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Cunningham Machine

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With most of these trucks getting some miles on them the wandering steering becomes a real issue. We are fully aware of all the options on the market that can help this, but I am here to show you ours.

It is a complete bolt in ZERO modifications needed install. It takes longer to find the right wrenches than it will to do the actual work. These steering shafts get rid of the factory rubber rag joint and replace it with a universal joint. They retain the same slip fit design that the factory uses.

Now some people ask about road vibrations. We have a TON of these on trucks and have had zero complaints about that. Another concern is in the event of a crash the rag joint is made to "Sheer". My answer is always the same, there are many many factory vehicles that came with some sort of universal joint from the factory. We are just simply updating to the better setup.

We offer these for both 88-94 trucks and 95-00 trucks. The 88-94 takes an entire shaft with 2 couplers. The 95-00 only needs the lower piece. You reuse your factory "male" portion and slide it into ours and keep the retention clip in place. It has been noted on our website that if the 95-00 trucks had an aftermarket dorman replacement shaft that upper will NOT fit our lower properly. They made them specific for their own lower it seems like.


 
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1998_K1500_Sub

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Installing a U-joint from a third-party is a pretty easy replacement for the rag joint, e.g.,

- Flaming River FR1746DD Billet-Joint 1"-DD X 3/4"-30 Steering U-Joint

- Borgeson 015231 1" DD x 3/4"-30 Steering U-Joint

- or as applicable
 

Cunningham Machine

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Installing a U-joint from a third-party is a pretty easy replacement for the rag joint.
As stated in the first line. Many ways it can be done. I'm only sharing the way that we make a living off of. 99% of our customers don't want to have to modify, cut, grind, weld, whatever the case is. They just want bolt and go
 

PM18S4

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I got the lower shaft u-joint for my Burb. It was the final thing in the front steering and suspension that I replaced.
It does give better feedback and response, but man was it a pain to separate the original upper and lower shaft.
It also took 3 attempts to get the splines to line up correctly; first it was off 2 splines to the left, then 1 spline to the right, the third attempt nailed it and it drove straight again.
 

offroadtahoe

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for 3" body lift a extended shaft is also available,just ask for it in the notes before you checkout.I never ran the PA
steering extension that came with my kit (96+ style) as there is way to much play trying to run it,There is also play if you dont run one,Alot less and hardly noticeable if you try to look but it's there,After this my steering is so much more tight!!
 

7jiggy

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With most of these trucks getting some miles on them the wandering steering becomes a real issue. We are fully aware of all the options on the market that can help this, but I am here to show you ours.

It is a complete bolt in ZERO modifications needed install. It takes longer to find the right wrenches than it will to do the actual work. These steering shafts get rid of the factory rubber rag joint and replace it with a universal joint. They retain the same slip fit design that the factory uses.

Now some people ask about road vibrations. We have a TON of these on trucks and have had zero complaints about that. Another concern is in the event of a crash the rag joint is made to "Sheer". My answer is always the same, there are many many factory vehicles that came with some sort of universal joint from the factory. We are just simply updating to the better setup.

We offer these for both 88-94 trucks and 95-00 trucks. The 88-94 takes an entire shaft with 2 couplers. The 95-00 only needs the lower piece. You reuse your factory "male" portion and slide it into ours and keep the retention clip in place. It has been noted on our website that if the 95-00 trucks had an aftermarket dorman replacement shaft that upper will NOT fit our lower properly. They made them specific for their own lower it seems like.


So glad I checked the forum before I bought anything! Just placed my order! This is much better than the rag joint. My 89 K2500 (7200gvw) truck has 494,000 miles on it. 3rd engine and 3rd trans. But it always gets what it needs.

Thank you!
 

1998_K1500_Sub

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One thing I've noticed, on the vehicles for which I've swapped the rag joint for a U-joint, is I get a lot more hydraulic noise (really a "hiss") in the cabin during power assist conditions than I did with the rag... which isn't a surprise in hindsight, but it wasn't something I expected at the onset.

It's not objectionable IMHO, but in a quieter vehicle like a Suburban or Blazer (i.e., a "people hauler, not a pickup truck) it's hard to miss
 
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