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XJ Steering Conversion Shaft Too Short

CRM318

CRM318

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Midland, Texas
I just finished up welding in a steering box frame support and decided to go with the Jeep XJ steering shaft while I was at it. Upon installation, I noticed that the shaft seems to be a bit too short. In the first two photos, with the shaft snug against the steering box, it comes up short on the steering column shaft. If i slide the XJ shaft up to the second set of splines on the steering box, I can get the steering column shaft to engage a bit more (as seen in pics 3 and 4). My question is, can I get by with only engaging the second set of splines on the steering box and drill and install a cross bolt on the steering column side (along with using the clamp bolt) or is that asking for trouble. I did get this XJ shaft from Ebay.

Shaft 1.jpg

Shaft 2.jpg

Shaft 3.jpg

Shaft 4.jpg
 
The xj shaft needs to be extended at the slip.
It won't slip easily, there is some plastic antirattle pads keeping the two shafts from slipping.
They are designed to slip in event of a head on collision. Just and idea what it might take to get it to move
 
The shaft does slip and is extended to max extension. Are you saying it can go further? Should I look for something under the rubber boot?
 
Not 100% sure. My 77 won't take a xj shaft. There are multiple threads on this up date. Do a search.
If have time I will look later
 
I pulled the boot back and see the crimp that is holding the shaft together. Are the plastic stops in here? Do I need to disassemble it
 
Does yours have a boot in the middle? Mine doesn’t but I also got it used.

The plastic plugs are in the overlap in the middle, they sort of look like dimples.
 
Sounds like you either have a tall body lift or a "Grand Cherokee" or newer XJ.

The typical XJ shaft needs to be collapsed to fit a factory Squarebody. This helps because a lot of us run 1" body lift pucks, meaning the shaft will be longer than a truck running no body lift.
 
I ripped mine directly out of a XJ in the boneyard and had to collapse it to fit on my 1991 K5.

Having to extend a brand new part raises questions. One of which would be the eBay source is some Chinese part that is supposed to fit a XJ.

Personally, I’d trust a grimy OEM part I pulled out of a junkyard jeep over a new aftermarket/chinesium. The u-joints rarely if ever wear out regardless of mileage and it’s pretty easy to confirm prior to taking it out of the yard. If a joint is seized or loose, pull another one. Though I’ve never found one worn out. Plus I’ve never paid any more than $20 with tax on it.

I only bring it up because whoever made it might have been accurate on the dimensions and don’t care if they are off.

Try to extend it and if it don’t want to play ball, go to the local pull and pay.
 
Or send it back because it's not "right".

And I echo the tight joints. The only thing I've modified/fixed on the old shafts is the vibration isolator. It does wear and I like to weld it sold. No cons to doing this.

Also, using an XJ shaft from a yard or even a new Dorman shaft from Amazon is going to install far better. Measure exactly the length you need and shorten the shaft. It may need a little heat to shorten it. Too much heat will melt the plastic pieces inside, so go easy. Better yet, use a press to collapse and have control of it. Don't have a press? I've used a floor jack and front crossmember to collapse the shaft also. Pressing just helps the plastic pieces inside from melting. Done that before :(

Collapse to the perfect length. Loosen the steering column and pull up to fit the collapsed XJ and bolt back in.

Best way for a non-body lift truck.
 
Also that eBay shaft doesn't leave much room for "impact collapse", unlike a factory shaft.

More like this. Dorman makes one similar.
IMG_3869.png
 
CRM318 said:
Upon installation, I noticed that the shaft seems to be a bit too short.
Click to expand...
Please search the 100+ threads here about XJ shafts before declaring you have a brand-new issue. You gleaned enough to know that this is a popular mod, but didn't pick up on the normal issue of length needing to be adjusted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_Nobody's_Fault_but_Mine
K85 Octane said:
Or send it back because it's not "right".
Click to expand...
Who would take back a "not right" item for a vehicle other than what it was intended for?
 
It doesn't fit your XJ. It is clearly not the same as 100% of the intermediate shafts I've seen. Just an option.

You ok Blue? His issue was too short, not too long like the normal issue.
 
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