Will This Bracket FIX Our Jeeps Steering Issues??
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Synergy JL Brace: amzn.to/3co0Fpw
Synergy JK Brace: amzn.to/32vkA14 + amzn.to/32z4i7C
Or call Gillian at Offroad Elements for pricing; 774-826-9948 and mention this video! She will give you better pricing!
42mm socket: amzn.to/2TlZQVl
3/4 adapter: amzn.to/2vpBke7
JK Wranglers will use a 32mm socket!
In this video, we are going to find out if the Synergy Trackbar and sector shaft brace will help out with our 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicons steering issues.
The Jeep has had a strange (loose) steering issue since we drove it off the lot. In fact, many other owners have noticed the same thing...
Previous to this, we have added adjustable control arms for caster, adjusted tire PSI, added a adjustable steering stabilizer, and i even messed around with the tie rod toe setting to see if it made any differences.
With those upgrades, the steering was enhanced quite a bit, however a small amount of slop was still noticed.
As you can tell, the steering box actually has some play.. Im not sure what is causing it, however i do know that this new brace stopped the play, and it sure did strengthen everything up!
If you are having any steering issues, or simply want to beef up your steering in a known weak spot then i would highly reccomend a brace for any JT,JL, or JK wrangler.
I hope you enjoyed the video, and hopefully this will help a few of you.
Thank you for watching, please leave a thumbs up and i will see you all next week.
If you are interested in this, whether it’s for your JK, JL or JT I would highly recommend calling Gillian at Offroad Elements and get pricing. Tell her Ben sent ya 🤘 .
(774) 826-9948
I ran the Synergy Trackbar support bracket on my JKU for years and it worked great!
The timing of this video though... You're the man Ben.
JK Gear and Gadgets and now I have you’re old track bar brace on my JKU! I still think that’s kinda cool
my 2018 jl steers fine after 25,000 miles. but great video and something to keep in mind for the future. might be good on my daughters 2006 tj though ( or get rid of her mud tires)
I guess I'm lucky. I've seen a few posts on the facebook pages of people complaining about the steering/wobble, but I have had zero issues with steering before and after my lift install.
How is your steering on jku?
I installed this on my ‘14 JKUR. It seemed to help some, but after a while, the nut holding the dropped pittman arm fell off and was lost, and I had to order a new one. Once I installed the new one, I notice the steering was getting loose again, so looked, and saw the nut was loose again. Tightened it again and drove a couple of weeks. It got loose again. I requested support from Synergy, but no help. So, I removed the sector shaft brace, but kept the track bar brace installed. Put the original pittman arm nut back on. Upon inspection of the Synergy nut, it has an uneven wear on one side, where it contacts the Synergy bearing, causing it to come loose, even when torquing to 180 ft-lb.
So, inspect you nut to proper tightness periodically.
Don’t listen to everyone trying to be Jeep experts. They have owned a Jeep for 6 month, watched TH-cam =expert. I’ve Owned 75 CJ, and a 05 Rubicon. You know when something is off. Great work
For those that have the original Synergy brace: There is a screw on the bottom of the aluminum block to prevent the bronze ring from coming out; however, even with this screw tight, the bronze ring in the aluminum block has a tendency of rotating (speaking from experience). If it does, there is a chance that your grease hole in the aluminum block no longer lines up with the grease hole in the bronze ring. A quick way to test it is if you apply grease and notice grease coming out between the aluminum block and the ring instead of the ring and the pitman arm nut, your bronze ring has probably rotated. Synergy has corrected this issue by designing a new aluminum block that has a set-screw drilled into the side of the bronze ring to prevent it from turning. They also have a new pitman arm nut design that includes rubber o-rings to help keep the grease in and foreign particles out.
So glad we did this. It drive soooo much better!
I don’t feel my steering is loose, but it’s the wondering on the road I am experiencing. Did this help with that? Like when the wind blows or I pass a truck it pushes my Gladiator. I have owned plenty of Jeep Wranglers and never experienced this.
michael murray experiencing the same. Some days worse than others but constant micro corrections to stay centered in the lane.
I know there are weld issues in that area, steering box or something pulling away from the frame, welds breaking?
michael murray same on my 2020 Rubicon
they finally got the jk squared away lol and now this? lol glad I stuck with the 2018 jk and not the 2018 jl..
I had the TSB done on mine, night and day difference. My Rubicon would not drive straight with the original steering box, it was all over the road and I was waiting to get pulled over for DUI. The TSB change made a world of difference.
I was just out of warranty on my JL when they released the new steel gear box and was told $1K to replace the original crap aluminum one. Pissed as this is a safety issue and also feel like a drunk driver when at speeds 50+.... I'm not a person that believes in frivolous lawsuits but Jeep needs to fix the issue period.
@@drewengles4477 agree, it is a danger.
Your daughter's concern about the jeep being broken was so sweet!!!
I cant wait to have kids to take off road!
Hello, On my JKUR I installed the Synergy Steering Box, Sector Shaft / Track Bar Bracket. The main reason for me was a strength improvement. Someone I know showed me a video of him driving his Jeep and breaking his stock JK Sector Shaft. I did not want that happening to my Jeep.I also had issues of getting it all lined up, I needed to use a die grinder with a bur to make the track bar bolt hole line up.I to would say Thumbs UP. Thanks, take care and stay safe.
Before I lifted my Gladiator it had good solid steering, but since I was installing 3.5 in. lift and 37's I went ahead and ordered and installed that bracket. The steering is nice and solid.
Should i get synergy track bar or i can use any other track bar?
I forgot to post after I got my JT Rubi into the dealer a few months back. The new Steering Gear box they replaced under the steering TSB makes a night and day difference. There is no more play in the steering, where before i could turn the wheel a good 10-15 degrees before the vehicle begin to turn, all that is gone with the new steel gear box.
This has to be what the deal is with our 2020 JL! My wife and I have owned every open-top Jeep from CJ’s to our current JL (plus each of our children own a JK currently). We have never experienced quite what the JL’s steering is like. From the sales floor we’ve been saying that the steering is loose and that it wanders, but we assumed it was because we were so used to her BMW, which had a very tight, sporty steering. We will definitely be trying this kit. Thank goodness I stumbled on your channel today! You’ve won my subscription!
I know this is old now, but how is it now? I too have a BMW (X3 M40i) and I really notice the slop when switching back and forth between the BMW ad my JLUR.
My steering wasn't bad before, but when I added this kit I came to realize it was bad. This brace is a no brainer solid improvement.
Just wanted to add a BIG +1. I installed the same bracket a few days ago on my 2019 JL. By chance I also have the Falcon stabilizer. In my case, not only was there play, but there was more play turning right than left. Presumably this is because the box pulls away from the frame turning right while it's up against the frame turning left. Super annoying. Anyway, the bracket seems to have removed most of the play and made it even. So much better now.
I agree! I had the same issues before and after a 3.5 inch lift on 37's with my JLUR and the synergy track bar sector shaft brace really helped tighten up the steer. Night and day difference for me!
Wish I could find something like that for the jeep WJ .
Start watching at 15:04, and watch the sector shaft base, specifically back near the golden grade 8 bolt next to the zerg fitting. It's still flexing quite a lot. It's even causing the Synergy track bar bracket part to flex too...
It's unbelievable how much flex is still happening, I wonder if he just didn't see it?
Totally recommend this mod! Made a massive difference on my JK!
i literally just installed this on my JLUR and it tightened it up by 75-80% and i found the exact same complications you did. had to beat and pry on the bracket a bit to get all the bolts lined up.
Installed this on my JTR about 2 weeks ago. My JTR isn't lifted yet and watching your video shows it would of been much easier if it had been. Had to heat my pitman arm nut as well. then it came right off. Re-torqueing the new one is fun, helps to have both tires on the ground so steering linkage doesn't move. Definitely tightens up the steering.
I have this on my JK with 35s. Synergy recommends using their trackbar with the JK setup. My Teraflex trackbar was slightly hitting the new nut on the Pittman arm. So you may want to check this out on the JLs.
Thinking this my next attempt at tightening my JK steering. Hoping tje install is as easy as you make it look. You're a pro! Great stuff.
Do you have a lift? Adjustable control arms might be what you need
Can’t believe all of what I am finding out about the steering! I just bought my 2020Overland Gladiator yesterday, it has 37k miles on it. Took it on a 3 hr drive today and I am down the rabbit hole of all these steering issues! It has an apt Monday to fix a crack in the windshield and I am definitely going to have them retorque everything and look at the steering. I drove a 2004 Dakota before this gladiator and the Dakota had better steering!! Can’t believe how sloppy it feels. It has 33” tires on it- kept making excuses as to why it felt so sloppy , but now I see it’s got to be something else! Thanks for the videos!
I just bought a 2020 Gladiator Sport, and yes did notice the steering is loose while I am at high speeds. Yesterday I tried to explain it to the dealership, and their answer was "that is how jeeps will drive, but they have replaced about 4 other boxes before" I know that the dead zone on my Jeep is not normal and yes I feel that I cannot keep my Jeep straight on the highway. Thank you so much for confirming my view on this issue and providing a possible solution to it.
I noticed a difference in my JLUR once I moved to heavy 37's. I placed the brace on and it helped a lot.
Recently got a 2020 JL upgraded fox lift and suspension with 35s all straight out the dealer and I too have a loose steering. On the way home on the freeway that day I swear I was swerving. Something you have to get used to.
Yours is the second review/install I've seen on this bracket. I'll be installing this on my JL because it does seem to have a mind of its own on the highway occasionally. Nicely done!!
Did it help?
I did the same bracket in January. Same thing as you, definitely a noticeable dIfference with steering. Also had to adjust the steering wheel to get it all straightened up. Definitely one of my more favorite mods on my JT.
I'm super happy I fell on this video!! I have this same issue on my 2014 JK and been racking my brain on the cause. I'm looking forward to apply this fix to my Jeep. Thank you!! :)
I added Steersmarts bracket(without sector shaft brace), SS trackbar, SS draglink, SS tierod, and Fox TS stabilizer. Steering feels great, I will consider swapping that bracket if something changes.
Wanted to see how many caught the broken windshield but so far no one commented .. Time to get it fixed before a popo sees it since it is in your line of sight .. Great video ..
My JLR is my 5th Wrangler and I noticed the loose steering immediately on the drive home. My other Wranglers didn’t have the issue my JLR has. I upgraded the drag link, and tie rod with Synergy parts. It helped for a minute then went back to being squirrelly. I recently picked up this part and haven’t installed it yet. Hopefully it fixes the steering issue. Thanks for the vid...
My JLUR felt "off" from the day it was new. The Synergy brace made it drive GREAT!
Ouch! Never heat the pitman arm to gearbox bolt. Nylon bushing can melt causing a nasty leak. Not like I would know though! Lol great video!!!
i adjusted the steering box on my jl its perfect now 35" tires stock suspension stock everything rubicon
I did the Falcon stabilizer and that really helped with the "spongy" feel the wheel had before. I've been kicking around this brace for a while, and after seeing this, I think it's worth the effort - I'm in!
I had a wobble problem in my Ram 2500. Ended up with a steering box brace, synergy steering kit and synergy track bar. The wobble is long gone even with 37x1350s. Synergy makes good stuff.
“Daddy’s Jeep always broken” - that will be a line to remember. Classic from my son as a toddler seeing a crescent moon 🌙 “Look Daddy banana moon”
I put one on my JT about a month ago. Huge improvement.
I got the steering stabalizer when my lift was installed. Now i have the Synergy bracket waiting to be installed her in the next few weeks. They were sold out for months! Im hoping i get the same results you guys did, the way you guys described your steering is exactly how mine is. thanks for the video
Jl/JT def have loose steering. I have had 15 jeeps and my JLUR was horrible. So horrible that FCA purchased it back! Glad to see that there is an aftermarket solution now.
I just installed the SteerSmarts version on our JL Rubicon. It made a significant difference! 😊
I put Synergy’s Steering skid brace on my TJ. Huge difference.
I believe the answer is no. I did all these. It wasn't til I dialed the slop out of the box before it stopped wandering. I think this bracket helps but its just a stop gap to what Jeep won't address. Good video.
I have the same issue with my Gladiator, took to dealership and they say its normal, thats bullsh1t.. I had the same issue with my 89 K5 Blazer. It's a weak point on the frame. I had 1/4 steel plate welded to the frame to strengthen the frame and the steering wander went away. So the brace kinda same thing I did with the K5 back in 98. I am definitely going buy the synergy brace for my Gladiator.
After lift you need to make sure the track bar and drag link need be parallel, otherwise you will have loose feeling on the steering wheel when on the uneven road.
I have an '05 TJ Rocky Mtn, so I went with the M.O.R.E Steering Box Brace 03 - 06. Many novices have said to tighten the steering box, but highly reputable experts suggest going with the brace with a new steering stabilizer, which I just ordered. So I feel confident these two will correct my loose, wandering steering issue. Tightening the box is a bad idea and will only make matters worse by accelerating its destruction. Great video you two. I always felt Rt. 64 was very uneven, I thought it just me, nice to know other Jeepers know that too. Hope your next move is a good one.
Finally installed mine... it was a 9 beer install. Not sure how you can work on your Jeeps and film! The wife had to take me for a test drive. Either way ... this was posted from more that 6' away. So all good.
I'm geiitng this bracket soon for my jt, but I lately changed my rear swaybar and found that it solved a lot of that front sway .
Everybody knows that the rear of a gladiator sways a lot even without a charge...beef up this rear swaybar !
I hear you on the loose steering. I feel it in my gladiator and I will definitely look into this product. Thanks for the video!
This vid still comes up in my feed. My JTR did has never had this issue. I bought mine in Oct 2019 with 12 miles on it.
I had a 2003 dodge diesel with the same type of issue it was frame flex. It looks like the same type of issue. Well done video
Ive had a similar brace on my Dodge Ram for over 2 decades and it made a huge difference. I'll look at getting one on my JKU.
So the Yeti Trackbar etc helps tremendously. I still have to do this too which will just be an added benefit
Christoper Dixon prob gonna have some compatibility issues with that combo 🧐
Dave Schlossberg how so?
I just installed mine last night. Thank you for posting this video. It was not easy lining up the holes. In all it took me 5 hours to do.
Had the same issue before my lift and got better with my Teraflex Alpine lift. I still installed this but went with Steer Smarts bracket since their actually has a bearing instead of a bushing. Works great just as this bracket and looks like they are made the same.
My steering on my JK was extremely loose but surprisingly the fix was JKS quick disconnects. Ever since, the steering has been tight and it doesn’t drift around as much!
Off road elements was amazing! Eric was awesome when I dealt with him.
Works Great!! I’ve been running one on mine for 6yrs with still a stock box on my JKU
So did You get Yours from the Same As Ben ? I have. 16 Jku
Have not had any issue just thinking..and wondering.
Michael Harper It’s so long ago. I pretty sure I got it from Synergy Website. It just stabilizes everything so swinging 35s or 37s around without assist doesn’t wear out the steering box sector shaft. I have an 09 and it’s still got no play
@@ItsaJeepWorld Thanks 35s are in my future. And this Seems likely too.
I have both on my jlu. It does make a huge difference 😊.
Great video. Not noticing this looseness on my stock JTR but will be on the lookout. Great to see a family guy on here. Got my 10 year old son filming with me.
Great upgrade. We noticed a noticeable improvement on our JK with 38's.
I just picked up my Gladiator last night and the steering was the first thing I noticed. Thanks for the info!
I ordered one on Black Friday; but, didn't get it until mid-January. I still haven't installed it. Drives fine; but, I will install it before I hit the dirt again. It will be my first real mod; because, I've heard just hitting a curb or big pot hole can bend the bracket. One thing though, I plan on replacing the four factory Steering Box Bolts with Grade 8 Bolts; because, of what happened to the bolts on my ZJ. Even before your installed the bracket, from the video, if this bracket didn't exist at all, upgrading to Grade 8 Bolts would be my #1 suggestion. If you watch my Steering Box Broke video, you would see why I feel this way.
BTW, you drove very close to where I went to helicopter mechanic school.
Cassey in a JL eco??? Holy moly that would be awesome!
I installed the same bracket on my 2019 JL Rubicon Unlimited running 3.5 X-Factor w/39 BFGs. After about 1000 miles, I noticed movement at the sector shaft brace. The nut is moving inside the brass bushing side to side cause the hole to oval. I also noticed on your video the back side of your brace has a lot of movement too. I believe the permanent fix is PSC hydro assist. I was going to install the Falcon steering stabilizer but after watching your video, I believe the only fix is hydro.
Can't believe I missed this post, I've had the same issue with my JLU, this bracket definitely helps, they do have a TSB/TechNote about it, but it's currently hard to get the replacement/ upgraded steering box. I'm still due to get this replaced under warranty. I had to remove the synergy to make it happen 😂. Funny my other 2 door JLR doesn't have any play🤣
Thanks for the content!
18 JLU AEV
Watched this vid with my wolf-dog and we both noticed something. Around the end of the vid the last bolt holding the support is a grade 8, but the main forces against it are shear and not tensile, like zero tension and 100% shear, so grade 5 would be a better choice since it withstands better shear forces than grade 8. Seems that is the last area there was unwanted movement during articulation, so maybe the next gen of this brace will have a thicker flange stepped up in that area of the support where they can go up a size with a grade-5 bolt and really experience no unwanted motion. Then ... they would be cooking with gas.
That looks a lot like the frame is moving!!
My JL is doing the exact same thing on the highway it would wonder too much. Hopefully the TSB Jeep came out with “replaces the steering box” fixes this. If not I’m buying the brace for sure. Great video
I'm putting these parts on my JK in a couple of days (once my huge 30-36mm sockets come in). I recently did new track bar, tie rod, and drag link and I wanted to do this part as well. The sector shaft brace for JK is significantly different than the JL model. Plus the pitman nut is in the 33mm range as opposed to the 42mm needed for JL. I am MUCH happier with my steering after all the new steering parts, but I'm always chasing perfection on my 2015 2-door Sport.
I'm glad I read your comment. I have a 2018 JK and I was going to order the 42mm socket but thanks to you sir, I will grab the 33mm instead. Cheers.
I’ve been checking on the Synergy bracket. I’m glad to hear it helped yours. Hopefully it will fix my JL as I too have that looseness that you describe.
Steering on my gladiator felt way more stable than the JL and JK at highway speeds. Loose is exactly what I felt when I test drove the JL unlimited. It's what steered me even more towards the gladiator.
Mine was horrid. Bought a Fox 2.0 ats stabilizer, and it helped a little. The software upgrade I got at the dealer fixed most of it, but it's getting bad again thanks to wheeling on stock parts.
Main issue is big wheels and tires. These problems been around for years. Long before your birth and the XJ or Wrangler came to be. The leverage on the box from the wheels and the road surface make it wobble and flex. The sector shaft you broke is usually from collision or hitting a rock etc
The splines twist at the pitman arm and in time will fail. Or may not. When it is over the top forces, the steering box case breaks. All the "improvements" and big tires all put a lot of pressure and stress on the box and where the box mounts. My XJ has a 1/4 in thick plate for a crack in my frame rail. And my jeep came with 26 in car tires on it. And i put 31s on it. Your frame rail can also flex side to side just a few mm and over time can crack . dont turn the wheels until it is rolling will help.
I recommend you put a mark on the bronze bushing where the grease hole is. My bronze bushing ended up spinning inside the aluminum brace. It didn’t take too much force to pop the bushing out and realign it. I used loctite when reinstalling it because it was too easy to pop it out
i didnt feel like removing the wheel either , and your the only other one that did it with the wheel on i see !!!
yes im lazy lol, if i dont need to remove it then its more time spent doing other stuff !!!! nice job , although i can see the retaining portion thats on the arm move at 15:05 , at the rear bolt. maybe check if came loose it will only tighten up your steering more if checked and tightened
Had the same issue with my 2019 JLUR from day one with the gear box deflection and the weak stock endlinks especially once lifted and on 37's. Installed the Synergy bracket and 1 ton drag-link and tie-rod. Drives like a dream now. Ahh the infamous cracked jeep windshield.
You guys are right in my back yard. I'm in Chesapeake. Love the videos.
Wow man I can cry, I’m gonna put my order ASAP, hoping this will solve my problem on my JK, from upgrading ball joints Lower control arms complete upgrade to my entire front end I still have wondering even with fox stabilizer, thank you!!!
Whats your caster alignment numbers?
I made my own very similar to that one for the JK!, for about 60 buck and my time!
Great job Ben, I might have to try this, im still not happy with our steering
With straight axles you need a little bit of toe in to keep it tracking straight, not enough to scrub the tires but just a bit for tracking straight.
Plus the steering box adj needs to be adjusted just up to zero play on steering wheel, and don't overtighten or it will mess up the bearings in the box and bind.
@bleepinjeep have you had the TSB done for the steering box? If so did that fix it?
Tightening the steering box is a bad idea and will only make matters worse by accelerating its destruction. The M.O.R.E steering box brace is definitely a wiser move coupled with a new steering stabilizer should you have one a year or older. The Monroe HD is excellent and has out performed any of the ridiculous expensive ones I've had. And for only $25, I replace mine every Summer.
The bottom bolt (The one above the Pitman Arm) on your steering box, needs to be properly tightened up. I could see a very slight bit of movement from the steering box occurring and could see a small gap opening and closing as you were turning lock to lock.
You guys work so well and include each other in your hobby life style
Full PSC kit. Mine jlur was tight when new, eventually you could turn the wheel an inch and the pitman arm would not move. No slop at all with PSC kit.
Ah....thank God there's a fix, I was going nuts. I need this asap.
Look carefully at the bracket sector shaft mount in after shot. Looks like bracket is flexing.
It’s most likely the track bar flexing that’s allowing the steering to flex. It’s pretty common with the Jeep straight axle vehicles.
Thanks for the information! I immediately told my husband we need that for our Jeep, it has so much play even after we had the caster adjusted, it still has some issues
Did u end up getting the brace? Improvement?
There is a steering box upgrade for 2018-2020 jl jeeps that the dealer will do. No recall has been done. There are several videos on TH-cam of people who have done it and has fixed steering issues with new metal steering box. Save you $$$ and take it to a dealership.
I definitely need that Synergy reinforcement bracket for my 07 JKU. Wow
Derek synergymfg.com/synergy-jeep-jk-front-track-bar-and-sector-shaft-brace-kit.html
I ordered the one for my jku I hope that fixes the same problem. Thats great it worked out for you.
Need to check for the JK. Thanks again.
At a minimum I would recommend the trackbar brace!
Had a bit of lose steering on my TJ, fixed it with a new steering stabilizer. Didn't even know that they made things like this.
Well, with the TJ it’s a bit different, I don’t think any companies make brackets like this for them,
BibbedVermin82 synergymfg.com/synergy-jeep-tjlj-steering-box-skid-with-sector-shaft-brace.html?category_id=4056
JK Gear and Gadgets We have them for the JK and TJ/LJ platforms also
Sector shaft brace mount was definitely bent @ 15:37. Which makes sense since it’s a thin flat plate, if they added a gusset it would work much better.
I know every area you were at, kinda cool to see videos from my hometown. PS I hate Pomoco they did me dirty a few too many times so ill never shop there again, specifically Pomoco Nissan.
7 Cities Vapes I still need to swing by sometime and say hi! That sucks to hear about Pomoco, I’ve never dealt with them so that’s good to know.
Great video! Thank you for the honest review. We were extremely disappointed with our JL and the same loose steering. I did find a TSB on the Jeep forums that talks about adjusting the electric steering motor sensitivity, but no clue if it’s fixing anything.
I thinking on adding this plus the steering stabilizer i think the combination on both is great according to your review, i also like a better and stiff steering while driving simply because ir feel like you have more control over the steering wheel. Thank you so much, you dont know much your videos have helped me with my jeep.
Identify the bolts that are tight for the install and put them in the freezer over night and when you hit that step, grab outta the freezer and they should slide right in.
It’s cool seeing y’all drive around my home town! I don’t live there any more but my mom and sister live off of Jefferson Ave! Need to look at the steering box on my JL feels way loose. Thanks for the tips!
Ben, please follow up after talking to synergy. Looking forward to their response to your questions.
About what Trenton Haralson ?
@@daveschlossberg5138 Thanks for replying! At 9:15 Ben details the questions he had regarding the fitment. While you're here, can you speak to the fitment of this bracket with a steersmarts track bar?
I don’t understand the question Trenton Haralson. Parts looked installed correctly but he didn’t cycle the steering wheel to seat the nut but looks like he did later. Don’t run the SS trackbar with the SYN brace. There is interference issues. Run the Synergy front trackbar to make sure things clear properly.
I really enjoy your videos man!
Thank you!