New JT Gladiator Steering Issue TSB 08-074-20 (for "Improved Steering Feel")

[JeepCares]

@JeepCares I have taken it to three different dealers, two aftermarket shops, and they have had it on hoists, apart, and reviewed everything. This pull is one of the most frustrating things I have every faced in a vehicle.

At this point it is dangerous to drive and Jeep should be addressing this huge safety issue (recall? / Lemon?). If I have to hold the wheel to the left to change lanes from left to right, that is a major problem to say the least.

@cecaa850 Yes...checked all of those things and more. Tires have been rotated three times...always the same issue. Checked brakes, alignment, track arms, alignment (4 times now!), thrust angle, axle alignment, TSB fix, etc. The only thing left is the steering stabilizer (which shouldn't fix this) or somehow putting stock tires on to see if that is the issue. I'm running the Wildpeak AT's...size 315/70R17 with Black Panzer wheels...neither of which should drive the pull I'm seeing. Metalcloack 2.5 with Falcon SP2 2.1 Shocks. I may upgrade the steering stabilizer with the Falcon 2.2 Nexus...but if that fixes the pull, I'd be astonished (but should help with a bit of the steering jump, etc.).

What is crazy is I can feel the pull in the steering wheel. Turning left, there is more tension than when I turn it right. Also, after the TSB, the wheel now automatically sits off center at neutral...second time this has occurred.

To say I'm upset & frustrated would be an understatement. If I hated my JT, I would just trade it in...but I love it...minus the steering pull.

I definitely understand and do apologize, Canuck33. Although we cannot guarantee any certain outcomes here, we can assist you if you want to visit another dealer at any time. We are in private message whenever you're ready.

Kate
Jeep Cares

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[Canuck33]

Well...I took off the steering stabilizer, still pulls right. Replaced the stock with the Falcon Nexus 2.2 and steering feels great on all settings....except IT STILL PULLS RIGHT!!!!

I can feel it in the steering...as soon as I let go of the wheel, it moves 10 degrees or so to the right. Even if I drive on the wrong side of the road (safely in no traffic!), it pulls right or tracks perfectly straight. If the wheels were following the road, it would pull left in this situation, but it doesn't. And yes, the wheels have been rotated four times now and tried this.

So frustrating....infuriating may be the best word for it. Love the steering now...minus the right pull! With the TSB fix and the new stabilizer...perfect...minus the right pull.

@JeepCares I am responding to your PM. Thank you.

 

[DaveL]

Well...I took off the steering stabilizer, still pulls right. Replaced the stock with the Falcon Nexus 2.2 and steering feels great on all settings....except IT STILL PULLS RIGHT!!!!

I can feel it in the steering...as soon as I let go of the wheel, it moves 10 degrees or so to the right. Even if I drive on the wrong side of the road (safely in no traffic!), it pulls right or tracks perfectly straight. If the wheels were following the road, it would pull left in this situation, but it doesn't. And yes, the wheels have been rotated four times now and tried this.

So frustrating....infuriating may be the best word for it. Love the steering now...minus the right pull! With the TSB fix and the new stabilizer...perfect...minus the right pull.

@JeepCares I am responding to your PM. Thank you.

Canuck33 @JeepCares is so helpful. When they referred me to Jeep Canada things happened.

Look how many posts are in this thread! It's amazing. Look how many times people have viewed the posts.

Shows me two things. Jeep Love is "a Jeep Thing" And this problem is real.

I'm confident that the problem will finally be solved. After all there are so many things that are right with our JL's and Gladiators.

 

[peteawalk]

Finally got around to getting my steering gear replaced today. I took it in for my oil change and complained about loose steering that I have to correct to go straight. They mentioned the TSB pretty early on and recommended it pretty quickly.

I originally purchased and took it to Landmark Dodge Jeep in Independence for Kansas City folks working with this issue.

 

[Tufelhundin]

@Canuck33


I feel your pain. I always drive with the steering wheel turned to about 10:00/11:00

Today I was coming home and we have a consistent +15mph wind that was blowing from my right to my left....I let go of the steering just to see if the and would push me over to the left.....nope....fugger went into the wind "pulling right", LOL


I went on a 2k mile trip last deer season "Nov" and when I returned I told them I was wore out from my drive due to the constant correcting and having to pay strict attention to the road.

The dealer checked it and said a nut on my control arm was missing?? FTW!? They installed it.....I ended up taking to a speciality shop and they had to practically readjust all of the suspension. I brought pictures to the service manager and he climbed under the jeep with me before I had the work done and agreed it was a shoddy job and told me when I get it fixed to bring him the bill. Nice...but that should have been the case...

Anyway....Im taking it back in tomorrow to have a check engine light diagnosed....oil changed, differential fluid replaced, radio flashed due to flickering when hooked up to my iPhone, and Im going to mention the TSB and the constant wandering/pulling to the right.


I guess we will see.


Plus, Im going to mention that my brothers JT that is set up like mine gets about 5 mpg on avg more than I do and we are both local and use cruise most of the time.



Good luck Cancuck...hopefully your issue is resolved.

 

[Scrubb84]

Well...I took off the steering stabilizer, still pulls right. Replaced the stock with the Falcon Nexus 2.2 and steering feels great on all settings....except IT STILL PULLS RIGHT!!!!

I can feel it in the steering...as soon as I let go of the wheel, it moves 10 degrees or so to the right. Even if I drive on the wrong side of the road (safely in no traffic!), it pulls right or tracks perfectly straight. If the wheels were following the road, it would pull left in this situation, but it doesn't. And yes, the wheels have been rotated four times now and tried this.

So frustrating....infuriating may be the best word for it. Love the steering now...minus the right pull! With the TSB fix and the new stabilizer...perfect...minus the right pull.

@JeepCares I am responding to your PM. Thank you.

You have another bad box. It’s the valving inside the steering box that is causing this. I have a video to prove it, but I can’t post it publicly yet because it is ‘evidence’.

 

[Canuck33]

You have another bad box. It’s the valving inside the steering box that is causing this. I have a video to prove it, but I can’t post it publicly yet because it is ‘evidence’.

That doesn't sound good at all...on several levels!!!

 

[Canuck33]

@Canuck33


I feel your pain. I always drive with the steering wheel turned to about 10:00/11:00

Today I was coming home and we have a consistent +15mph wind that was blowing from my right to my left....I let go of the steering just to see if the and would push me over to the left.....nope....fugger went into the wind "pulling right", LOL


I went on a 2k mile trip last deer season "Nov" and when I returned I told them I was wore out from my drive due to the constant correcting and having to pay strict attention to the road.

The dealer checked it and said a nut on my control arm was missing?? FTW!? They installed it.....I ended up taking to a speciality shop and they had to practically readjust all of the suspension. I brought pictures to the service manager and he climbed under the jeep with me before I had the work done and agreed it was a shoddy job and told me when I get it fixed to bring him the bill. Nice...but that should have been the case...

Anyway....Im taking it back in tomorrow to have a check engine light diagnosed....oil changed, differential fluid replaced, radio flashed due to flickering when hooked up to my iPhone, and Im going to mention the TSB and the constant wandering/pulling to the right.


I guess we will see.


Plus, Im going to mention that my brothers JT that is set up like mine gets about 5 mpg on avg more than I do and we are both local and use cruise most of the time.



Good luck Cancuck...hopefully your issue is resolved.

I feel your pain. Hopefully we can both get this fixed. Two mod shops looked at everything and said it was fine.

What is funny, no pull prior to the MC lift, wheels/tires, and shocks...all happened after. I really believe there is something someone just can't find (ball joint, bolt loose, etc.).

 

[TexasTJ]

What's the average wait time for a steering box now? I've been on the list a month. Or is it still dependent on the dealer and if Jeep Cares is involved?

It took 3 months to get mine in, had it installed this week. Dropped it off at 9am, picked it up at 5pm.

 

[Canuck33]

I was lucky...took mine in on a Friday, the following Wednesday it was installed. Maybe not "lucky" seeing it didn't fix anything, but the steering was slightly tighter.

 

[T8T]

Well...I took off the steering stabilizer, still pulls right. Replaced the stock with the Falcon Nexus 2.2 and steering feels great on all settings....except IT STILL PULLS RIGHT!!!!

I can feel it in the steering...as soon as I let go of the wheel, it moves 10 degrees or so to the right. Even if I drive on the wrong side of the road (safely in no traffic!), it pulls right or tracks perfectly straight. If the wheels were following the road, it would pull left in this situation, but it doesn't. And yes, the wheels have been rotated four times now and tried this.

So frustrating....infuriating may be the best word for it. Love the steering now...minus the right pull! With the TSB fix and the new stabilizer...perfect...minus the right pull.

@JeepCares I am responding to your PM. Thank you.

I went through the same troubleshooting steps ( removing after market stabilizer back to stock) only to have the same results as you. ( put the aftermarket back on)
I did notice the other day while sitting parked that when I move the steering wheel slowly left and right there is a slight hiss and bubbling sound that comes from the steering column.
I am wondering if I got a bad steering gear or it there is a leak allowing air in the system.

I wish I could remember how it drove after the new gear and before I lifted it. It was really windy that day on the way home. the following day I had it lifted and aligned.
my left side camber is at 4.1degrees and the right is 4.3degrees.

Anyway the noises concern me a little, I cant help but think something is amiss.
staying tuned to see what fixes everyone else's. I LOVE my truck but really DISLIKE the constant pull to the right.

 

[DaveL]

I went through the same troubleshooting steps ( removing after market stabilizer back to stock) only to have the same results as you. ( put the aftermarket back on)
I did notice the other day while sitting parked that when I move the steering wheel slowly left and right there is a slight hiss and bubbling sound that comes from the steering column.
I am wondering if I got a bad steering gear or it there is a leak allowing air in the system.

I wish I could remember how it drove after the new gear and before I lifted it. It was really windy that day on the way home. the following day I had it lifted and aligned.
my left side camber is at 4.1degrees and the right is 4.3degrees.

Anyway the noises concern me a little, I cant help but think something is amiss.
staying tuned to see what fixes everyone else's. I LOVE my truck but really DISLIKE the constant pull to the right.

Check the reservoir for power steering fluid. Maybe they didn't replenish it when they installed the steering gear. And if they skipped that, maybe they didn't refresh the computer.

 

[Tufelhundin]

Took mine in yesterday morning to get serviced along with diff fluids replaced. I mentioned that it wanders and always pulls to the right along with the flickering radio.


Service Manager calls and tells me there is a TSB out there on my truck and the new power steering box is on order and should be here on the 23'rd. So...I guess we will see. I was truly expecting an ordeal concerning the steering.

 

[JeepCares]

What's the average wait time for a steering box now? I've been on the list a month. Or is it still dependent on the dealer and if Jeep Cares is involved?

Hey, DobaMark. Sorry for the late reply here, but we would like to dig in further. Although I do not know the exact wait time, we can try to work with your dealer to expedite. Send us a private message with more details.

Kate
Jeep Cares

I went through the same troubleshooting steps ( removing after market stabilizer back to stock) only to have the same results as you. ( put the aftermarket back on)
I did notice the other day while sitting parked that when I move the steering wheel slowly left and right there is a slight hiss and bubbling sound that comes from the steering column.
I am wondering if I got a bad steering gear or it there is a leak allowing air in the system.

I wish I could remember how it drove after the new gear and before I lifted it. It was really windy that day on the way home. the following day I had it lifted and aligned.
my left side camber is at 4.1degrees and the right is 4.3degrees.

Anyway the noises concern me a little, I cant help but think something is amiss.
staying tuned to see what fixes everyone else's. I LOVE my truck but really DISLIKE the constant pull to the right.

Are you still experiencing steering concerns, T8T? If so, send our team a private message and we can dig in further.

Kate
Jeep Cares

 

[MojaveRay]

Has anybody noticed this issue with the new steering box installed in a 2021?

Mine has a slight pull to the right...all I installed was the Teraflex 1.5 front leveling kit and 37s. I am getting my alignment looked at on Friday.

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