Weird Steering Question

[Marmaduke]

So my jeep came with an ever so slightly tilted steering wheel. It was just a little bit to the left. It always tracked true, it was just a teeny turned while doing it.

So I went to the dealership and they fixed it (no big deal). But now… it almost seems like anytime I am on even the slightest slope to the left, the front wheels want to follow that slope and turn down. While I admittedly don’t have nearly as many right turn slopes, I do not notice such a pronounced want for the wheel to turn to the right if the ride is sloped that way.

I find myself having to correct the wheel a lot to the right because of this. I do not believe it has anything to do with alignment as on flat pavement the jeep stays centered no issue.

I notice it a lot more at slow speeds (as I am traveling slower, it is more pronounced). There is an overpass I take as part of an on ramp every day to get home from work that turns and slopes left. Traffic is usually crap and we are stop and go. When is start inching forward the wheel immediately follows the direction of the slope.

I have never noticed this in any other vehicles. I haven’t owned a jeep in 15 years though….

I guess my question is… am I tripping? Is this normal jeep behavior? Do I need to go find somewhere to check to the right as well? Is there something they adjusted when fixing the steering wheel tilt that would make it more sensitive ti left over right?

I doubt this has anything to do with it, but I had them change the oil (right around 1000 miles on odometer) and rotate the tires when they fixed the steering.

Again, it tracks straight on flat pavement no issue, it just seems really sensitive to left leaning slopes (as opposed to right).

Thank you guys! I really appreciate this community a lot.

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[JTenn]

So my jeep came with an ever so slightly tilted steering wheel. It was just a little bit to the left. It always tracked true, it was just a teeny turned while doing it.

So I went to the dealership and they fixed it (no big deal). But now… it almost seems like anytime I am on even the slightest slope to the left, the front wheels want to follow that slope and turn down. While I admittedly don’t have nearly as many right turn slopes, I do not notice such a pronounced want for the wheel to turn to the right if the ride is sloped that way.

I find myself having to correct the wheel a lot to the right because of this. I do not believe it has anything to do with alignment as on flat pavement the jeep stays centered no issue.

I notice it a lot more at slow speeds (as I am traveling slower, it is more pronounced). There is an overpass I take as part of an on ramp every day to get home from work that turns and slopes left. Traffic is usually crap and we are stop and go. When is start inching forward the wheel immediately follows the direction of the slope.

I have never noticed this in any other vehicles. I haven’t owned a jeep in 15 years though….

I guess my question is… am I tripping? Is this normal jeep behavior? Do I need to go find somewhere to check to the right as well? Is there something they adjusted when fixing the steering wheel tilt that would make it more sensitive ti left over right?

I doubt this has anything to do with it, but I had them change the oil (right around 1000 miles on odometer) and rotate the tires when they fixed the steering.

Again, it tracks straight on flat pavement no issue, it just seems really sensitive to left leaning slopes (as opposed to right).

Thank you guys! I really appreciate this community a lot.

The adjustment to center the steering wheel should not affect a left to right pull. I believe it is just gravity that is causing the slight pull in an off camber scenario. Technically there is not true alignment capabilities on these trucks. Yes you can align them but it's a toe in or out adjustment unless you have adjustable control arms, which sounds like you don't, with only 1000 miles on it. Even with adjustable CA'S you're limited on true alignment. If it tracks straight on level road I don't think you have an issue. My trucks do the same thing.

 

[Lunentucker]

It could be a couple of things.
You may have been holding it more to compensate than you realized before, but now that the wheel is properly centered, you're trying to hold it centered and it's no longer compensating.

The dealer may have done a full alignment and slightly adjusted the only other setting that's adjustable on a stock Gladiator, the toe. That may have changed the dynamics enough for it become more noticeable.

What model do you have? The Mojave seems to be the most notorious for poor handling from the factory, but there have been plenty of similar stories on others.

Members have discovered all kinds of things not properly adjusted and left loose from the factory, or who knows? Maybe stuff works its way loose in transit.

Loose steering gearbox bolts, loose Pitman arm nut, loose ball joints, loose tie rod end ball joints, loose control arm bolts.

Mine benefited from me taking some of the free play out of the steering gearbox itself. Others have done it with good results as well.
Sadly, convincing your dealer they need to go over the entire thing with a torque wrench is going to be a major uphill battle, so it's third party reputable shop or DIY.

Death Wobble, DW, Death Wobble, DW, Death Wobble, Shimmy, Wander, Drift, Bump Steer | Jeep Gladiator Forum - JeepGladiatorForum.com

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ng-wander-fix-cost-me-0-updated-1-7-23.57677/

 

[Marmaduke]

The adjustment to center the steering wheel should not affect a left to right pull. I believe it is just gravity that is causing the slight pull in an off camber scenario. Technically there is not true alignment capabilities on these trucks. Yes you can align them but it's a toe in or out adjustment unless you have adjustable control arms, which sounds like you don't, with only 1000 miles on it. Even with adjustable CA'S you're limited on true alignment. If it tracks straight on level road I don't think you have an issue. My trucks do the same thing.

thank you for the information. It very well could be normal. Traffic was moving today so it was less noticeable, but will try take a video next time I have the opportunity.

It could be a couple of things.
You may have been holding it more to compensate than you realized before, but now that the wheel is properly centered, you're trying to hold it centered and it's no longer compensating.

The dealer may have done a full alignment and slightly adjusted the only other setting that's adjustable on a stock Gladiator, the toe. That may have changed the dynamics enough for it become more noticeable.

What model do you have? The Mojave seems to be the most notorious for poor handling from the factory, but there have been plenty of similar stories on others.

Members have discovered all kinds of things not properly adjusted and left loose from the factory, or who knows? Maybe stuff works its way loose in transit.

Loose steering gearbox bolts, loose Pitman arm nut, loose ball joints, loose tie rod end ball joints, loose control arm bolts.

Mine benefited from me taking some of the free play out of the steering gearbox itself. Others have done it with good results as well.
Sadly, convincing your dealer they need to go over the entire thing with a torque wrench is going to be a major uphill battle, so it's third party reputable shop or DIY.

Death Wobble, DW, Death Wobble, DW, Death Wobble, Shimmy, Wander, Drift, Bump Steer | Jeep Gladiator Forum - JeepGladiatorForum.com

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ng-wander-fix-cost-me-0-updated-1-7-23.57677/

I have a sport, so definitely nothing fancy. Tires right at 35 psi (I may try airing them down slightly).

I had the clutch recall after test driving, but prior to picking the truck up. Not sure what if any steering parts they had to move out of the way, but I’d like to think the dealer torqued everything correctly back down (granted I did not notice the misalignment in the steering wheel during the test drive, but it was dark, raining, and I was talking to the sales guy).

When I went in for the steering wheel the service advisor said they do that all the time and it was a 5 minute fix for them so I’d like to think they didn’t create an issue.

I really liked that second link you sent over. Definitely some food for thought on tightening up the steering a little. There’s a little bit of dead play/slop in the center, but I’m not sure if it’s worth fixing. We will see though as I deal with the driving. As stated above I’ll try to get a video tomorrow for reference.

 

[GWolgamott]

When I hit a deer last fall, they returned the truck to me with it at 10 o'clock. They didn't do and it threw a warning because it detected the steering wheel to one side for a length of time. Was a simple fix for them, when I took it back. The body shop outsourced the alignment to a tire shop next door, so they were very apologetic about that. Was aligned just the steering wheel was off, sloppy work from the tire shop as it was a 10 minute adjustment to fix for them.

 

[tysongladiator]

The first thing you need to do is find out exactly what method they used to adjust your steering wheel. You could start buying parts and still not have your situation resolved. They could have adjusted the drag link or the tie rod. Adjusting each one will give you different results. And it could be your caster.

When I installed my 3.5" lift, I never adjusted the toe correctly. My steering wheel sat at around the 10 o'clock. And it pulled a little. But, once I remembered I never set the toe, I adjusted that. It almost corrected my steering wheel and my truck started reacting completely different.

I have also done a couple videos on my youtube channel. One was from a few years ago when my improperly torqued pitman arm nut was causing issues and the other was from a couple years ago when improperly torqued steering box bolts were causing a minor issue.

And who knows. The ruts/grooves in the road might be worse than they seem and your jeep has no choice but wanting to follow them.

But, you need to find out exactly what the shop did. It may have been a five minute fix, but depending on what they adjusted, that five minute fix might make a huge difference in how it drives.

 

[dayusmc]

I second the thought that they might have adjusted the Toe to fix the steering wheel when they should have adjusted the drag link...
But as was said above it could be something loose and getting the dealer to actually go over everything (instead of just telling you they did) is probably close to impossible.
Are you mechanically inclined at all? If you are, grab the torque spec list (I think it is a sticky) and go over everything yourself. It is also a good way to get familiar with your Gladiator and all the suspension parts so WHEN you have issues in the future you will be more equipped to explain them on here and dix them...
Just my thoughts.

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