Play In Steering

[SC Doberman]

Is it typical to have a lot of play in the steering on a new Mojave Gladiator? I feel like the guy driving the car in the old 70’s tv shows.

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[jeepers29]

Is it typical to have a lot of play in the steering on a new Mojave Gladiator? I feel like the guy driving the car in the old 70’s tv shows.

Check your tire pressure. Too much and it will feel like it is on roller blades.

 

[SC Doberman]

Check your tire pressure. Too much and it will feel like it is on roller blades.

I did that already. Dropped from 41 to 37

 

[JoseQ_80]

Go lower try 34.

 

[John Hursh]

When I bought in Sept 2020 i test drove a Mojave and an Overland. Loved the Mojave, but it steered like a used car from the 50s. Bought the Overland and traveled 17,000 great miles - towing a travel trailer 3,400 of those miles. The Mojave may have had the first gen problem steering box, needed a front end alignment, or simply been cursed. Still love the looks of the Mojave, but glad I bought the Overland. Drive before you buy.

 

[Radio Guy]

My 2021 Mojave was not fun on the drive home from the dealer wandering all over the lane and dropping the tire pressure to about 34psi helped a lot. But on the fwy in the right lanes where big trucks have made ruts it still wanders around more than I would like so I did the steering box adjustment and that reduced most of the play and its much better.

I just installed a Fox steering stabalizer and have not been on the fwy yet but it feels like another bump in the right direction. I plan on re-torqueing most of the steering component bolts and if its still a problem on the fwy after that I will visit my local alignment shop and have a conversation.

 

[DLAW]

"Play in steering wheel" implies that you can turn the wheel an unreasonable amount back and forth without it putting any pressure on the wheels. I never had one bit of that. Mine is a Rubicon and we would have mostly the same exact parts. the shocks are different. This type of play was common with the first year of manufacturing where they had an issue with the steering box. This should not be the case any more with the newer steering box. there is a massive thread here just about this one issue, and you can see photos of the new black glossy steering box.

Another "loose steering" sensation would be a soft responsiveness to your steering input. Meaning, when you move the steering wheel, you DO get immediate feedback from the wheels, but it's just soft. This could be from deep tread, thick profile tires, like what we have with the 33s. But this just a "truck feel" to me and you should still be able to do one handed steering at 70 MPH no problems. If you are death gripping and scared, then something else is going on.

High tire pressure made me feel like I was on ice. I like 36-37 PSI cold. It warms up to 39 to 40, but it's been fine for me. The dealer put 42 cold on mine when I brought the baby home, and it was like an ice rink on the highway.

 

[SC Doberman]

"Play in steering wheel" implies that you can turn the wheel an unreasonable amount back and forth without it putting any pressure on the wheels. I never had one bit of that. Mine is a Rubicon and we would have mostly the same exact parts. the shocks are different. This type of play was common with the first year of manufacturing where they had an issue with the steering box. This should not be the case any more with the newer steering box. there is a massive thread here just about this one issue, and you can see photos of the new black glossy steering box.

Another "loose steering" sensation would be a soft responsiveness to your steering input. Meaning, when you move the steering wheel, you DO get immediate feedback from the wheels, but it's just soft. This could be from deep tread, thick profile tires, like what we have with the 33s. But this just a "truck feel" to me and you should still be able to do one handed steering at 70 MPH no problems. If you are death gripping and scared, then something else is going on.

High tire pressure made me feel like I was on ice. I like 36-37 PSI cold. It warms up to 39 to 40, but it's been fine for me. The dealer put 42 cold on mine when I brought the baby home, and it was like an ice rink on the highway.

I’ll drop the pressure a little more and see what happens. It does seem like “loose steering” but not the truck tire sensation. I’ve been driving an 06 f150 for 15 years with 35” mud terrains and the steering is tight. No drift.

 

[DLAW]

I’ll drop the pressure a little more and see what happens. It does seem like “loose steering” but not the truck tire sensation. I’ve been driving an 06 f150 for 15 years with 35” mud terrains and the steering is tight. No drift.

interesting. if it feels like the front wheels are sort of wondering back and forth on their own, and it's tough to keep it in the lane, I would take it in and explain. It shouldn't be like that.

There are a few other spots down the chain from your steering wheel to your tires that could be the problem. One loose nut on one of those control arms or something and it's no good. The alignment could be out of whack too, but that normally makes the vehicle just pull consistently to one side.

Don't put it off. If it's brand new, you are better off getting back to the dealer and saying "this thing is new, it shouldn't be doing this". If your sales-person is any good, they should put in a good word for you at the dealer-shop to get the red carpet out.

Keep us posted if you get a solution for it.

 

[BluRubY]

I have the wandering problem with my 21 Rubicon MFG date 9/21. I find myself always correcting.
Stock tires at recommended pressure.

 

[Radio Guy]

I've probably read a thousand posts on this topic over the last 6mo and there is no one single thing that causes the wandering problem and no one single fix. For some it was the early steering box and for some the replacement made them happy. That could be a combination of the new part and extra attention to the front end parts or an alignment when it was installed. The Gladiator seems to be sensitive to tire pressure and airing down to about 34psi has been a real crowd pleaser. For some its the play between the steering wheel and actual movement of the wheels and tightening the steering box nut is a potential improvement for that. Some have mentioned torqueing the steering related bolts to spec made an improvement. Some have had an alignment and are now happy. Some have simply bolted on an aftermarket steering stabilizer and are now happy. Some have gone through all of this and are still not satisfied.

So its not just one thing that will improve the steering experience and I think you have to map out your truck and make a list of what its doing like the steering feels tight but it wanders or it feels sloppy but doesn't wander or it pulls to the left but otherwise feels tight or it pulls and its sloppy and it wanders, etc. Then pick the best course of action and attack the most likely parts that would cause the problem(s).

 

[SC Doberman]

Here’s the play. I was stopped when I took this but it’s the same when I’m driving. That much play and no wheel movement

 

[SC Doberman]

I have an appointment Wednesday for them to look at it. We’ll see…..

 

[Mac]

Add more caster with either Mopar lower control arms or AEV geometry correction brackets or Rancho geometry corrections brackets. The additional caster will eliminate the wander.

 

[SC Doberman]

Add more caster with either Mopar lower control arms or AEV geometry correction brackets or Rancho geometry corrections brackets. The additional caster will eliminate the wander.

But all that for a brand new vehicle……

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