ShadowsPapa
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Bill
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2019
- Threads
- 178
- Messages
- 29,081
- Reaction score
- 34,559
- Location
- Runnells, Iowa
- Vehicle(s)
- '22 JTO, '23 JLU, '82 SX4, '73 P. Cardin Javelin
- Occupation
- Retired auto mechanic, frmr gov't ntwrk security admin
- Vehicle Showcase
- 3
DO NOT try to band-aid it. GET IT FIXED. What happens when warranty runs out and you still have the old steering gear and have issues? It's on your dime, then. Get it fixed, no band-aids actually fix this, some MAY, and that is a MAY, mask it, but that's it. Nothing fixes it except the new steering gear.Question, and apologies if it's already been answered, but this is now a really huge thread to navigate.
Does anyone know if there's a certain build date cutoff, where the bad steering gear was no longer being installed in the vehicles? Are certain trims more likely to be affected, etc?
For example, the door jam says our Mojave has a build date of 07/20. But some of the other part papers kind of hint at April. Tough to figure out with the pandemic shutdown issues.
Then there's the mention of a software update in this thread as part of this steering wander problem? What's the scoop on the software update?
This isn't my vehicle, it's my wife's, something she really, really wanted because of it's appearance, but now she's somewhat disappointed with the purchase because of the steering wander.
And I don't like the "wander" problem either. Traveling home from the purchase on the interstate at 70mph had me white knuckling stuff in the passenger compartment as she was struggling to control the vehicle while passing semi-trucks. That ride really freaked me the eff-out.
She's had two previous Rubicons, a 2012 Unlimited that blew two Penstar cylinder heads (at 9k and 22k), and a 2018 two-door that had no serious issues. The wife says the steering wander in this Gladiator is far worse than anything she experienced in those two. And they both had similar mud tires.
Talk about a shock trading in a Vette with precise steering, capable of going 178mph, to this thing that's all over the road at 70mph.
Will the optional steering damper help control this thing better for her? We don't spend a lot of time on the interstate, but have to do it occasionally.
IF it's a July build it has the aluminum goofy steering gear.
2021 model year and it seems some mid to late August build 2020s have the new gear but it's EASY to tell.
Go to page 1 of this thread, download and PRINT the TSB.
The PART NUMBERS are on it.
As already stated hjdca, the faulty gear is aluminum - a gray to silver/gray color. The good one is BLACK, cast steel and you will see a sticker with the PART NUMBER on it.
I'd bet a Big Mac yours has the old bad gear.
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