Seaurchin1969
Newbie
Looks like i cut myself off. Anyway, ill have to check the pitman arm, and tierods for slop
XJ Steering Shaft Upgrade (88-94 Trucks) 95+instructions on page 31
- Thread starter shelbyt.67
- Start date
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Madison Mehlhose
Newbie
I just "completed" this mod.
Sorry if this is a repeat comment, i didn't want to read thru 47 pages to see if someone had incompatibility like me.
BEWARE - i got my steering shaft off a 1999 Jeep Cherokee. I was thinking the later the year the less rust - being in the Midwest and all. The shaft i got was NOT compatible with my truck - 89 SCLB 350.
I cut the factory shaft in half to get it off because it was seized. Since its my daily driver i had to macgyver something up to get to work tomorrow. I had to shorten both the male and female about 5 inches each to get it to fit. This did not leave a lot of room for engagement. There was a lot more work with a grinder i had to make but its a long messy process I wont get into.
I did some research on what part OP used. I cross referenced with rockauto:
Going to get a compatible part tomorrow after work.
Sorry if this is a repeat comment, i didn't want to read thru 47 pages to see if someone had incompatibility like me.
BEWARE - i got my steering shaft off a 1999 Jeep Cherokee. I was thinking the later the year the less rust - being in the Midwest and all. The shaft i got was NOT compatible with my truck - 89 SCLB 350.
I cut the factory shaft in half to get it off because it was seized. Since its my daily driver i had to macgyver something up to get to work tomorrow. I had to shorten both the male and female about 5 inches each to get it to fit. This did not leave a lot of room for engagement. There was a lot more work with a grinder i had to make but its a long messy process I wont get into.
I did some research on what part OP used. I cross referenced with rockauto:
You must be registered for see images attach
Going to get a compatible part tomorrow after work.
A couple weeks ago I finished swapping the engine on my '89 Stepside and during the work I noticed my steering shaft was sloppy - as in I grabbed ahold of it while doing something else and the top of the shaft wiggled. The 130k miles and the rag joint was fine, but the upper knuckle was dorked. I hit up Pull-A-Part and bought an XJ shaft.
This upgrade literally takes half an hour. I unbolted the old shaft, put the newer shaft in the vice, heated it with a propane torch, hit the slip with the air hammer, used a pick to remove the plastic remnants, wire wheeled the paint off it until I could collapse it to the same length as the stock piece, greased it lightly, checked the length and used a cutoff wheel to gently groove the column shaft for the upper bolt, loc-tited both bolts and installed them, and painted the bare metal that was exposed at the bottom.
Pull your key to lock your steering column before you start and you'll keep your steering clocked for reassembly. I had to unlock mine and wiggle it a bit to one side to get the new shaft installed. Once I get the truck back together I'll be able to see if it tracks straight.
Thanks to all of you who've done this and documented it!
This upgrade literally takes half an hour. I unbolted the old shaft, put the newer shaft in the vice, heated it with a propane torch, hit the slip with the air hammer, used a pick to remove the plastic remnants, wire wheeled the paint off it until I could collapse it to the same length as the stock piece, greased it lightly, checked the length and used a cutoff wheel to gently groove the column shaft for the upper bolt, loc-tited both bolts and installed them, and painted the bare metal that was exposed at the bottom.
Pull your key to lock your steering column before you start and you'll keep your steering clocked for reassembly. I had to unlock mine and wiggle it a bit to one side to get the new shaft installed. Once I get the truck back together I'll be able to see if it tracks straight.
Thanks to all of you who've done this and documented it!
stratton
OBS Enthusiast
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
i did this . direct bolt on for 94 k1500
Okay.... I got the steering shaft out of a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee and I am going to install it into my 1992 C3500.
I have two concerns that somebody who has done this before can answer for me. First Question: The Jeep shaft has TWO u joints in it. Wont that cause me a problem since my factory shaft only has one? I do not know if there is another Ujoint closer to the steering wheel - I am assuming that there is because there is a tilt wheel in the truck.
Second Question: Why bust the plastic in the jeep shaft? It looks to me like I can assemble it as it is. Why are yall busting them apart and greasing them? The one I got at the junkyard slides just fine..... DO I have to break the plastic to get it to compress enough? is that the issue?
I have two concerns that somebody who has done this before can answer for me. First Question: The Jeep shaft has TWO u joints in it. Wont that cause me a problem since my factory shaft only has one? I do not know if there is another Ujoint closer to the steering wheel - I am assuming that there is because there is a tilt wheel in the truck.
Second Question: Why bust the plastic in the jeep shaft? It looks to me like I can assemble it as it is. Why are yall busting them apart and greasing them? The one I got at the junkyard slides just fine..... DO I have to break the plastic to get it to compress enough? is that the issue?
sewlow
Bitchin' Stitchin'
The pivot for your tilt is not the same as the '95+ with the universal under the dash. You'll be fine.
The plastic is melted out in order for the shaft to be collapsed enough to fit these trucks. It's sacrificial. Done so that the shaft will still collapse in the event of an accident.
If your's is already loose & slides smoothly, I wouldn't worry about having to melt the plastic out. I would grease it a bit, though.
The plastic is melted out in order for the shaft to be collapsed enough to fit these trucks. It's sacrificial. Done so that the shaft will still collapse in the event of an accident.
If your's is already loose & slides smoothly, I wouldn't worry about having to melt the plastic out. I would grease it a bit, though.
Thank You for your speedy response! Soon as I get it out of the paint booth I am swapping shafts. I already replaced the rag joint and I have absolutely zero faith in it now. I had to grind the heads down on two of the bolts, the retainers that came with the rebuild kit were completely useless.
jrsroadhauze
Newbie
Just got mine from RockAuto ACDELCO 26015779!!!!
SpencerSr
Newbie
I just put this on my 98 and made a hell of a difference
You must be registered for see images attach
Geoff Walliser
Newbie
Is the AC delco part the same as the dorman? I'm hoping this will work for my 92 C1500 as the dorman part is out of stock lots of places.
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