Loose Steering?

[Scrubb84]

Anything is possible in relation to corporate buffoonery.

Although, if it were more than just the adjustment screw, why would adjusting a bad box fix the problem as others have done? Just sayin
When the “revised” box 68418449AF does come out, im willing to bet the only difference will be that it comes calibrated correctly and the p/n s/n change, thats it.

edit: they could make the adjustment screw with a finer thread. That would make the adjustment more precise i would think.

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[ZTMAN]

Seems it has to be more than a screw. That is why I asked the question. Wonder if anyone compared the mechanical components of a "good" steering jeep vs a "loose" steering jeep.

 

[Scrubb84]

Seems it has to be more than a screw. That is why I asked the question. Wonder if anyone compared the mechanical components of a "good" steering jeep vs a "loose" steering jeep.

Maybe you dont get that it is 100% the steering box in many cases. I thought you meant more to the steering box problem, as in, a machining flaw inside Along with the adjustment screw.

 

[ZTMAN]

Maybe you dont get that it is 100% the steering box in many cases. I thought you meant more to the steering box problem, as in, a machining flaw inside Along with the adjustment screw.

Maybe I don't get it. But like others say, if it was a simple as a screw adjustment, it would be an easy fix.

Some JL owners reported the issue went away when a 2 inch lift was installed. Steering box was not touched.

If you are saying the mechanical gurus narrowed the issue to a screw, so be it. I do not know

 

[Scrubb84]

Maybe I don't get it. But like others say, if it was a simple as a screw adjustment, it would be an easy fix.

Some JL owners reported the issue went away when a 2 inch lift was installed. Steering box was not touched.

If you are saying the mechanical gurus narrowed the issue to a screw, so be it. I do not know

Thats why im so butt-hurt over it. I’m 100% certain it is that simple.

 

[Scrubb84]

Thats why im so butt-hurt over it. I’m 100% certain it is that simple.

Not as simple to fix though. That has to be adjusted at the manufacturer, not when its installed in a vehicle. So they just need to send us good boxes unlike the garbage new one that came from mopar. Theres a pile of em and when you order one its luck of the draw, same as buying the Gladiator itself

 

[5chema]

At first, it was almost only a Rubicon problem. Is it still the case? I tried to verify this myself by looking at profiles, but there’s too many forum members that don’t give detailed description of their Gladiator model...

 

[Doolin64]

Where is this said screw? Has anyone broken down a steering box assembly to verify this? My Rubicon has loose steering. Although now that I've been driving it, it's not as noticeable because I'm used to it.

 

[Casique]

Last August (2019) I drove an Overland and a Rubicon, they both had very loose steering. So it affects both models. I decided to wait and buy after the issue is fixed. Or buy something else if there is no solution by the end of this year when my daughter takes my car to college...

 

[the-dude-abides]

Where is this said screw? Has anyone broken down a steering box assembly to verify this? My Rubicon has loose steering. Although now that I've been driving it, it's not as noticeable because I'm used to it.

If you do some searching on jl forums, there is a guy who is pulling one apart and taking a look. No conclusions that I've read. The posts are buried in a huge thread about loose steering.

 

[HoundDude]

here you go, this is one of the posts from the dude who disassembled a loose JL donor box, play appears to be caused by multiple sources within the box (the reason adjusting the screw isn't a fix for all of these). and any of you JT people who think FCA will ever fix your already purchased trucks are crazy, the fix will go into production for new models only, report your post-purchase concerns to NHTSA...

JL steering box disassembled
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...has-play-and-drifts.3691/page-371#post-987873

NHTSA
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

 

[Factoid]

Its the adjustment screw not being adjusted correctly at the manufacturer

I agree with Adam to a point. Given there have been reported issues of stripped bolts on the track bar, loose steering components and jammed steering box adjustment screws, etc., I would carefully inspect the entire steering system and precisely isolate the problem to the steering box before I took the next step. BTW, you can’t start at the steering box, you have to end at the steering box to ensure that every other component is installed properly and in working order. Only then, if I saw steering wheel input not resulting in a corresponding reaction at the pitman arm would I take the next step.

The next step, IMO, requires understanding how the box was adjusted initially. It was not adjusted on the truck. They are adjusted via a torque reading on the sector adjustment screw in a static jig with the lock nut then secured. They are then shipped and bolted to the frame followed by the other steering components attached.

So, the next step is to properly adjust the sector adjustment screw and properly secure the locknut. I have adjusted dozens of these types of steering boxes and I have never found a box that is not worn out that can not be properly adjusted. Interestingly, my 1964 Corvette coupe has this same style steering box from a company called Borgeson that is actually an older Refurbished Jeep box! There is zero slop and the steering is amazingly precise (recognize the rest of the steering and suspension is significantly different from the solid axle Jeep).

All that said, it is possible there is a manufacturing defect that prevents proper adjustment, but if you have tried everything above, what do you have to lose?

Proceed at your own risk and good luck!

 

[MarineHawk]

Last August (2019) I drove an Overland and a Rubicon, they both had very loose steering. So it affects both models. I decided to wait and buy after the issue is fixed. Or buy something else if there is no solution by the end of this year when my daughter takes my car to college...

One of the reasons I bought mine off the lot, instead of ordering, was this steering issue. I test drove mine; it did not have loose steering; I went ahead with the purchase. That seems like a bullet-proof solution to me.

 

[Factoid]

I did exactly the same.

 

[Casique]

I'll do the same when the Mojave shows up....

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