Steering Stabilizer Dilemma…

[YukonCornelius]

Looking for any expertise or experience with the Fox FRS ATS stabilizer. I’m looking to start purchasing some mods, and with both the JKs an JLs, I don’t like the factory equipment. I see lots of folks go with Fox, Teraflex, Icon, and Rough Country

I‘m currently in between the Fox FRS ATS and the new Roadmaster Exact Center, which really piqued my interest… anyone know much on that product as well?

 

[Turboencabulator]

Looking for any expertise or experience with the Fox FRS ATS stabilizer.

I have no expertise or experience. But..... I plan on going with the Fox ATS stabilizer here is why.

It seems to me one of the biggest complaints I hear about the Jeep Wrangler is "vague/sloppy" steering. I have been researching what remedies exist and the 5 main "fixes" I will explore in order are:

1. Add the Fox ATS steering stabilizer; The fact that it is fully adjustable and neurally dampened with the Adjustable Through Shaft seems like a perfect solution and easy to replace and fine tune myself. I have had great experience with FOX in the past and I know the engineering is well thought out.

2. Use the correct tire pressure; using the old chalk on the tread technique to make sure the tires are properly inflated and making ideal ground contact for nice sure footed tracking.

3. Get the TSB (08-074-20) done to replace the Aluminum steering box with the Steel Steering box. I would hope all new 392 should come with the updated steel steering box from the factory.

4. Add the Synergy Track bar reinforcement and Sector Shaft Brace to prevent any defection of the steering box. I would hope the new steering box TSB would make this step unnecessary.

5. If there is still play them I may consider adjusting the backlash in the steering box as described in this video to help work out some of the play, I hope this is also unnecessary:

 

[byhumba]

I look forward to your updates as you do these upgrades. Hopefully it gets fixed at # 1.

 

[Gnomad]

I have no expertise or experience. But..... I plan on going with the Fox ATS stabilizer here is why.

It seems to me one of the biggest complaints I hear about the Jeep Wrangler is "vague/sloppy" steering. I have been researching what remedies exist…

I picked up my 392 XR in Ohio and drove it 500 miles back to NC that first day. I was shocked at how tight the steering was (coming from a 2018 JLUR) and what fantastic road manners it had. Buzzing down the highway, I could easily do the two fingers on the wheel like my wife’s SUV. Night and day difference from my JLUR which, although wasn’t ever horrible, was definitely a chore to drive cross country.

Wife didn’t like driving my old Jeep(bonus!), but she had the new 392 out this past week and came home glowing about how much better she liked driving it! (Gulp!)

I guess YMMV, especially if your plans are to put on 37s and a lift etc…but I just wanted toss this out there. Jeep has nailed it with the 392 IMHO.

In the spirit of “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke”, just wanted to offer up the opinion to hold off on trying to fix steering issues until you take delivery. You just may find they don’t exist.

 

[byhumba]

I picked up my 392 XR in Ohio and drove it 500 miles back to NC that first day. I was shocked at how tight the steering was (coming from a 2018 JLUR) and what fantastic road manners it had. Buzzing down the highway, I could easily do the two fingers on the wheel like my wife’s SUV. Night and day difference from my JLUR which, although wasn’t ever horrible, was definitely a chore to drive cross country.

Wife didn’t like driving my old Jeep(bonus!), but she had the new 392 out this past week and came home glowing about how much better she liked driving it! (Gulp!)

I guess YMMV, especially if your plans are to put on 37s and a lift etc…but I just wanted toss this out there. Jeep has nailed it with the 392 IMHO.

With the thought of “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke”, just wanted to offer up the opinion to hold off on trying to fix steering issues until you take delivery. You just may find they don’t exist.

I agree. I've driven my short wheel base TJ Wrangler on long trips. This 392's stability is a Cadillac in comparison. I was blown away driving it, but again, my baseline is a TJ Jeep. If you come from an IFS SUV, you will notice the steering play but won't take much to get used to it.

 

[BenLandry]

I have the fox ATS…I put my tires on day1 and the stabilizer on day 2 so I didn’t have a lot of time to compare. Like others above have said… it’s a night and day drive compared to my supercharged JK with the same size tires and rims. I comfortably drive this beast at 80-85 without any anxiety. I occasionally tap 100 completely accidentally while passing and don’t notice until I look at the speedO. But I think the real test is when my wife drives it also. Same as above…she couldn’t stand driving the JK but loves taking the 392. I does have some slight wondering but very minimal

 

[Turboencabulator]

I was shocked at how tight the steering was… Jeep has nailed it with the 392 IMHO.

With the thought of “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke”, just wanted to offer up the opinion to hold off on trying to fix steering issues until you take delivery. You just may find they don’t exist.

I agree…. This 392's stability is a Cadillac in comparison.

I comfortably drive this beast at 80-85 without any anxiety. I occasionally tap 100 completely accidentally while passing and don’t notice until I look at the speedO. But I think the real test is when my wife drives it also. Same as above…she couldn’t stand driving the JK but loves taking the 392.

That is great to hear that Jeep nailed it with the 392 steering. And I definitely don’t want to “fix what ain’t broke”.

Buying this 392 has been kinda funny. I order a vehicle never having driven it. Then I wait for a long time in D status all the while watching and reading 392 reviews and test drives where so called “experts” (anyone with more than 200 subscribers on YouTube) give their opinion of the 392. Of course everyone loves the power plant… Duh. And can’t believe the sticker price. But then when it comes to faults they often need to come up with something so they go with old tried and true “it has wandering and vague steering”. So I have been researching this so called Achilles heel. And mostly just educating myself on the possible causes. But one of those causes has to include include piss poor reviews on YouTube. So until I drive it for a while, I know nothing. But, I am learning a lot about the mechanical workings in the mean time. And it is great to hear from others that it drives just fine!

 

[YukonCornelius]

Thanks all! As always, appreciate the feedback. I’m leaning towards the Fox FRS ATS but based on comments may wait until after I drive…

 

[CBH]

That is great to hear that Jeep nailed it with the 392 steering. And I definitely don’t want to “fix what ain’t broke”.

Buying this 392 has been kinda funny. I order a vehicle never having driven it. Then I wait for a long time in D status all the while watching and reading 392 reviews and test drives where so called “experts” (anyone with more than 200 subscribers on YouTube) give their opinion of the 392. Of course everyone loves the power plant… Duh. And can’t believe the sticker price. But then when it comes to faults they often need to come up with something so they go with old tried and true “it has wandering and vague steering”. So I have been researching this so called Achilles heel. And mostly just educating myself on the possible causes. But one of those causes has to include include piss poor reviews on YouTube. So until I drive it for a while, I know nothing. But, I am learning a lot about the mechanical workings in the mean time. And it is great to hear from others that it drives just fine!

That is great to hear that Jeep nailed it with the 392 steering. And I definitely don’t want to “fix what ain’t broke”.

Buying this 392 has been kinda funny. I order a vehicle never having driven it. Then I wait for a long time in D status all the while watching and reading 392 reviews and test drives where so called “experts” (anyone with more than 200 subscribers on YouTube) give their opinion of the 392. Of course everyone loves the power plant… Duh. And can’t believe the sticker price. But then when it comes to faults they often need to come up with something so they go with old tried and true “it has wandering and vague steering”. So I have been researching this so called Achilles heel. And mostly just educating myself on the possible causes. But one of those causes has to include include piss poor reviews on YouTube. So until I drive it for a while, I know nothing. But, I am learning a lot about the mechanical workings in the mean time. And it is great to hear from others that it drives just fine!

Before you evaluate the “road manners" of the 392, or any new vehicle for that matter, I believe you have to drive it for a while, to give your mind and body a chance to synch with the vehicle.

When I first drove my 392 back in June I was amazed at the power and the smoothness of the ride (compared to my 2012 JK); however, I did feel like I had to pay more attention at controlling the vehicle compared to my daily driver, a 2021 Mercedes GLE 450, which has so many driver aids you sometimes don’t realize it’s supplementing your driving, especially with its superb “lane keeping assist” feature.

But after a few months of driving, the difference became less noticeable as I “synched” with the road manners of the 392. Now I don’t even think about it as muscle memory kicks in every time I get behind the wheel.

So, my recommendation is to enjoy the work all those Jeep designers did in producing the "Best Jeep Ever" before you start trying to improve something (like steering), that is pretty darn good. especially for a Jeep.

 

[YukonCornelius]

Thanks @CBH - appreciate the input with comparisons. I for one found myself actually MISSING the Jeep steering quirks of that solid front axel. You are absolutely correct in your assessment of “ once you’re used to it ‘ that it’s not the monster YouTubers and reviewers make it out to be. In fact, the day after I jumped over to an IFS SUV I found myself really missing the “engaged” nature of the Jeep steering. Miss it every day.

Anyways, what I’m after isn’t steering fix, but a better than OEM solution for steering wheel yank hitting ruts or obstacles at higher speeds. Never been a rock crawler but love to hit trails and dunes hard. Jeep‘s factory stabilizer dies about 15 minutes into any run and begins to fade.

 

[CBH]

Thanks @CBH - appreciate the input with comparisons. I for one found myself actually MISSING the Jeep steering quirks of that solid front axel. You are absolutely correct in your assessment of “ once you’re used to it ‘ that it’s not the monster YouTubers and reviewers make it out to be. In fact, the day after I jumped over to an IFS SUV I found myself really missing the “engaged” nature of the Jeep steering. Miss it every day.

Anyways, what I’m after isn’t steering fix, but a better than OEM solution for steering wheel yank hitting ruts or obstacles at higher speeds. Never been a rock crawler but love to hit trails and dunes hard. Jeep‘s factory stabilizer dies about 15 minutes into any run and begins to fade.

I go through the same phenomenon every time I switch back to my “safe but boring” daily driver. It’s making me rethink what I really want for a daily driver...definitely something more engaging.

 

[Jeepstin392]

Looking for any expertise or experience with the Fox FRS ATS stabilizer. I’m looking to start purchasing some mods, and with both the JKs an JLs, I don’t like the factory equipment. I see lots of folks go with Fox, Teraflex, Icon, and Rough Country

I‘m currently in between the Fox FRS ATS and the new Roadmaster Exact Center, which really piqued my interest… anyone know much on that product as well?

I ran the Fox set up for 90k miles on my JK and not one issue. Quality, longevity, no problem or failures. It also performed well. Even during g a few high speed runs (70-90mph) through the desert for 1 hour+ durations, and no faid, slop or reduction in performance. Add to this, road trips, 1,500 miles, 80-90mph sustained speeds, hours at a time, again with zero issues in integrity or performance.
I just starting shopping this morning for the Fox set up for the JL.

 

[YukonCornelius]

Perfect! Thanks @Jeepstin392 ! Sound basically like the same abuse I’ll be throwing at it.

 

[Jeepstin392]

Perfect! Thanks @Jeepstin392 ! Sound basically like the same abuse I’ll be throwing at it.

It was robust.
I literally took a “short cut”, 90 mph across a washboard, rutted out, desert road through New Mexico, 80° temps, over about 100 miles.
Fox shocks and stabilizer had no fade, no drop in performance, and, no failure.
Tried and true my friend.

 

[YukonCornelius]

Now, here's to hoping whatever the painted OEM shocks on the XR are, they can hold up as good as Fox

 

[Jeepstin392]

Now, here's to hoping whatever the painted OEM shocks on the XR are, they can hold up as good as Fox

I don’t have an XR, but I do have Fox Shocks. X-RAY doesn’t come with Fox?

 

[YukonCornelius]

I don’t have an XR, but I do have Fox Shocks. X-RAY doesn’t come with Fox?

Nope... MOPAR "tuned" painted shocks sadly...
Folks say they feel great, though. But IMHO they're not going to run so consistently as FOX

 

[Jeepstin392]

Nope... MOPAR "tuned" painted shocks sadly...
Folks say they feel great, though. But IMHO they're not going to run so consistently as FOX

So, my “Fox” shocks, aren’t Fox…
They seem ok. But definitely felt different than my last set up. There’s more chop on washboard roads and when hitting any bumps, as compared to my last units.

I was thinking it was the stock set up overall vs my last Rubicon.

just did a quick search. Conflicting info on the shocks.
one place says they’re built by Fox to MOPAR specs. Another write indicates they are Fox Branded.
you just cost me $1600 brother…

 

[YukonCornelius]

Sorry man! Don't shoot the messenger! JK!

But you have non-XR correct? You're good with the FOX then... it's just XRs. Not sure who/what MOPAR uses. Everyone says they ride great on the XR, but I'd still feel better knowing that they are Fox versus MOPAR OEM "tuned." Always been a fan, and they never fade, and they've always lasted longer than I kept a vehicle for.

 

[Jeepstin392]

Sorry man! Don't shoot the messenger! JK!

But you have non-XR correct? You're good with the FOX then... it's just XRs. Not sure who/what MOPAR uses. Everyone says they ride great on the XR, but I'd still feel better knowing that they are Fox versus MOPAR OEM "tuned." Always been a fan, and they never fade, and they've always lasted longer than I kept a vehicle for.

It doesn’t look like there’s much specifically for the 392.
I’ll look, just not in a hurry.