Slight pull to the right...can't figure it out.

[ShadowsPapa]

Mine pulls after the swap. Nothing else changed and it's not play on either side of center and the pull has grown. Alignment is ok.

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[Tim]

I had the dealer take care of my Gladiator ’s toe in when the stearing box was rep,aced under the recall advisory earlier this year, they sent it to a front end specialist shop to have the front end alignment done. Solved my pull to the right issue.
cheers

Looks like 0 toe is desireable, then? Mine doesn’t pull and doesn’t really wander but I feel like I could get a little better feel in the wheel. It is toed in slightly from what I remember when I checked it a year ago. Maybe I’ll crawl under and get it to zero and see what that does.

 

[aldo98229]

My Sahara started pulling to the right after it got the Mopar lift, and the steering started to wander with the 35-inch tires. Worse, because the Mopar lift doesn’t include an adjustable track bar, the front axle came back two inches off-center, towards the driver side.

I’ve taken a number of corrective actions:

1. The first thing was to get a Yeti adjustable track bar and a wheel alignment. That fixed the off-center issue, but the pull to the right remained.
2. Then I replaced the OE steering damper with a Fox 2.0 stabilizer. It reduced the steering wander and the shaking of the 35-inch tires coming through the steering wheel, but the pull to the right continued.
3. Then I had an X-pattern tire rotation to eliminate the tires as possible cause. The pull to the right continues.

Next on my list is to get the steering box TSB done.

For those unfamiliar, 2018 thru early 2020 JLs came with an aluminum steering box which, apparently, has too much play. In late 2020, FCA replaced it with a stronger cast iron steering box, and issued a TSB to have the box replaced on vehicles built prior.

Getting the TSB done has proved the most difficult part. My local dealer, which sold me and installed the Mopar lift now refuses to do the TSB on grounds that “it has an aftermarket track bar.” Granted this dealer is run and operated by a bunch of assholes, hence my avatar. But I expected that since I bought the Mopar lift from them, and had them install it, they would honor their commitment. Clearly I was wrong.

The next closest dealer, 30 miles away, has agreed to do the TSB. They ordered the parts; I have an appointment in two weeks. Fingers crossed!

If the TSB fails to eliminate the pull to the right, I might have to consider getting slightly smaller tires. (gulp!)

 

[Jeepin' John]

The pull to the right may be a thing, and mine does it when the lane is sloped down to the right naturally for the road to shed water (which is almost everywhere). Where the lane levels out, mine doesn't pull at all. Then if the lane slopes to the left for some reason (sometimes they'll slope both lanes to the left for better water shedding) it pulls to the left. I think they just pull based on the slope of the lane most of the time. I've had performance cars do the same thing. Is it just the "grabby" wide tires and the slope of the road?

For example, do your jeeps pull to the right in a parking lot?

 

[aldo98229]

The pull to the right may be a thing, and mine does it when the lane is sloped down to the right naturally for the road to shed water (which is almost everywhere). Where the lane levels out, mine doesn't pull at all. Then if the lane slopes to the left for some reason (sometimes they'll slope both lanes to the left for better water shedding) it pulls to the left. I think they just pull based on the slope of the lane most of the time. I've had performance cars do the same thing. Is it just the "grabby" wide tires and the slope of the road?

For example, do your jeeps pull to the right in a parking lot?

Yes. It pulls no matter what road conditions are.

The morons at my Jeep dealer were arguing that “these vehicles tend to follow the crown on the road.” But after a short drive they agree that the pull to the right the Jeep now has is excessive.

 

[LiftedrubiconJT]

It’s a Jeep thing

 

[cdyoung9799]

So for me this all started right after my last trip out on the trail. It pulls slightly to the right. Prior to my trip it never did this before. I'm running 37's Toyo M/T's, 2.5 mopar lift, Fox steering stabilizer. At first I thought maybe I messed up the alignment. So I went to my local alignment shop which did my initial alignment and all the numbers came back spot on. Shop said nothing's wrong with your alignment. They mentioned the same thing they told you and said it's probably the tires causing the slight pull to the right. ?‍ . I checked all my marked bolts to make sure none of them backed out. I'm probably going to take it to the dealership next week to see if it can be steering box related.

I'd be curious to hear what you find out. Sounds like we're dead on with the same mods, tire size, etc. Good luck.

 

[SF_E60]

I'd be curious to hear what you find out. Sounds like we're dead on with the same mods, tire size, etc. Good luck.

Definitely.

 

[JeepSplurt]

I don't know what to do. My brand new Jeep Gladiator Willys pulls fairly hard almost 45 degrees to the right, always. Braking makes it worse. The tech said "hold the steering wheel" so basically thats there only solution but in stop and go and at a red light its annoying to always fight it from going into the other lane, and they are trying to say its normal. Cant be! @JeepCares I need help here..

 

[Mac]

My Sahara started pulling to the right after it got the Mopar lift, and the steering started to wander with the 35-inch tires. Worse, because the Mopar lift doesn’t include an adjustable track bar, the front axle came back two inches off-center, towards the driver side.

I’ve taken a number of corrective actions:

1. The first thing was to get a Yeti adjustable track bar and a wheel alignment. That fixed the off-center issue, but the pull to the right remained.
2. Then I replaced the OE steering damper with a Fox 2.0 stabilizer. It reduced the steering wander and the shaking of the 35-inch tires coming through the steering wheel, but the pull to the right continued.
3. Then I had an X-pattern tire rotation to eliminate the tires as possible cause. The pull to the right continues.

Next on my list is to get the steering box TSB done.

For those unfamiliar, 2018 thru early 2020 JLs came with an aluminum steering box which, apparently, has too much play. In late 2020, FCA replaced it with a stronger cast iron steering box, and issued a TSB to have the box replaced on vehicles built prior.

Getting the TSB done has proved the most difficult part. My local dealer, which sold me and installed the Mopar lift now refuses to do the TSB on grounds that “it has an aftermarket track bar.” Granted this dealer is run and operated by a bunch of assholes, hence my avatar. But I expected that since I bought the Mopar lift from them, and had them install it, they would honor their commitment. Clearly I was wrong.

The next closest dealer, 30 miles away, has agreed to do the TSB. They ordered the parts; I have an appointment in two weeks. Fingers crossed!

If the TSB fails to eliminate the pull to the right, I might have to consider getting slightly smaller tires. (gulp!)

If your front axle was off center 2” there was something installed incorrectly. With a 2”-3” lift the axle shift is around .25”-.5” it does not cause any issue other than esthetics if you can even notice it.

 

[JeepCares]

I don't know what to do. My brand new Jeep Gladiator Willys pulls fairly hard almost 45 degrees to the right, always. Braking makes it worse. The tech said "hold the steering wheel" so basically thats there only solution but in stop and go and at a red light its annoying to always fight it from going into the other lane, and they are trying to say its normal. Cant be! @JeepCares I need help here..

Sure thing. Send us a private message with more details and we can assist.

Kate
Jeep Cares

 

[ShastaJT6]

Really interesting thread. Ive had a pull to the right since day 1, and Ive been chasing it the whole time. It doesnt help that I have added many components that can be blamed - Fox 2.0 stabilizer, Yeti track bar, Lift kit, etc etc.

I have found that the upgrades ive made have improved the steering, reduced wander, etc and the truck has been aligned multiple times (after each major upgrade or anything that could affect steering) but it still has a pull to the right, and I have to apply counterclockwise pressure to the wheel to keep the truck driving straight. Drives me NUTS.

Im taking her in soon for her 20k service and Ive included in the service request that I want the steering box replaced, if its applicable to my VIN, and Ill mention the drift when I take it in. That is, assuming I can actually get the truck in, my dealership is an absolute nightmare to deal with, but thats another story for another time.

 

[dcmdon]

The pull to the right may be a thing, and mine does it when the lane is sloped down to the right naturally for the road to shed water (which is almost everywhere). Where the lane levels out, mine doesn't pull at all. Then if the lane slopes to the left for some reason (sometimes they'll slope both lanes to the left for better water shedding) it pulls to the left. I think they just pull based on the slope of the lane most of the time. I've had performance cars do the same thing. Is it just the "grabby" wide tires and the slope of the road?

For example, do your jeeps pull to the right in a parking lot?

What you are describing is correct and normal steering behavior.

This is caused by the caster in the geometry. Caster is what provides the self centering effect of the front wheels. (when you let go of the wheel at speed, it returns to center).

This also increases a car's tendency to follow the crown. Think of a shopping cart.

 

[aldo98229]

What you are describing is correct and normal steering behavior.

This is caused by the caster in the geometry. Caster is what provides the self centering effect of the front wheels. (when you let go of the wheel at speed, it returns to center).

This also increases a car's tendency to follow the crown. Think of a shopping cart.

Must be a negative side-effect of the front solid axle, then. I’ve owned dozens of other vehicles that drove straight no matter the road conditions.

Also, JK didn’t have this issue to the extent we see on JL/JT. So things clearly changed for the worse.

Two changes FCA made:

1. Drop the time-proven hydraulic steering assist for an electric setup. Automakers around the world have been swapping hydraulics for electric assist, and now struggle with giving electric steering systems adequate feel
2. Use an aluminum steering box to save weight. A negative side-effect of this was reduced stiffness and added play, resulting in JL/JT’s infamous “vague” steering feel and lots of steering wander.

Instead of taking customer complaints seriously and addressing the issue, FCA screwed around for the first four model years, having dealers do a re-flash and later a steering stabilizer recall. Neither worked.

The steering wander was rectified to some extent by swapping back to a cast iron box in the second half of 2020. Jeeps built prior mid-2020 are eligible for a TSB, provided we are able to get our dealers to get off their asses and do their f+cking job...

Add to that a half-assed Mopar lift that doesn’t even include an adjustable track bar...

The entire thing is ridiculous.

 

[aldo98229]

BTW, FCA’s indifference towards customers’ complaints gave Ford the opening to bring out Bronco with an independent front suspension.

Bronco’s production and launch debacle is a separate story. But the ongoing steering issues Jeep owners have with their rigs has become Bronco’s No. 1 selling point.

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