Stock Mojave - Will Geo brackets be too much correction?

[dayusmc]

That is where the unimpressed part comes in. "Didn't have the results" blah blah. These guys made it seem like I was an inconvenience.

Pretty much as I have said in other posts, don't count on the dealer.
Now it is time to start diagnosing on your own. Start with checking all the joints and ends. I would also invest in a set of DYI alignment plates and check toe yourself...

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[LouisvEarlleJT]

Have you tried driving another Mojave? Being a ‘23 this sounds like a “Hey dealership, something is wrong, idk what, but bumper to bumper warranty so fix it.” type of situation.

Also, I know there are differences in spring rates but I thought the height difference was a combination of tire (33” vs 32 vs 31, etc) and visual trickery (slightly higher front flares). Thats why I think something is just off from the factory, a loose bolt or something. If it was a true geometry issue you’d see it on all of em.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

A leaking seal may easily imply a loose bearing situation. If that's the case, then there's excessive play in the shaft. There's always a reason a seal leaks - and the shaft moving inside the seal more than the seal can account for is going to not only leak - but be loose steering.
Always be suspect if you see a leaking seal on a fairly new steering gear.
There should be no side play in those shafts - preload only, meaning there's some accounting for wear built-in with the preload.

 

[Whiteoak323]

I will most certainly check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Whiteoak323]

Welp times 3. I went under the truck to inspect. Had the SO turn the steering wheel back and forth. Balljoint end of the draglink into the knuckle is warn out. The shaft isn't moving so it appears tight, but there is a big clunk felt. Checked the other components and nothing resonates or is felt. I also inspected the input shaft into the gearbox. It is weeping... I will reach out to the dealer and see if they want to make this right. If they will be willing to get me a rental I will work them. I have their survey on hold.

So yeah, Y'all are right. The basic checks need to be done. Just bummed the dealer didn't do a great check. I think they changed the oil and just told me "hey we adjusted toe, you are good". This is an assumption regardless.

 

[dayusmc]

I NEVER trust the dealer...
and depends how much you value your time and how far the dealer is from you compared to how easy it is to get under the Jeep and check yourself before you go in for warranty work for the dealer to brush you off. But as you see, ut wasn't hard to find two things wrong in your driveway on the ground, it would have been even easier to spot it on a lift while doing an oil change....
The balljoint end of the drag link on my wife's JLU was bad when I bought it used with only 14k on it. The truck is still under warranty. I didn't bother going to the dealer to get another crap drag link, I just ordered the Steer Smarts one and put it on and that took less time than making an appointment at the dealer and bringing the jeep in to have it done.
That is why I laugh when people have bad steering stabilizer go bad in 5k miles and they say, it is under warranty I will bring it back every 5k and get a new one. My time is worth a lot more than a dealer that won't do it right the first time.
As you just experienced, they couldn't figure out that simple stuff when you told them you where having a problem. Do you really trust them to work on your Jeep?

 

[Whiteoak323]

I NEVER trust the dealer...
and depends how much you value your time and how far the dealer is from you compared to how easy it is to get under the Jeep and check yourself before you go in for warranty work for the dealer to brush you off. But as you see, ut wasn't hard to find two things wrong in your driveway on the ground, it would have been even easier to spot it on a lift while doing an oil change....
The balljoint end of the drag link on my wife's JLU was bad when I bought it used with only 14k on it. The truck is still under warranty. I didn't bother going to the dealer to get another crap drag link, I just ordered the Steer Smarts one and put it on and that took less time than making an appointment at the dealer and bringing the jeep in to have it done.
That is why I laugh when people have bad steering stabilizer go bad in 5k miles and they say, it is under warranty I will bring it back every 5k and get a new one. My time is worth a lot more than a dealer that won't do it right the first time.
As you just experienced, they couldn't figure out that simple stuff when you told them you where having a problem. Do you really trust them to work on your Jeep?

This is really the hard part. They are responsible for the fix. Do I trust them, no. I have options. I just need to figure out what I want to put the effort into. I wanted this to be less about a crappy dealer and more specific to the situation. In the end, "check your components" was the key. I was lazy with the snow outside. Could of had better info going into the dealer as well.

 

[SREAD]

I have a '23 Mojave and do alot of freeway driving. Obviously you need to fix anything that is loose or leaking but while you are there go ahead and do the Mopar LCA's. You will be glad you did.

 

[Whiteoak323]

I have a '23 Mojave and do alot of freeway driving. Obviously you need to fix anything that is loose or leaking but while you are there go ahead and do the Mopar LCA's. You will be glad you did.

It seems like there is enough buzz around adding some caster, so I will move forward with ordering them.

 

[Whiteoak323]

Update

Dealer ended up replacing the drag link, though the tech wasn't super confident it was bad but agreed that he could feel the movement. I went ahead and ordered the mopar control arms and had them ready for them to install with the new drag link. They performed an alignment and I made a request to get the results.

Stock Mojave with mopar lift kit control arms netted me 5.2/5.0 caster.

The truck feels better. So that is good. I can live with its current characteristics. But it does still have some wander, just less. I have a Fox TS SS that will be going on soon. and I think I'm going to try and adjust the gearing box next. If I decide to tinker past that. I think I'll try a trackbar brace.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The truck feels better. So that is good. I can live with its current characteristics. But it does still have some wander, just less. I have a Fox TS SS that will be going on soon. and I think I'm going to try and adjust the gearing box next. If I decide to tinker past that. I think I'll try a trackbar brace.

if there is indeed play in the steering sector, or steering gear, it would result in play in the steering. So you need to ask - does the steering respond the instant you move the wheel, or is there some play and you need to move it a bit before it responds.
Wander != play. You can have a truck that likes to wander with little to no play.
On a flat road surface, no crown, no tip left or right, I can let go of the wheel and it tracks straight, there's no wander. It wants to continue to go straight. Coming out of a tight curve, it wants to fight a bit and try to go straight - that's good.

 

[Whiteoak323]

if there is indeed play in the steering sector, or steering gear, it would result in play in the steering. So you need to ask - does the steering respond the instant you move the wheel, or is there some play and you need to move it a bit before it responds.
Wander != play. You can have a truck that likes to wander with little to no play.
On a flat road surface, no crown, no tip left or right, I can let go of the wheel and it tracks straight, there's no wander. It wants to continue to go straight. Coming out of a tight curve, it wants to fight a bit and try to go straight - that's good.

I'll say its really tricky for me to pinpoint. The Steering wheel feels great, it doesn't SEEM sloppy. But I can most certainly move between a certain amount of degrees and the truck isn't responding. I've owned a bunch of Chevy S10s that notoriously had sloppy gear boxes as well and it was so obvious. So, I'm trying to match reasonable expectations.

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