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-   -   2021 steering question (https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/stock-jl-tech-222/2021-steering-question-355815/)

Andy's Jeep Feb 4, 2021 05:59 PM

2021 steering question
 
Drove our new 2021 80th Anniversary 2 door Wrangler about 7 miles home from the dealership, called the sales guy and told him the steering was loose. Everything feels safe, just like something isn't tight. The service guy drove it this week and said it was fine, but I don't think it's right. It has about 250 miles on it. I've checked the tire pressure and that looks fine. Looking for suggestions.
Thanks

Sv_dude Feb 4, 2021 09:29 PM

You gotta give more info. What feels loose about it? Is there play in the steering wheel, does it wander?

Andy's Jeep Feb 5, 2021 07:45 AM

More information
 
When driving on a straight street or highway and your hand in the 12:00 position you need to constantly move to the 1:00 position and back....constantly or it won't stay on the road. No noise, no shimmy, everything else is fine.

When moving the steering wheel from center, there is a brief spot where the steering wheel moves (like a dead spot) before the steering wheel starts to do anything. This dead spot appears to be the problem to me.

Thanks so much for the help.

doc5339 Feb 5, 2021 08:35 AM

You could get under the Jeep while someone is turning the steering wheel and look for slop. If you are used to driving live axle vehicles and feel like something is wrong, there probably is something off. If you have only driven Independent Front Suspension (IFS) and are used to steering tracking dead straight, welcome to Jeep life as the steering does require constant small inputs to maintain a straight heading; probably worse on TJ, JK than JL.

Sv_dude Feb 5, 2021 09:06 AM

I used to have some older Toyota’s that had independent front suspension with a steering box instead of rack and pinion steering. I don’t recall having slop there, so I’d imagine a Jeep shouldn’t either. The steering should be tight without that big of a dead spot. Maybe get another opinion or test drive another JL and see if there’s a difference between the two. There is an adjustment for the steering box but you shouldn’t have to mess with it.

Andy's Jeep Feb 5, 2021 09:40 AM

Thanks much for the help. Really appreciate it.

If I could figure out how to upload a video I would add it as an attachment, but that feature doesn't seem to work.

Thanks again. About 5 degrees here and I'm going out to crawl under a Jeep with less than 300 miles on it :)



oldnavygunner Aug 22, 2021 10:28 AM

I have a 2018 Wrangler that had same issue. Steering felt very loose and you had to constantly fight to keep it in your lane. Service manager said my issue was that the Jeep had a shorter wheelbase than my explorer and I had to adjust to it.
Funny thing, Jeep finally issued a service bulletin on the steering and when they finished the problem was gone. I would ask them to look back at that service bulletin and see if it would help.

resharp001 Aug 22, 2021 11:41 AM


Originally Posted by oldnavygunner (Post 4385441)
Steering felt very loose and you had to constantly fight to keep it in your lane. Service manager said my issue was that the Jeep had a shorter wheelbase than my explorer and I had to adjust to it.

This is the crap dealers say....smh. For anyone that is told something like this the best idea is to go someplace else. I promise that no auto manufacturer these days is pumping out vehicles that feel like you can't keep it in the lane. For someone to try and explain that as you just are used to your old vehicle is simply shit commentary. If it feels like there is a problem, there is. Glad your issue was resolved.


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