Sponsored

Wrangler/Gladiator Loose Steering

chrisblaze

Well-Known Member
First Name
Charles
Joined
May 4, 2020
Threads
26
Messages
111
Reaction score
62
Location
Texas
Vehicle(s)
BMW 328d
Can someone explain to me the "issue" with the loose steering? As this will be my first Jeep, Im not quite understanding it. Is this something that has been around for a while or is this a new issue?
Btw, I would youtube this issue, but its blocked at my location.
Sponsored

 
Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Threads
4
Messages
1,954
Reaction score
2,403
Location
Lake Martin, Alabama
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
Vehicle Showcase
1
I don’t know if it’s the same issues, but Jeeps have been having steering problems since the JK (2007), ..Maybe before, but I’m not super familiar with any issues from the models before the JK.
 

RatZer0

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
113
Reaction score
145
Location
Canada
Vehicle(s)
Rubicon JT
Occupation
Manufacturing Stellantis
OP
OP

chrisblaze

Well-Known Member
First Name
Charles
Joined
May 4, 2020
Threads
26
Messages
111
Reaction score
62
Location
Texas
Vehicle(s)
BMW 328d

LoJac963

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2020
Threads
12
Messages
280
Reaction score
239
Location
Arizona
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
New Fox steering stabilizer and airing the tires down from the 50+ pounds they come with from the factory improved it quite a bit. Still some slight wander but nothing like it was.
 

Sponsored

Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Threads
4
Messages
1,954
Reaction score
2,403
Location
Lake Martin, Alabama
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
Vehicle Showcase
1
I just put my Fox 2.0 TS steering stabilizer on yesterday, and the 15 miles or so I drove were night & day difference from before. It really does help ALOT! It’s not a cure-all, but it’s a huge difference. Search the forum and you’ll see my post from yesterday in the Fox steering stabilizer thread in the suspension sub-section of the tech section of the forum.
 

lrtexasman

Well-Known Member
First Name
Larry
Joined
Sep 7, 2017
Threads
6
Messages
853
Reaction score
715
Location
Dallas, TX
Vehicle(s)
Tahoe
As others have said and if you read the steering link above you will get an idea. In a nutshell, No it is not something all vehicles come with. 2. Test drive the one you want to buy if it drives fine most likely you are all good. 3 if yours develops an issue be sure to check inflation and for loose bolts or worn equipment, maybe add a steering stabilizer 4. It is electric steering and solid front axle (SFA) so there is some differences between SFA and independent front suspension (IFS) vehicles.
 

Icehouse

Member
First Name
Carlos
Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
10
Reaction score
5
Location
Florida
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Gladiator
I recently purchased a JT Mojave and it seems “loose” on the highway. It wonders from left to right while the steering wheel is straight. These is my third Jeep, so I’m familiar with their performance, but it seems excessive. Any recommendations?
 

brianinca

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brian
Joined
Jun 8, 2020
Threads
22
Messages
1,328
Reaction score
1,374
Location
USA
Vehicle(s)
2020 Gladiator Rubicon
Occupation
IT Manager
The Mojave has the same amount of lift over the Sport as the Rubicon does. I took my JTR to my favorite suspension shop to have them tell me what the deal was with the wandery steering. They said insufficient caster was being covered up by excessive toe-in with the factory alignment specs.

That gave me a good data point, and my point of reference changed to the caster change caused by the lift over the stock Gladiator. The lower control arms are the same length as the Sport, despite the difference in ride height, which borks the caster. On my 97 Ranger, to get caster back where it needed to be after lifting I got cut and turned I beams, which wasn't THAT expensive. Dramatic improvement, good enough for an 8" lift, which wasn't necessary.

From posts by LJ owners, I got turned on to the LCA's from the Mopar 2" factory lift. SUPER CHEAP at $60/pair. Mine get here next Monday. There is concern about front pinion angle, but the axle disconnect actually comes in handy for mitigating that. I contacted Benny at @AllMoparParts.com to arrange a shipping discount for two of part number 68322798AA https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku/68322798aa.html

Any adjustable LCA should do the same job, but until I settle on a lift this is a promising cheap fix. It's a small adjustment, but I am hopeful of resolving the vague steering / poor tracking at highway speeds. Also, with 2000 miles coming up, you do kind of get used to it. Looking forward to getting UN-USED to it!

I recently purchased a JT Mojave and it seems “loose” on the highway. It wonders from left to right while the steering wheel is straight. These is my third Jeep, so I’m familiar with their performance, but it seems excessive. Any recommendations?
 

drkshaw

Member
First Name
Ken
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
18
Reaction score
18
Location
Alexandria, VA
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Gobi
Occupation
Emergency Management
Oddly, my steering has gotten better. It was never very bad to begin with, but over the last month or so, it has noticeably improved. I have 5600 miles on a JTR, stock wheels and M/T tires and suspension. The steering drift is almost to the point of not being noticeable anymore. Almost...
 

Sponsored

nerubi

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Jul 12, 2020
Threads
1
Messages
141
Reaction score
105
Location
Nebraska
Vehicle(s)
2019 JLR
Occupation
Retired
On the JL side there are a lot of opinions that are given that absolutely cure it for them but not for most others. Jeep put out a new steering stabilizer to try to appease people. Nothing works consistently.

Dead spots of 3" to 4" are rare if they do exist. Videos taken by people that swear it is terrible shows they hardly do any correction. Solid axles, big tires, lifts, suspension changes can have some effect on making steering different from a Porsche but not as bad as a big truck.

Bronco steering will be absolutely spot on but it is IFS. Harder to do a lift on those though.
 

watarski

Well-Known Member
First Name
Craig
Joined
Dec 13, 2019
Threads
12
Messages
71
Reaction score
16
Location
Panama City Beach, FL
Vehicle(s)
Gladiator
I put a Teraflex Falcon Nexus 2.2 stabillizer on and in the medium and firm settings it exacerbates my "dead spot" issue. A lot more correction is needed to stay in the lane. Pretty bothersome, especially when I had high hopes for the stabilizer. It wasn't a pain to install, but I certainly don't want to take it out. I'd rather have my steering box be tighter...
 

Wkyfiregladdy

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jordan
Joined
Aug 22, 2020
Threads
14
Messages
675
Reaction score
1,318
Location
Ohio
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport S Max Tow
Occupation
Mechanic
I put a Teraflex Falcon Nexus 2.2 stabillizer on and in the medium and firm settings it exacerbates my "dead spot" issue. A lot more correction is needed to stay in the lane. Pretty bothersome, especially when I had high hopes for the stabilizer. It wasn't a pain to install, but I certainly don't want to take it out. I'd rather have my steering box be tighter...
Interesting, I just put the same stabilizer on my self and it makes my steering seem worse than with stock ss I really had almost no complaints, I still haven’t tried soft setting but may try it tomorrow morning, may put the stock one back on to compare again which I’d hate to do
 

3Dirty

Member
First Name
Kenny
Joined
Dec 28, 2019
Threads
4
Messages
9
Reaction score
14
Location
Massachusetts
Vehicle(s)
2020 Gladiator - Sting Gray
I'm in the same boat... my wife hates it, lol
Sponsored

 
 



Top