New gladiators steering

[Stlrfan152]

Good afternoon,
I sold my 2020 gladiator a little over a year ago. It had a few issues i was tired of trying to get the dealer to fix and the trade in was really good at the time. One issue was the steering being very loose. Just curious if this issue is fixed on the newer ones? I currently have a 2dr bronco im thinking of trading in. I think if i go back to the gladiator id get a rubicon this time. Seems like the supply is getting back to normal at the dealers.

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[whiteglad]

My Mojave, an 08/2022 build, steers great.

 

[Rusty PW]

My 2/22 JTRD steering is tight.

 

[Plywood]

2020 had the aluminum steering box, the new steel one is much better. Noticed a huge difference between my 2018 JL and my 2021 JT

 

[Stlrfan152]

2020 had the aluminum steering box, the new steel one is much better. Noticed a huge difference between my 2018 JL and my 2021 JT

They put the steel box in my gladiator and it drove the same. I wouldn't be surprised if i got a bad box. It sounds like the new box helped a lot of people.

 

[Lunentucker]

The steel steering gearbox helped but Jeep still likes to leave bolts and nuts undertorqued.
If you do do your diligence and check behind them you'll be OK.
If you get a Mojave go head and add correction brackets from day one.

 

[Stlrfan152]

The steel steering gearbox helped but Jeep still likes to leave bolts and nuts undertorqued.
If you do do your diligence and check behind them you'll be OK.
If you get a Mojave go head and add correction brackets from day one.

It definitely sounds more positive on post about steering than it did a year ago haha. I did see people say the mojave steering was worse than other models, the correction brackets fixed any issue with it? I do really like the hood on the mojave

 

[Lunentucker]

It definitely sounds more positive on post about steering than it did a year ago haha. I did see people say the mojave steering was worse than other models, the correction brackets fixed any issue with it? I do really like the hood on the mojave

Yeah. They need 6+ caster.
Opinion

 

[COmtnbiker]

2022 JT Sport S and steering is great.

 

[Bbannongmu]

I have a 2020 and went with the Synergy Trackbar and steering brace to tighten up the front end. 29k now and no issues.

 

[Stlrfan152]

I have a 2020 and went with the Synergy Trackbar and steering brace to tighten up the front end. 29k now and no issues.

Glad to see there is options now. The steering was my biggest issue, there wasnt a lot of postive post from people who had loose steering when i bought mine.

 

[22EcoDs]

22 sport s diesel, drives great even after lift. Still on stock steering. What's wrong with the bronco ?

 

[Stlrfan152]

22 sport s diesel, drives great even after lift. Still on stock steering. What's wrong with the bronco ?

It drives great, i love the 7 speed manual, the part time 4wd is nice, the base radio is really good, led headlights are nice, sasquatch package is a great option. But mine was a covid build and its been a head ache. Ive had a lot of very minor issues on top of, i had to wait 5 months for them to fix my head lights turning on and off with the car off by themselves. My hard top build quality is a joke and right now its been at the dealer for 3 weeks and still has 5 weeks to go for the transmission failing. I really like it, but it hasnt been the best start with it. Im still on the fence with what i will do.

 

[OHJeeper]

You should define what you mean when you say "loose" as some things have been fixed with the steel steering box, others have not:

1) "Play" in the steering, aka "the dead spot" - this has not been fixed (at least in my MY2022). There is still a dead spot in the middle. I fixed it by tightening up the backlash in the steering box with the set screw - better, but not like a sports car. I can still turn the wheel a few degrees left/right before the wheels move.

2) "loose" steering - the wheel moves too easily.... Hard to describe this one. My MY2022 I feel like is loose - I think the fix for this could be a stiffer steering damper, which I have no yet done.

3) "loose and play" in the steering. Sort of a combination of the two, but this can be due to frame flexing at the steering gear. Fixed by a sector shaft brace like what Sparticus posted. I have done this mod, but didn't feel like it helped much in the looseness department. The biggest "help" so far is that I used the Steer Smarts version which also relocates the track back to be more parallel with the drag link (steering). This has helped with some body roll and bump steer a bit.

All three of these, in my opinion, still exist on the MY22 at least, but all can be overcome with about $450 in mods for an upgraded damper and the sector shaft brace. The "set screw" fix is free.

 

[Stlrfan152]

You should define what you mean when you say "loose" as some things have been fixed with the steel steering box, others have not:

1) "Play" in the steering, aka "the dead spot" - this has not been fixed (at least in my MY2022). There is still a dead spot in the middle. I fixed it by tightening up the backlash in the steering box with the set screw - better, but not like a sports car. I can still turn the wheel a few degrees left/right before the wheels move.

2) "loose" steering - the wheel moves too easily.... Hard to describe this one. My MY2022 I feel like is loose - I think the fix for this could be a stiffer steering damper, which I have no yet done.

3) "loose and play" in the steering. Sort of a combination of the two, but this can be due to frame flexing at the steering gear. Fixed by a sector shaft brace like what Sparticus posted. I have done this mod, but didn't feel like it helped much in the looseness department. The biggest "help" so far is that I used the Steer Smarts version which also relocates the track back to be more parallel with the drag link (steering). This has helped with some body roll and bump steer a bit.

All three of these, in my opinion, still exist on the MY22 at least, but all can be overcome with about $450 in mods for an upgraded damper and the sector shaft brace. The "set screw" fix is free.

The play was my issue, i bought the fox stabilizer when i had it and i liked the steering feel. It just was hard to relax on long drives on the highway with a dead spot. Mine was pretty bad.

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