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2011 Jeep JK steering issues

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Old Nov 12, 2025 | 11:09 AM
  #1  
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Default 2011 Jeep JK steering issues

I’m having some issues with the way my 2011 JK is handling. Back story to this jeep. Bought it a couple of years ago after I sold my 2014 JKU. This one is a six speed base model. I recently upgraded tires from 33x12.5-17 on Oscar Mike wheels to 35x10.5-17 skinnies on stock Rubicon wheels. The jeep does have Rock Jock anti rock in the front and 3.5” springs all around that are fairly new. The jeep pushes all the time. Like a front wheel drive car in the rain. It’s worse on right hand turns for some reason too. When you turn the wheel you can feel it kind of hesitate, then it feels like it turns. It’s kind of hard to describe.
I’ve been trying things to make it better but so far no luck. The springs are less than a year old and the bilsteins are too. I have a new adjustable trac bar on it and the axle is centered. I just put on adjustable lower control arms set 7/16” longer to get my caster better. I just put a brand new tie rod assembly on as the old one was rusted and I couldn’t set tow. Tow is now at 3/16”. I have also tightened the steering box up with the adjustment screw. Although I couldn’t tell a difference. The steering wheel has never felt loose. The only thing that has been replaced it the drag link which feels fine. Wheel bearings have no play either.
It does flash the warning light on the dash occasionally (stability control) on the way to and from work on blacktop all the way. It is a very curvy road though. It is soft at the front and I’m thinking of putting a stick sway bar back on the front, as this is my daily and I only get to wheel is a few times a year. Other than that and throwing another trac bar at it I’m almost out of options. Any help or advice would be appreciated.
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Old Nov 14, 2025 | 10:46 AM
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IMHO:
1) I don't think your stability control light should be coming on during normal on pavement driving, even on a winding road.

2) My understanding is Rock Jock functions somewhat like a softer sway bar, somewhere in between a stock sway bar and none at all.
You might try the stock sway bar and see if that improves things. If so, keep it and put on some quick disconnects for when you go wheeling.

Keep in mind your 2 door has a relatively short wheelbase and can be more sensitive to front end issues.
On my old built XJ I could get by on the street with the sway bar disconnected, but it had a longer wheelbase and seat-of-the-pants felt like it had a lower CG than my JKU.
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Old Nov 18, 2025 | 10:39 AM
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I went back to a factory sway bar with wuick disconnects for now. The front is way better. Stability control still flashes from time to time but less frequently.
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Old Nov 18, 2025 | 01:57 PM
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Sounds like you are making progress.
What tire pressures are you running? I'm just shooting in the dark here, but maybe try a few more psi in the front than the rear.
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Old Nov 19, 2025 | 12:11 AM
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Body roll is way better currently. Stability still triggers more frequently than I think it should. I have tried tire pressures from 28 to 33 lbs. I can’t really tell a difference. The front still pushes a lot when it’s wet. It pushes at initial turn in then it seems to set and goes fine after that. I wonder if the Aussie locker in the Dana 30 is causing issues?
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