane and the wheel is turned right equal pressure to keep on the road. Center lane it's like I'm bouncing back and forth in the dead spot zone to keep it in the lane.

The steering is much heavier than before the TSB. Even with the stock tires on it, parking lot maneuvers take much more effort (2 hands instead of 1) than pre-TSB with the 33x12.50's. It's completely taken away the "nimbleness and maneuverability" that I loved about the truck.

Next up for me will be to see if I can identify the play in the system causing the dead spot. Who knows, maybe it was there before but I didn't notice as the steering was so light. Then call the dealer to take it back in. I'm not optimistic about the results at the dealer.

Wondering if anyone else noticed this major increase in steering resistance after the TSB. It would seem this might be do to the software upgrade that goes along with the box replacement. If that's the case, it would seem that it could tuned back out of it. I did some searching and was unable to locate anyone saying they did that with JScan or another tuner.

Moral of the story; if you're ok with your vehicle the way it is, don't try and fix it. I'm a bit sick to my stomach now.

2 needs for huge improvement-- adj Fox steering stabilizer and either the AEV or Metalcloak geometry correction brackets... you'll be very happy then!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

and either the AEV or Metalcloak geometry correction brackets... you'll be very happy then!

Only if it's lifted above a small amount. Not sure if it is since he's back on stock wheels and tires now and it was only running 33s before - no lift is needed for 33s.

These should handle and steer fine as they are, even with mild lifts, with no other options needed.

 

[Gatorac]

Going forward and looking past them correcting their mistakes, order this, since you've already indicated that you're mechanically adept enough to install it correctly.

https://metalcloak.com/sector-shaft-brace-jl-wrangler-jt-gladiator.html

I have looked at that several times. After watching the frame flex with my wife turning the wheel back and forth, I may move up the schedule and a sector shaft brace.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I had mine done and it tightened up the steering and made mine feel much better. I did not lose any maneuverability at all. I didn't think mine was bad before having the TSB done but it did make mine better. My dealership did a alignment on mine after they did the TSB and there is also a update that needed to be done as well

 

[Gatorac]

So this just in…. Dropped it off yesterday for service today. Left instructions to call me first thing. No call. I just called and service advisor tells me they are putting in a track bar. I explain that the wrong box is installed and he tries to fight with me that it isn’t. “Same box for both the Wrangler and Gladiator” he says. OMFG how can they be so incompetent? I begged him to look up the part numbers. I just left for a 2 week vacation this morning. Maybe @JeepCares can help?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So this just in…. Dropped it off yesterday for service today. Left instructions to call me first thing. No call. I just called and service advisor tells me they are putting in a track bar. I explain that the wrong box is installed and he tries to fight with me that it isn’t. “Same box for both the Wrangler and Gladiator” he says. OMFG how can they be so incompetent? I begged him to look up the part numbers. I just left for a 2 week vacation this morning. Maybe @JeepCares can help?

They've got to be kidding! All they have to do is ask their parts guy to look it up.
Totally different wheelbase, different ratio.
Apparently you don't have another dealership in close proximity or I'd dump them like emptying the waste water tank from your camper.
Can't that moron READ?????? It's clear as 2nd grade reading class the differences, spelled out in the TSB itself.

Too bad you can't email him this list - and the caution at the top - there are SEVEN freaking different steering gear part numbers! Only ONE is correct for a left hand drive JT. One out of 7.

 

[DirtGadgets]

Wondering if anyone else noticed this major increase in steering resistance after the TSB. It would seem this might be do to the software upgrade that goes along with the box replacement.

I had the TSB work done, but ended up replacing the steering gear with a heavy duty one from PSC as well as the hydraulic steering pump after I upgraded to 37's.

FWIW, the stock hydraulic steering pump on the Gladiator is 100% electric. If you're having trouble steering with ease it's probably related to either the steering pump not working correctly or one of the hydraulic lines being kinked, bent, or blocked. The steering gear itself is just a chunky paper weight without the pump pushing fluid through it. I would begin by inspecting the hydraulic lines for damage, or the fuses/connection to the stock hydraulic steering pump.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I had the TSB work done, but ended up replacing the steering gear with a heavy duty one from PSC as well as the hydraulic steering pump after I upgraded to 37's.

FWIW, the stock hydraulic steering pump on the Gladiator is 100% electric. If you're having trouble steering with ease it's probably related to either the steering pump not working correctly or one of the hydraulic lines being kinked, bent, or blocked. The steering gear itself is just a chunky paper weight without the pump pushing fluid through it. I would begin by inspecting the hydraulic lines for damage, or the fuses/connection to the stock hydraulic steering pump.

EHPS - electro-hydraulic power steering.
The pump shuts down under certain conditions, and when on the highway, pressures are modified as you don't need high pressure and the parasitic draw it generates on the highway.
You'd have to be very unlucky to damage on of the lines considering where they are tucked in these things.

I have noticed that with the snow plow mounted on my truck, when I start to move and turn the steering wheel, I have no PS for a split second but then that's a massive amount of weight up there. It only happens on drive pavement where the tires get a grip, or when not moving or hardly moving.

The pump goes through one of the legs of the high current fuse array.

 

[RyderGear]

Anyone have trouble getting the dealership to approve this repair? The TSB is pretty clear that they have to do if the issue is documented and inspected by a jeep dealer. I have done both but the dealer is refusing to do the repair for some unknown reason. I filed a case with stallantis, but wondering if anyone else has had this pop up where they refuse to replace the aluminum steering box on a 2020 gladiator.

 

[Hootbro]

Anyone have trouble getting the dealership to approve this repair? The TSB is pretty clear that they have to do if the issue is documented and inspected by a jeep dealer. I have done both but the dealer is refusing to do the repair for some unknown reason. I filed a case with stallantis, but wondering if anyone else has had this pop up where they refuse to replace the aluminum steering box on a 2020 gladiator.

Are you actually still within the 3/36 bumper to bumper warranty? Outside that, the TSB is customer pay since it is not a recall.

Even then, if they are still refusing to do it, you may have to find another dealership. You will probably get some boilerplate answer from Jeep Cares or Stellantis that dealerships are independent franchises and there is little they can do to force a dealership to take in or do any warranty work and the dealerships can do fuck all whatever they want regardless of what their franchise agreement is with corporate.

 

[Lunentucker]

Tagging @ShadowsPapa for science.

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