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XJ steering shaft issues

Heat the fork out of it and make it loosey goosey like mine.

Still would like to find an all around better alternative, and ideally something specifically made for GM trucks, but this may be an idea! Did you burn virtually all the plastic out of it? How easily does it telescope?
 
I put it in the vice and heated it up until it separated and while it was hot I put it back in and moved it around till it cooled. Then I pulled it back out and slapped some grease in it so it wouldn't rust up because of the heat exposure.
Maybe the grease was simultaneously applied.

It is tight enough where I had to tap it in and it doesnt clunk.

I didn't realize you heated it up and then crammed it in place. That sounds like a pain in the ass.


And for all you jomos out there. Giggity.
 
Those Borgenson steering shafts are designed to fit only Borgenson steering columns, and do not fit OEM steering columns. I know because I ordered one only to find that out, and send it back to Jegs to get my money back. Those Borgenson steering shafts are splined on the steering column side, and not D-shaped on the steering column side like factory steering shafts. Borgenson steering columns are splined on the steering column shaft, unlike OEM steering column shafts that are D-shaped.

I appreciate hearing this before potentially ordering! I looked this shaft up, and even though I'm not a huge fan of Amazon, there reviews were helpful. Sounds like most people asking are using them on K5's or other squarebody trucks:dunno:

& Maybe if were lucky, someone on here has already done this mod and used the borg shaft. Hmmm.

But anyways, heres the link with the reviews!

Borgeson 935 Steering Shaft https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004A6B5IG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_GRBEBbY926EKC
 
000935
If you are about to drop $200 on an express shaft, I'd consider the extra $23 and get a Borgeson 000935 from Summit. I am on the fence too, but think it may be worth it.

Whooo... I would just go pull one for that price. I can't remember if the guy at the counter even charged me for the shaft. If I paid anything for it it was cheap enough that I didn't know.

Just be prepared to cut through a thick rubber boo that goes from the steering column end all the way down to the steering box and I had to remove the whole column from.the van to get it out.
 
Those Borgenson steering shafts are designed to fit only Borgenson steering columns, and do not fit OEM steering columns. I know because I ordered one only to find that out, and send it back to Jegs to get my money back. Those Borgenson steering shafts are splined on the steering column side, and not D-shaped on the steering column side like factory steering shafts. Borgenson steering columns are splined on the steering column shaft, unlike OEM steering column shafts that are D-shaped.
There are parts available from Borgeson to fit factory '90 K5 install, but you have to piece it together. I did it on one for a friend.
I went XJ on mine.
Good to know that there are options.
 
Ended up going with a Borgeson shaft that is marked right on the box to fit 73-92 or so chevy trucks. So as all of us know, it more than likely will not fit...:doah::D But it looks like it will so I will hopefully find out this weekend.

BUT before I install the shaft, I need to figure out what is going on with the wheel being pulled in so tightly to the column. I bought a new lower bearing kit and pulled the old bearing tonight. But nothing seemed to make the gap larger. Also took a rubber mallet to the end of the column sticking through the firewall, but I ended up collapsing the column and having to pull it back out. So, what is holding it? (This is also a non-tilt clumn)

Leaving it apart till I get a few answers from you guys!
 
Little update:

Did find a broken preload spring that goes behind the lower bearing and butts up against the shifter apparatus. It literally broke in half and coiled itself in the shift lever. Not sure if this is the solution to my problems, but it definitely isn't right.

But now I'm having a really difficult time finding parts..? I cannot find this little spring anywhere.. And I'm halfway tempted to just pull the entire column and have a local shop who specializes in columns rebuild it..
 
Try steeringcolumnservices.com. That’s where I get my parts and they have exploded diagrams
 
Try steeringcolumnservices.com. That’s where I get my parts and they have exploded diagrams

Believe it or not, that's the site I have been using and I cannot find it! I have spent hours searching for this thing. But I believe I may have found it on ebay and ordered it. So who knows! Going to get this spring and see if I can make it work for the time being at least.

Here is the only exploded view I can find of it:

20180902_112726.jpg

& Here is the actual spring that was broken in my column

20180901_211354.jpg
 
Since you pulled the column apart, I wonder if the taper on the steering wheel vs the column is good. Maybe it's sinking too far and allowing the wheel to get too close. Isn't there a really heavy spring under the lock plate? Maybe the lock plate and spring ain't pulling the shaft up enough? I would assume that's the only piece of the column that actually holds the shaft from slipping out the bottom?

Worse case, you trim the plastic on the steering wheel some so it doesn't hit the column.
 
Since you pulled the column apart, I wonder if the taper on the steering wheel vs the column is good. Maybe it's sinking too far and allowing the wheel to get too close. Isn't there a really heavy spring under the lock plate? Maybe the lock plate and spring ain't pulling the shaft up enough? I would assume that's the only piece of the column that actually holds the shaft from slipping out the bottom?

Worse case, you trim the plastic on the steering wheel some so it doesn't hit the column.

Hmmm, that's definitely something to think about! & I currently only have the bottom half of the column inside the engine bay ripped apart. The only reason that leads me to believe this may not be an issue is that I can pull as hard as I want on the wheel and it doesn't budge at all. It's rock solid. So I have no idea. It's definitely frustrating to say the least!

The new Borgeson shaft I have telescopes freely by hand so who knows. Maybe this will allow just enough play/give and not bind the wheel at all. Time will tell! Will definitely follow up after I get the time to install it! Spring should be here the middle of next week. No idea if it's right, but it's the closest I could find:dunno:
 
Well guys, the spring that I ended up getting off of craigslist was indeed correct! And the Borgeson shaft fit like a glove and worked perfectly. Would highly recommend it. All of the issues that I had been dealing with are gone! Had a very very minor mod that I had to do to the upper section, but I don’t really have time to go into detail with it right now. I will try to explain it on here shortly!

But all in all, GET THE SHAFT AND BE DONE!
 
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