How do I correct steering?

[Tallywacker7]

I'm experiencing a small steering issue as well and have been thinking about caster too. After my recent suspension/trackbar upgrades (went from AEV 2" inch spacer lift w/ rough country dual steering shock to AEV 2.5 dual-sport coils, fox 2.0 shocks, teraflex HD forged trackbar, and teraflex swaybar disconnect, Fox 2.0 ts steering shock ) the truck seems to wander a bit at highway speeds. I already had AEV correction brackets, so those remain on the vehicle. Ironically it seems to steer more accurately or precisely (more sensitive) when driving around town. However, on the freeway, I have to constantly be adjusting the steering wheel for it to stay in the lane. It's not terrible, but it can be tiring/annoying. I have zero issues with death wobble after hitting a pothole or bump. The truck does not pull to one side or the other. It just doesn't seem to be tracking straight at high speeds. I've been running tire psi on my 35s around a 30 (chalk test) consistently. Thoughts/ideas?

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[ShadowsPapa]

This is exactly what the steering damper is supposed to do is take out the small bump steer that gets so tiring by dampening the small forces of it. It wont correct true wander, but so much of the "wander" is actually folks overcorrecting small bump steer that a stabilizer can make the driving experience more pleasant on bumpy roads.

Yeah, that's what's been said - it's for bump steer, hitting holes or logs or rocks. Rough enough pavement it it matters. But on an ordinary highway, say most Iowa roads, you could take the thing clear off and it won't matter. It doesn't solve steering problems, it's exactly for what he described - hitting holes at speeds, bumpy roads - bump steer.

 

[Casique]

I have a slight wander on my 2021 JT HA. It mainly comes from too much play on the steering wheel. I added a Falcon Nexus 2.2 steering stabilizer and it made zero difference, still wanders. No matter what I set the stabilizer to soft, med, or hard.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Makes total sense to me.. That's not even close to what they are for or what they do anyway. But those without the training or technical background in what causes what will still claim all sorts of things about them.... even when shown information from engineers.

 

[kooltoys]

How big a lift? I did a flipped drag link and raised trackbar bracket on my 3.5” lift and it’s taken away a lot of the bump steer your describing.

Also note… my lift kit is a Metalcloak game changer with all arms and I did as aforementioned upgraded steering components, ss and dialed in alignment for caster.

same here.. hated this thing til I added front trackbar relocation bracket and draglink flip. the rear is still bouncy over bridge gaps and RR crossings

 

[ShadowsPapa]

same here.. hated this thing til I added front trackbar relocation bracket and draglink flip. the rear is still bouncy over bridge gaps and RR crossings

But that I bet you can easily deal with.
You have already done what needed to be done up front.

 

[johnh442]

even when shown information from engineers.

lol. Being an engineer myself... the stabilizer did make a difference. I can't measure it/explain except by feel, and I am sure there's ton of math that might say otherwise, but don't forget sometimes the system has unexpected results despite the "engineers" - not everything works as expected. And if the steering stabilizer doesn't stabilize the steering perhaps its misnamed?

And are those the same engineers that do things like make the spark plugs hard to change or the oil drain plug drain all over the frame? Or maybe I should have said engineers that did the first steering box... lolz.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Sure - it can and often does mask other problems. It's not the fix, though. Can it make a difference? Yes, to somethings. But the issues still exists. It's like an engineer adding a brace to compensate for a poorly designed joint in the first place. The issue is still there, not fixed. And it can only get worse. If the part is masking something loose, improperly torqued or a problem introduced by a poor choice of wheels (but they LOOK so nice - obviously they are better for my truck!), lift or other parts - then when an emergency comes up - that part ain't gonna help.

 

[Renegade]

lol. Being an engineer myself... the stabilizer did make a difference. I can't measure it/explain except by feel, and I am sure there's ton of math that might say otherwise, but don't forget sometimes the system has unexpected results despite the "engineers" - not everything works as expected. And if the steering stabilizer doesn't stabilize the steering perhaps its misnamed?

And are those the same engineers that do things like make the spark plugs hard to change or the oil drain plug drain all over the frame? Or maybe I should have said engineers that did the first steering box... lolz.

I'll go on record as saying it is possible that a malfunctioning steering stabilizer can at least contribute to a death wobble condition. I've been involved in diagnosing and resolving several death wobble issues in Jeeps over the years. In one case on a new Gladiator, everything on the JKS 3" lift was installed and tightened correctly, but a death wobble could be induced by hitting a pothole or sharp bump around 45 mph. We discovered that the factory steering stabilizer was defective, allowing the shaft to be compressed half way with no resistance at all. An identical used, but functioning, stabilizer was installed, and the situation was resolved.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'll go on record as saying it is possible that a malfunctioning steering stabilizer can at least contribute to a death wobble condition. I've been involved in diagnosing and resolving several death wobble issues in Jeeps over the years. In one case on a new Gladiator, everything on the JKS 3" lift was installed and tightened correctly, but a death wobble could be induced by hitting a pothole or sharp bump around 45 mph. We discovered that the factory steering stabilizer was defective, allowing the shaft to be compressed half way with no resistance at all. An identical used, but functioning, stabilizer was installed, and the situation was resolved.

What all was replaced or done with that particular lift? What all does it come with? Is the geometry of the track bar compared to tie rod and drag link maintained? You are getting into the territory that is more likely to experience that sort of problem anyway as the link from the pitman down to the right steering knuckle angle is changed so if a wheel hit something it's not a straight push back against the pitman. The more the angle of the drag link compared to the track bar diverge from each other, the more likely it is to have issues. You hit a bump, especially with the right wheel which raises that wheel, you are raising the outer end of the drag link in a larger arc, causing the wheels to turn.
IFS doesn't suffer that even with a lift because the angles of the swing of the LCAs still matches the arc of the swing of the tie rods since the pivot points for each are closely aligned. Not so with a lift and over 2" really changes the geometry. A very strong stabilizer could help slow or reduce the amount the wheel can turn on a bump.

 

[OHJeeper]

I'll go on record as saying it is possible that a malfunctioning steering stabilizer can at least contribute to a death wobble condition. I've been involved in diagnosing and resolving several death wobble issues in Jeeps over the years. In one case on a new Gladiator, everything on the JKS 3" lift was installed and tightened correctly, but a death wobble could be induced by hitting a pothole or sharp bump around 45 mph. We discovered that the factory steering stabilizer was defective, allowing the shaft to be compressed half way with no resistance at all. An identical used, but functioning, stabilizer was installed, and the situation was resolved.

Death Wobble - Absolutely the SS has an impact. I just posted on another thread about issues in my daughter's JK that were largely corrected because of the angle of the SS as compared to the trackbar and axle. Putting it parallel made a giant difference.

I had angled it downward (not what I would have considered a lot, either) to put some space between the axle mount and the SS boot: that made her DW worse.

 

[kooltoys]

lol. Being an engineer myself... the stabilizer did make a difference. I can't measure it/explain except by feel, and I am sure there's ton of math that might say otherwise, but don't forget sometimes the system has unexpected results despite the "engineers" - not everything works as expected. And if the steering stabilizer doesn't stabilize the steering perhaps its misnamed?

And are those the same engineers that do things like make the spark plugs hard to change or the oil drain plug drain all over the frame? Or maybe I should have said engineers that did the first steering box... lolz.

As a low voltage tech in the field. my go to is.... Looks good on the engineers desk! when come to implementing it thats another story

 

[ShadowsPapa]

As a low voltage tech in the field. my go to is.... Looks good on the engineers desk! when come to implementing it thats another story

Years ago I managed the networking, building and grounds and safety for On With Life. They grew plenty in the first couple of years and decided to add another wing. It was a steel frame structure. Architect finished up really nice drawings and plans, the steel was ordered and arrived ready to go... until the steel workers started putting things together.
The fool had the interior dimensions - ceiling height, greater than the exterior height and the steel workers were left scratching their heads I told them rather than wait for the architect to figure it out - do whatever they needed to make it right. They had to do some trimming, riveting and welding but the new wing turned out great.
Now how in the world do you mess up something so very simple?

 

[Renegade]

What all was replaced or done with that particular lift? What all does it come with? Is the geometry of the track bar compared to tie rod and drag link maintained? You are getting into the territory that is more likely to experience that sort of problem anyway as the link from the pitman down to the right steering knuckle angle is changed so if a wheel hit something it's not a straight push back against the pitman. The more the angle of the drag link compared to the track bar diverge from each other, the more likely it is to have issues. You hit a bump, especially with the right wheel which raises that wheel, you are raising the outer end of the drag link in a larger arc, causing the wheels to turn.
IFS doesn't suffer that even with a lift because the angles of the swing of the LCAs still matches the arc of the swing of the tie rods since the pivot points for each are closely aligned. Not so with a lift and over 2" really changes the geometry. A very strong stabilizer could help slow or reduce the amount the wheel can turn on a bump.

3” front springs, 1.5” rear springs, adjustable front track bar, longer front LCAs, longer sway bar links, Fox 2.0 shocks.

 

[Tallywacker7]

I'm experiencing a small steering issue as well and have been thinking about caster too. After my recent suspension/trackbar upgrades (went from AEV 2" inch spacer lift w/ rough country dual steering shock to AEV 2.5 dual-sport coils, fox 2.0 shocks, teraflex HD forged trackbar, and teraflex swaybar disconnect, Fox 2.0 ts steering shock ) the truck seems to wander a bit at highway speeds. I already had AEV correction brackets, so those remain on the vehicle. Ironically it seems to steer more accurately or precisely (more sensitive) when driving around town. However, on the freeway, I have to constantly be adjusting the steering wheel for it to stay in the lane. It's not terrible, but it can be tiring/annoying. I have zero issues with death wobble after hitting a pothole or bump. The truck does not pull to one side or the other. It just doesn't seem to be tracking straight at high speeds. I've been running tire psi on my 35s around a 30 (chalk test) consistently. Thoughts/ideas?

Just an update here... I had the dealer inspect for the steering box TSB and they found it needed to be replaced. Seems to solve my issue with any wandering on the freeway. Hope this helps anyone experiencing a similar problem.

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