How much variability in steering wander from Jeep to Jeep

[ShadowsPapa]

Mine tracks fine. Potholes will jar it, since no independent suspension, but otherwise no wander.

Yes. Potholes, washboard roads, that sort of thing will throw it.
Look at how the steering linkage of IFS is arranged - the inner tie rod for each end pivots in a place almost on the same axis as the lower control arm pivots -

Look at where the steering linkage pivots compared to the lower control arm. The length of the tie rod nearly matches the length of the lower arm, and the angle off horizontal is nearly the same. Almost a perfect parallelogram. As that wheel moves up and down on rough roads, the steering is hardly impacted.

That's the real difference. On a decent road, it won't matter - the Gladiator should steer or handle nearly the same. And it will be worse with one side than the other.

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[ILikeYourHat]

On a decent road, it won't matter -

We don't do 'decent roads' here. Only various states of disrepair. It makes owning a sportscar or motocycle much less enjoyable.

I'm just glad 4x4s have auto locking hubs now so I don't have to get out and tie up traffic to lock them in to crawl back out of a pot hole.

 

[Lunentucker]

Beyond the aluminum steering gearbox it seems to be a lottery.
My Mojave had wandering issues despite having a factory steel gearbox. I've worked on it quite a bit and now have to where it drives nearly as good as my old solid front axle 1976 Scottsdale did.

If you can buy one that's better out of the box you're well ahead of the game.

I don't think it's as much to do with the sub model series as it is to do with when and by whom it was put together.
I'd also suspect that none of the steering gearboxes are adjusted by Jeep. They're shipped in by a supplier and bolted in place as is.

 

[Labswine]

My Overland was ordered by me and built in May/June of 2019 and I took delivery in mid July 2019.

Never had any issue with tracking or wandering. I check tire pressures, 39-41 psi depending on outside temperature and how long I've been driving. I can steer easily with two fingers.

Yeah, it doesn't corner like it's on rails like but, whadderya expect? It's a frikkin' truck for f*ck's sake. Want to throw it around a winding road at 90 mph, get a Porche or Ferrari instead.

I don't know (because I have an early edition of Gladiator) if I have the aluminum or steel steering box but, again, absolutely zero issues with steering, or any of the other mechanical issues others have had. (Knocking on wood as my 3 year warranty is up next month ? )

The only issue I had (which was totally rectified by Jeep under warranty) was water getting inside the hard top. Jeep simply replaced the hard top with a new one.

 

[gladtohave]

I've test driven 3 Gladiators so far. The Sport, the Mojave, and the Rubicon. The Sport and Mojave drove pretty well for what I expect a solid front axle to drive like. The Rubicon was nervous and constantly required minor steering input. Is this endemic to the Rubicon over the other trims or was that just a bad example?

If it matters, both the Mojave and Rubicon were 2020 model years but factory stock. The Sport was new. Of the 3 the Mojave was my favorite, but I'd like to know if I should eliminate the Rubicon from the running or just THAT Rubicon from the running. I'll order new vs buying used when it's time.

And, I know there's a bajillion Mojave vs Rubicon threads already. I've read half a bajillion of them. I'm not trying to debate the models, just specifically steering wander between the trims.

[/QUOTE]
I have a JTRD with 300 miles on it and it wanders all over the road . With the engine off and one finger pushing the wheel I get an inch of play . When driving you have to constantly give input and have to constantly correct it . Obviously the person that's setting these steering box's up needs to do a better job . I won't take it in as seems they will want to change out the box instead of adjust it . I'll start with and 1/8 of a turn till she's got the slack out . The gasser I drove before I placed my order was spot on so I'm sure a little steering box adjustment will solve the issue . From some other threads folks are all fire and brimstone about dialing in a gearbox but if it wasn't done at the factory properly it needs done . No it's not a Jeep thing as I had an 85 Toyota straight axle with 180 on it and drove straight as an arrow .

 

[shokker70]

I'm on my 6th Jeep, 2nd Gladiator. Steering has always been "different" than other vehicles. I've always thought it felt a little loose. To me, it's just Jeep. Don't notice it anymore unless I drive something different for a little while.

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