When it comes to steering its off-road lineup, Jeep keeps things simple. Wranglers and Gladiators alike rely on a traditional drag link and tie rod setup to connect the steering box to the front knuckles. A proven design that’s been trusted for decades to keep drivers pointed straight down the road or toward the nearest rock garden.

So if the factory system works so well, why upgrade it?

The answer is simple: OEM steering components were only designed to support OEM conditions. While these Jeeps are built for rugged terrain, adding lift kits, larger tires, and more aggressive wheel setups quickly pushes the factory steering beyond its limits. Thin factory tubing becomes a weak point on the trail, where rocks, ruts, and hard impacts can throw alignment off or bend a tie rod with ease. What starts as a great weekend adventure can quickly turn into an hours-long off-road recovery. 

Fortunately, Artec Industries has a solution.

STRENGTH, JUST RIGHT

Finding the right steering kit for your rig is all about balance. While it’s never smart to cut corners on steering components, going overboard with massive, solid steel links isn’t the only path, either. A heavy-duty system might be tempting, but these are best for dedicated overlanding machines. Those using rigs for daily driving duties would feel the extra unsprung weight and sluggish handling. In most cases, the factory geometry works perfectly, but the real issue is the factory tubing that struggles to keep 37s in their lane.

That’s exactly the problem our Senior Marketing Coordinator, Ryan, faced with his JT Jeep Gladiator. Built as a dependable daily driver and a capable weekend trail rig, his Jeep already featured a modest lift, heavy-duty shocks, and aggressive tires, but suffered from poor handling. To finally cure his sloppy, fatigued factory steering without weighing down the truck, Ryan and his JT became the ideal test subjects for the new Artec Industries Axis Aluminum Steering Kit.

HEAVY METAL

Artec Industries is no stranger to off-road. Making their name in armored and heavy-duty component manufacturing in the USA, they’ve set their sights on enhancing the ride for overlanding enthusiasts. Now, with the Axis Aluminum Steering Kit, they are bringing aerospace-grade precision directly to the JL and JT platforms.

Artec offers a full lineup of high-performance parts for heavily modified trail rigs. The Axis kit is engineered specifically for the JL and JT and designed to withstand the rigorous abuse of both extreme rock crawling and normal daily driving. Think of Artec as the go-to for your hardcore weekend rock bouncer, and the Axis Steering Kit as the dependable solution that keeps your daily-driven Gladiator tracking perfectly straight on the highway to the job that funds your adventures.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

Out of the box, the Artec Axis SK6007 kit is a massive step above the competition. For starters, Artec utilizes advanced 3d scanning tools to ensure every component fits perfectly for a simple installation.

They also take care in choosing the right materials for the job. The drag link and tie rod are CNC-machined from aerospace-grade 7075 aluminum, providing a dependable upgrade over the factory setup. This high-grade aluminum easily shrugs off rocks and other obstacles without adding weight. If you come down hard on a rock, the 7075 aluminum acts almost like a memory metal, flexing and springing back into shape rather than staying permanently bent like factory steel.

Oversized tires, like the 37-inch BFGoodrich T/As found on Ryan’s Gladiator, can wreak havoc on the stock tie rods. Before disassembly, this Gladiator was experiencing “dead spots” and nerve-wracking highway wander that are the tell-tale signs of tired, worn-out joints. 

Fortunately, this is the exact issue Artec aimed to fix. The Axis kit includes massive, premium tie rod ends that are critical for both driver comfort and added safety. The increased size and heavy-duty strength of these tie rod ends are designed to handle the added stress of upsized tires and prevent the risk of catastrophic shearing over time. 

Artec machines the aluminum rods with both right- and left-hand threads for incredibly easy alignment adjustments, and even includes wrench flats to prevent marring the finish. Combined, these result in a steering kit that offers the industry’s strongest and longest-lasting joint life, and feels as good as it looks.

THAT TRAIL-READY FEELING

From daily commutes to technical trails, Artec Industries’ Axis Aluminum Steering Kit delivers the strength, precision, and bulletproof reliability that perfectly complements Ryan’s Gladiator build. 

Out on the road, the tighter steering wheel and smooth, tactile feedback make this truck a dream to pilot again. Highway jaunts are just as engaging and remove the stress of constant micro-corrections to stay in the lane. Stop-and-go drives across town are less fatiguing, making this the ideal option for Jeep enthusiasts aiming to retain the JT’s pure driving experience while drastically improving its durability.

As for the added benefits of the 7075 aluminum construction, the most notable impact is the sheer peace of mind off-road. This high-grade aluminum removes the fear of potholes knocking the steering out of alignment or snapping the vulnerable OEM components. He’s ready to put these to the real test on his annual trip out to the slickrock trails of Moab.

Huge thanks to Artec Industries and Jeff Daniel’s Jeep for helping bring this Gladiator transformation to life. The Axis Aluminum Steering Kit combines premium materials, trail-proven durability, and exceptional drivability into one complete package, creating a more capable rig and a far more confident driver behind the wheel.