There have been many threads about the steering on the JK with regards to the steering wheel being off to one side, and then the next thing you know it’s off to the left.
Also, there have been many threads on the dead-in-the-center feeling. And lastly, for the purpose of this post, there have been a bunch on the sector shaft clunk.

I had the steering off to one side or the other as well as the dead-in-the-center feeling. I have replaced literally everything in the front end; axle, ball joints, tie rod, drag link, control arms, wheels, and tires…there are no stock parts left except the steering box and the sector shaft. I never have had the infamous clunk.

I had read a previous thread by Hellbound 13 that got me thinking about the sector shaft. here: https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/stock-jk-tech-12/steering-shaft-makes-difference-ride-over-bumps-122335/ He changed his and it steered better but he had the clunk previously. I had no clunk but could see the steering box flex when the steering wheel was rocked back and forth over center. So I decided to order one and give it a shot.

When I pulled mine out I found the splined section of the shaft to be locked up solid. Since it’s an offset shaft with u-joints it needs the splines to be able to move or it will bind. Once I replaced it the flex was gone and the steering is as it should be.

Sorry for the long post…just trying to be clear

 

Hmmm... may have to look into this. How much did it cost to replace it?

 

$65 and a bloody knuckle...something down there's sharp!

The part # is 55351281AB

 

Thanks for the heads up and the part #... I'll see if I can just get by with the $65 and avoid the bloody knuckle...