I am trying to diagnose my clunking sound. It has been clunking for the last 30k miles or so. It clunks when steering into a turn. It has ocurred backing up, going forward, and straightening out the wheel. I can't really tell because I'm on an ipod, but it appears that the steering box is moving and making the loud clunking sound. The quiter ticks I'm not worried about.
The reason I wan't to get this fixed is because, lately, the clunk has gotten louder. One time it sounded like someone hit my axle with a baseball bat.
I have tightened the two steering box bolts, by the tire, about a quarter of a turn. It took me two hands and my legs pressing against the axle to move the bolts. I'll use pb next time.

Does anyone else have any more ideas? I'm up for getting a steering box brace as long as it is bolt-it.

If there is more I can do, let me know.

stock 99 jeep xj 2wd 168,300 miles

[EDIT] That is dirt on the steering stabilizer, not rust, if anyone cares.

 

Bump.

 

Double bump.... Come on guys. I come to you to get help.

 

It looks like it is coming from the steering column, the part that connects the steering wheel to the gearbox. Could also be the gearbox itself

 

Do I need to take the column apart and take the steering box out and inspect it?