If I drive my JK Unl. for a while, I feel a play in my steering wheel and if I turn left to right I think I can even hear a very small tick. I also think I can even feel it over speedbumps?
It is only after driving a while, let's say 15 - 20 minutes or so.
The problem is in the "steering shaft".The slip joint that is used on Wranglers and many other applications uses 2 splined shaft that slide into one another.
I explained the problem to a mechanic,he knew exactly what it was and explained my symptoms exactly.Lack of grease between the splines is the problem.
He told me to use open gear compund(ALSO FITH WHEEL GREASE).Its a "high" tack grease that actually becomes thicker as its worked.(used in appliations where 2 gears intersect each other but are not able to be oiled due to size or configuration).I took some from our maintence shop at work and bought a small grease/oil syringe.
I took my shaft off yesterday .It took less than 5 minutes.
Upon removal I notice a tiny bit of slop when I twisted the upper and lower portions of the shaft.Not much but enough to feel it through the steering wheel.I removed the upper clamp and inserted the grease syringe under the lip.I pumped the boot full of that black goop.I used a zip tie to secure the boot.
After the boot was secure.I worked the shaft to compression and back to full extension until it became very hard to slide them back and forth into each other.As I stated ,this open gear compound is very thick and has a high tack to it.You will know once its worked its way into the splines.I could not feel any slop betwen the shafts any more.
I reinstalled the shaft and Viola! No more clunky steering.A new steering shaft will probably cure the problem,but just greasing it solved mine.
I don't think regular grease will cut it,it might be ok but it will have to be done more often.
