steering wobbly
- Thread starter spyder625
- Start date
stumblinhorse
Well-known member
Tell us about your Jeep. Your first Jeep? Tires? tire psi? Lift?
stumblinhorse
Well-known member
Tire psi? And what tires?
It's a Jeep. End thread....lol!!
computertom
Well-known member
Tell me you have a Wrangler without telling me you have a Wrangler…. 
Wobbly as in the wheels and steering wheel shimmy or wobbly in that it drifts and follows the contours of the road? Or do you mean that there's an excessive dead spot in the steering before your inputs result in the jeep doing something? I ask because they could all be different issues.
I come to the 392 world from a Gladiator that had the first gen aluminum steering gear. I had that replaced and it removed the dead spot, but the jeep always shimmied. I could see the front wheels wiggling even after checking everything on the suspension and having the wheels road force balanced twice.
My 392 has none of these issues and is a dream to drive, besides the MPGs
hardhat
Well-known member
So about the steering......solid front axle cars with 5 link suspension generally don't track as well as independent suspension vehicles.
My 392 and my previous JK both required minor corrections to steering to keep them on the road (392 is much better than JK).
Dropping PSI from factory setting down to 28-32 helps a lot. I run mine at 28 as that is what AEV recommended for my previous JK and I still got more wear on middle of tires than edges. MPG did not drop with lowering pressure (I average 13.5mpg XR 35's 4.56 gears)
I tightened my steering box to remove almost all of the play in the steering wheel and this helped a lot. There is a youtube video, but go slow (1/8 turn at a time and mark everything with pain marker). You can bind the steering box if you overtighten it. I have pretty well gotten used to the lack of on center feel....unless it is windy. Not a whole lot of fun to cruise on the highway on windy days.
Some have suggested synergy track bar and steering brace. I'm gonna put one of these on. Had one on my JK (mainly for trackbar mount) and it was a nice piece. I don't personally think this is the problem as there is not much load on the steering going straight down the road and I don't things are flexing unless steering is under high load (like when stopped, or offroading on uneven terrain).
Roadmaster makes an exact center steering stabilizer that returns steering to center and should give strong on center feel. I have one of these on the way and will report findings.
Other thing that might help are the mopar lower control arms that come with mopar 2 inch lift kits. Supposedly caster is 4 degrees on the 392 and 6 degrees is better for on road driving. Only concern here is that this might mess pinion angle on front DS up enough to cause vibes. I have these coming as well and will report.
Like I said, mine is livable and much better than the JK but definitely not as good as my wife's 2014 land cruiser.
My 392 and my previous JK both required minor corrections to steering to keep them on the road (392 is much better than JK).
Dropping PSI from factory setting down to 28-32 helps a lot. I run mine at 28 as that is what AEV recommended for my previous JK and I still got more wear on middle of tires than edges. MPG did not drop with lowering pressure (I average 13.5mpg XR 35's 4.56 gears)
I tightened my steering box to remove almost all of the play in the steering wheel and this helped a lot. There is a youtube video, but go slow (1/8 turn at a time and mark everything with pain marker). You can bind the steering box if you overtighten it. I have pretty well gotten used to the lack of on center feel....unless it is windy. Not a whole lot of fun to cruise on the highway on windy days.
Some have suggested synergy track bar and steering brace. I'm gonna put one of these on. Had one on my JK (mainly for trackbar mount) and it was a nice piece. I don't personally think this is the problem as there is not much load on the steering going straight down the road and I don't things are flexing unless steering is under high load (like when stopped, or offroading on uneven terrain).
Roadmaster makes an exact center steering stabilizer that returns steering to center and should give strong on center feel. I have one of these on the way and will report findings.
Other thing that might help are the mopar lower control arms that come with mopar 2 inch lift kits. Supposedly caster is 4 degrees on the 392 and 6 degrees is better for on road driving. Only concern here is that this might mess pinion angle on front DS up enough to cause vibes. I have these coming as well and will report.
Like I said, mine is livable and much better than the JK but definitely not as good as my wife's 2014 land cruiser.
- Thread starter
- #10
thanks for insight, this is my 5 jeep.. and my other ones actually were better than the 392. keep tires at 33psi and yes seems to have some deadspace before wheel actually turns... i know its a jeep but......
cburgess33
Active member
agree owned many jeeps and the 392 XR definitely doesnt have the chase of the others… crap I havent even had to air down my tires yet
so if u have had jeeps and think the 392 is bad then something is def wrong
so if u have had jeeps and think the 392 is bad then something is def wrong
I'm coming from a Gladiator that had to have the aluminum steering box replaced with cast iron. I know wobbly and soft. My 392 is 1000% better than that experience, but it's no BMW. I do think the springs are really soft and have my eye on an AEV lift.
Gnomad
Well-known member
- Nov 13, 2021
- 113
- 237
- Current Rides
- 2021 Jeep 392 XR / 2019 Corvette Z06/ 2004 Corvette Z06
Aired down to 35psi at the dealer in Ohio before my 500 mile drive back to NC. I was astonished at how well my 392 XR tracked down the highway, compared to my old JLUR.
Running 32psi now on Baja Boss AT 35s, and it isn’t quite as good, but very close.
Lot’s of similar reports on the 392 XR, sounds like something is off with your rig.
Filmed this the other day…
Running 32psi now on Baja Boss AT 35s, and it isn’t quite as good, but very close.
Lot’s of similar reports on the 392 XR, sounds like something is off with your rig.
Filmed this the other day…
Last edited:
prodriquez
Well-known member
I had a similar issue and it turned out to be a loose bolt.
Start your Jeep, leave it in Park, and turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock. It should be pretty easy to spot if this is your problem.
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