1977 or 78 was the last year for the splined output shaft on the steering column in a squarebody. From there up to 91 is the range that can use the XJ shaft without changing the column.
CK5
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Xj steering shaft
- Thread starter Kain
- Start date
My girlfriend's '93 XJ has horrendous slop in the steering shaft, wasn't sure what the remove/replace procedure was like... this is great stuff and thanks.
My '86 K30's steering is tremendously loose as well... would this swap make sense on that truck?
My '86 K30's steering is tremendously loose as well... would this swap make sense on that truck?
Kain
3/4 ton status
THE VID I watched shows a truck....
That could be one of the items causing slop. But your truck has the right steering box to use the xj shaft. Just need to pull one from an xj that is like ‘95 and older. Easy way to id if it’s the right one is look at the steering column of the jeep. If it’s the standard round Saginaw column like our trucks have it will work. If the xj has the column that is more rectangular to fit the dash it’s a later unit and it won’t fit.
Just have someone turn the steering wheel with the truck off, and watch the steering shaft in relation to the steering box.
Mine is very sloppy too, but it appears most is coming from the box itself. The input shaft of the steering box moves quite a bit before the output does.
Still, the rag joint can be an issue, and these shaft swaps can't hurt by eliminating it.
Today I discovered the lower bearing in column had slipped down out the plastic retainer which cracked. I pulled the intermediate shaft pulled the bearing and plastic bearing retainer. Greased the very dry bearing popped it back in the retainer slide it all back on the shaft in place in the tube. It will pop out agian, retainer is cracked I have a new one ordered. I found out I have a spline column shaft and this up grade won't work. I did buy but the Jeep shaft I'll be damed if I can find it. Might have to go the $$$ and get Borgeson, if they have one.
You could also swap to the later GM column at this point. 73-78 should be splined shaft. 79-83 are double D and interchangeable.
I grabbed a U joint coupler from CPP or wherever. It had the shaft size and spline. I cut the XJ top end off and used the coupler. This was for my C10 with aftermarket column. Bottom of XJ fit the steering box. Worked great.
Didn’t have a problem with it but not a fan of the set screws. Maybe if I kept the truck longer but I always wanted to weld the coupler to the shaft.
Didn’t have a problem with it but not a fan of the set screws. Maybe if I kept the truck longer but I always wanted to weld the coupler to the shaft.
I’m the odd man out and am pulling jeep shaft, going back to a rag joint. The Jeep shaft spline’s don’t get tight on the steering box. I swapped to a grade 8 bolt and have torqued all the way down but there is still slop. Stock lasted 30 years so I’ll give it another 30 with a rag joint.
I counted and measured today
Maybe my Jeep shaft is an outlier but I’m not spending money on another one to find out.
No biggie
The rag joint works fine. Just make sure the rest of the shaft is tight.
Rag joint is like going factory engine mounts. If not tested to their limit, works perfect. Going “ragless” is like going to competition engine mounts, not needed until you’ve blow through factory one inside a 1,000 miles
Sorry that happened to you, and I'm glad you're safe.
I have to ask what happened, because gravity should prevent the shaft from sliding on the steering box side and the bolt notch that you grind into the nub should prevent the shaft from sliding on the firewall side.
Which side slipped off?
I have to ask what happened, because gravity should prevent the shaft from sliding on the steering box side and the bolt notch that you grind into the nub should prevent the shaft from sliding on the firewall side.
Which side slipped off?
I agree, that's pretty unusual. Got any pics of the failure?
im not a paying member so I cant post pics. Both ujoints still attached in proper places. The rubber islotater that is "fused" into the 3"ish collar just below the upper ujoint pulled out. There is no actual metal that secures the rubber into the collar. I had thought about running a bolt through it when I first installed it. Not sure why it pulled out. My son drives this thing, but street only. Unless it was hammered hard from the jeep owner, I dont know what would cause the rubber to essentially twist itself out.
I think I read somewhere in this that someone was welding them up. Not sure how he did that, but Ill be trying to figure out a best option. I would think any wheeling without hydro assist would really put pressure on that rubber, but obvioulsy lots of folks have done this mod, so maybe just bad luck?
I think I read somewhere in this that someone was welding them up. Not sure how he did that, but Ill be trying to figure out a best option. I would think any wheeling without hydro assist would really put pressure on that rubber, but obvioulsy lots of folks have done this mod, so maybe just bad luck?
Welcome CK5 @plugugly, this is highly unusual. I don't know hat happened here, but you shouldn't bolt or weld these 2 shafts together. They telescope in case of a front impact, to keep the steering column from inuring the driver.
Have to ask does your truck have a body lift ? Any play in the steering column Shaft ?
Have to ask does your truck have a body lift ? Any play in the steering column Shaft ?
Correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds like the shaft pulled out of the top collar where it's not designed to move at all. See pic below, the circled section with the A.
im not welding the slipshaft together. I understand its purpose.
I cant look at your picture, but if you circled the rubber isolation/dampener that is inside the sleeve where the shaft attaches to the column joint, then you would be correct. The rubber dampener separate and pulled out from the collar.
I cant look at your picture, but if you circled the rubber isolation/dampener that is inside the sleeve where the shaft attaches to the column joint, then you would be correct. The rubber dampener separate and pulled out from the collar.
That's what I thought and the area I pointed out on the drawing. This is the first time I've heard of this happening.
PS- I just noticed you're local. I live in Lincoln.
