Loose Steering?

[jrf]

Got a call from the dealer already. Checked everything and found 1 problem. Tires were at 32psi cold, so they inflated those back up to 37psi. Said it drives like it should. Waiting on FCA at this point. The one I test drove did NOT do that.

Truck will sit at that dealer either until it's fixed. It's dangerous to drive. Yeah mines that bad.

I think I understand that some of you that don't have the issue are confused why some of us are complaining. Whilst travelling I got to drive a different JT again and I can tell you it's very very different from mine. My JT is a literal struggle to keep going straight. It wanders back and forth across the road like a drunk driver. Couple a trailer, highway speeds and close quarters and it's just a matter of time until there is an accident.

I've had no less than 6 people drive my JT and every single one asked what was wrong with the steering.

Part of me just wants to take the Jeep and replace all the steering myself... But for the $ spent on this, nope. I'm not dumping a couple more grand into replacing parts that should work.

Please @JeepCares hear these problems and let someone figure out the problem before someone gets hurt. You can have my Jeep, work on it as long as you need to fix the problem. I don't even need a rental. Just give it back fixed please.

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[rigger 17]

Keep me posted ! I feel like i have the same issue and both dealer said it drives as designed . I don't buy that at all ! When and it is going to happen there will be an accident and then maybe they will correct their poor design .Until then try to keep it between the line .That is my daily challenge.

 

[Rayzzz]

My 3rd Jeep and definitely the worst driving one I've had. My 1999 TJ jacked way up drove like my new JT and it had 35's and axles under it and it was sold because it was hard to keep in one lane. 2nd was a 2004 Rubicon with a small lift, 33's and it was a pleasure to drive even at 80 MPH..I sure hope a fix is figured out soon so I can let my wife drive it because if she drives it now she will never want to again with wondering all over the road. I let the dealer drive it and was not on the test drive and they said it was good but I'm they did not find a road that had a bend in it.I told them I will be back when they have a better understanding on how to fix it.

My Jeep likes my money

 

[Rocksalt]

I have been following the steering issue threads, first with the JL, then the JT. I am surprised at those who dismiss what is most certainly an issue for a good number of jeep owners.
I do hope there is a fix for those who are having these issues.There is no reason a brand new vehicle should have loose steering. Every jeep I have owned including my JT have been tight steering and tracked straight.. On a new vehicle, everything should be tight. Things wear and loosen up over time. Vehicles with worn ball joints will often have loose steering. But a new rig should not .
Hope FCA steps up and fixes things.

 

[JeepCares]

I thought all of this complaint stuff was because some of y'all never drove a jeep. I was wrong, mine does it as well, and I can say, I have had jeeps my entire life, I'm 57. Thought the worst driving jeep was my CJ-5 with lift shackles. Wanna drive that home at age 17 with a few too many drinks. Crazy !!!!!
My new JTR drives just ok. My first experience was driving it home with my TJR in tow with 46 psi in the tires. Felt like I was driving on ice. Lowered the pressure to 32 and it does drive better, but still not right. Feels like the crown in the road has an effect on the steering. Or like driving on a highway, and the wind is blowing, and you go by an area that doesn't have a wind block, and you get that quick push. I feel it is electrical, or something that is inconsistent in the works. Adjusting the hex nut on the top of the box only puts pressure on the knuckle inside the gearbox, I am fairly sure that's not a fix, neither is a steering stabilizer shock (those are band aids) I will not allow FCA to install another type of device like this. Have a call into my dealer, who says they haven't heard of this. I'm patient, as I do believe there's education and a fix coming.

Hi RickyR,
We certainly understand your frustration. We want to assure you that if a TSB does become available that appears to address your steering concerns, we will post out on the appropriate threads. If you decide to visit your dealer and would like additional assistance throughout your visit, please feel free to send us a PM.
Alex
Jeep Cares

 

[Dairydawg]

Well mine has an appointment Monday at the dealership. It pulls to the right and has 2” to 3” of steering wheel play. I hope the pull to the right is just an alignment issue. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[RickyR]

Longshot here, but hear me out.
What if the toe is out of adjustment? Do they align these before they leave Toledo? If so, and there are say 4 or 5 machines, would it be possible that maybe one of those machines is not calibrated correctly? And the ones that aren't right were possibly aligned on the out of whack machine? I may take mine in for an alignment at a reputable shop.

 

[Gatorized]

I've done test drives in a sport, overland and rubicon... and all were well behaved in the steering. No looseness detected.

 

[JeepCares]

Well mine has an appointment Monday at the dealership. It pulls to the right and has 2” to 3” of steering wheel play. I hope the pull to the right is just an alignment issue. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Hi Dairydog,
Please keep us updated on your dealer visit. If additional assistance is needed, our team is available via private message.
Alex
Jeep Cares

 

[JOKER8R]

Been following this post and another one, didn’t wanna say much until I had a chance to really get a feel as to what mine was doing. I had a 9 hour drive home with mine after purchase (bone stock JTR) and I honestly wasn’t sure I was gonna make it, it was windy and the trucks were blowing me all over the road but as night came the wind and trucks died down and it was almost a dream to drive, still the occasional wander but wasn’t bad, hey it’s a box right? Next morning I aired the tires down from 40 something to 36 or 38 and it was much better but still wandered. Soon after I installed new wheels and 35” Ridge Grapplers, played with air pressure and got a little better. What I honestly felt was in ideal weather conditions it handled just fine, tracked straight as an arrow no wander, get it in windy conditions or semi trucks and it was very frustrating. After reading on this post and the other post and various FB ones I decided to have the alignment checked. See attachment below of the before and after, I also had them check the torque settings, some were correct and a few took a half turn to torque. So the ride home from the alignment shop was ideal, steering took less input and was notably tighter and it didn’t wander, any steering input was instant. Did several miles highway around semi trucks and it was a completely different experience. I am 100% satisfied with what was done that I could just leave it alone and drive it how it is however I am curious as to what air pressure will do so I will experiment with that, I also wanna see what a steering stabilizer will effect so I may try one as well but in no way do I feel I need one. I also wanna add that I used the alignment specs given on here and requested the total 20° toe, didn’t want to just get it close. Hope this helps.

 

[Dairydawg]

Ths

Hi Dairydog,
Please keep us updated on your dealer visit. If additional assistance is needed, our team is available via private message.
Alex
Jeep Cares

Hi Dairydog,
Please keep us updated on your dealer visit. If additional assistance is needed, our team is available via private message.
Alex
Jeep Cares

Thanks I sure will.

 

[Oscar Indy]

20° toe

My opinion. 20* of toe isn't right.
Putting oversized tires on a rack doesn't help because it attaches to the rim and the machine doesn't account for larger tires.

You need 1/8th of toe in. Measure across the front of the tires and across the back and the front should read 1/8th shorter. I have never had good luck with an alignment machine or matching factory spec once oversize tires are added

 

[JOKER8R]

Same poor steering issues for me. Mopar lift, ridge grapplers... curious what you landed on with psi cold w/ grapplers?

I’m experimenting with tire pressure today & tomorrow, I’ll post my opinion tomorrow evening.

 

[JOKER8R]

My opinion. 20* of toe isn't right.
Putting oversized tires on a rack doesn't help because it attaches to the rim and the machine doesn't account for larger tires.

You need 1/8th of toe in. Measure across the front of the tires and across the back and the front should read 1/8th shorter. I have never had good luck with an alignment machine or matching factory spec once oversize tires are added

Are you saying 1/8” is less or more than 20° total toe in. They actually clamped it on the tire but please explain how/why it doesn’t account for larger tires, looking for some education

 

[Oscar Indy]

Are you saying 1/8” is less or more than 20° total toe in. They actually clamped it on the tire but please explain how/why it doesn’t account for larger tires, looking for some education

Forgive the quick cellphone diagram.

So this is looking down at the axle.
Black is the axle and blue is factory size tires with exhageration of toe in.
With red I have shown what larger tires does to the angle. 20* of toe in for blue tires is nowhere near the same as 20* of toe in for the red tires.

I have never seen an alignment machine that took oversize tires into account since even the ones that strap to the tire are still setting the flange toe to the factory spec which results in too much toe for over size tires. Go measure it I'm willing to bet you are much closer to 1/4 in toe in than the 1/16th to 1/8th that jeeps tend to work best with.

The #1 symptom of too much toe in is very small inputs to the steering wheel turn into too much correction on the road.

Imagine it this way. With too much toe in one tire is already turned. A light input turns it even further.

This is kinda hard to explain via forum if I messed it up let me know I'll figure out a better way to word it.

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