My 08 with 77K has done the same thing for some time now. I can't get the mechanic to give me a straight answer either. I'll be replaceing the power steering pump and right front axle assembly this weekend. I'll take a close look at it then. My Bud who is an off roar mechanic for years, tells me that it's nothing to worry about, so i don't. As he says...it's not a sports car marty!

 

@eric1213 I believe the clunk has gone because you retorqued the bolts when you put the intermediate shaft back in place.

I think that f you haven't torqued them enough the clunk will be back in few thousand miles.

 

Like many others, I've tried the grease fix and while it did help to lessen the "clunk", it still eventually returns - though admittedly lessened compared to when it didn't have the grease.
Also, like many others, it seems to only happen when it is warm outside and the jeep has been running for a while.

Since this seems to be caused by radiant heat from the manifold, would some form of barrier/insulation help to keep the intermediate shaft from heating up. I was out this weekend and afterwards touched the intermediate shaft and it was too hot to touch.
Something similar to the insulation sleeves/reflective foil offered by companies like thermotec?
http://www.thermotec.com/products/18...t-sleeves.html
http://www.thermotec.com/products/14...s-sleeves.html

It may be a dumb idea, I'm just throwing this out there.

 

Check the bolts. They are just too small for what they have to do. They may look torqued correctly but they are not.

If they aren't torqued enough they get loose as the shaft warm up and the clunk starts.

I retorqued the lower intermediate shaft bolt 12'000 miles ago and the clunk never got back.

 

That is possible, If it comes back, i will check the bolts. Does anyone know what the bolt torque should be set at.

 

I went to the dealer. They picked up a long T wrench and torqued the bolt as much as they could.

After that the clunk disappeared.

 

I'm not familiar with a steering column. I would really like to have my dealer fix this issue for me. I have taken the JK to them about 3 times with this "clunky steering" issue and each time they tell me they can't hear/feel it even after driving it on a hot engine (I told them it usually shows up after 10 miles of driving).

I'm just confused on which bolts and proper terminology to tell them in order to have this fixed. Can anyone explain to me what information I need to relay to my dealer? I am having my new gas tank installed under warranty this weekend and would love to have this issue fixed. Thanks in advance.

 

I will be cranking down on these when I get home tonight. Hope this works. Sick of that feeling.

 

Are we saying to crank down on the lower intermediate shaft bolt of the Steering Column?

 

yes there are 2 bolts on the intermediate shaft