Steering Column

[961TonDually]

I have a 96 C3500 with a 7.4. I added headers and on one tube the steering column is slightly rubbing on the rounded sides of the steering shaft and i can feel this at the steering wheel. I think I can fix this with a little grinding at the point of the rub. What I need to know is the steering shaft solid steel or is it tubing steel. Thanks

 

[618 Syndicate]

Dent the header for clearance, do not eff with the steering shaft.
Dented header = no change.
Ground (and therefore weakened) steering shaft = potential for disaster.

 

[Erik the Awful]

Don't modify your steering, modify the exhaust. Putting a smooth dimple in the header has no effect on power. None. Engine Masters has an infamous video where they bash a header halfway closed and only lose 5 hp, but it's behind the paywall.

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

How slight is slight? It will eventually self-clearance. I had headers on a C5 that very slightly touched in certain situations, but it wasn't worth the effort to pull them back out.

 

[961TonDually]

Very slight, when the flat side of the column is next to the header is does not touch. The width of the touch is about the size of what a sharpie maker would make. Normally I would dent the header but really don't what to take it off and I was thinking if the shaft was solid steel and the amount I would need to remove would have no effect but if it's not solid I would not, that's why I was asking.

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

I'm not an expert on steering shafts but the ones that I have taken off were hollow. Everything I have worked on was 2 piece with an inner shaft that was designed to collapse into the outer shaft on severe impact. The shaft is a lot thicker metal than a header tube though. It will wear through the header before the shaft IMO.

 

[Erik the Awful]

Normally I would dent the header but really don't what to take it off

Either take it off and dimple it, or see if you can get a torch in there to soften it and use a prybar. I absolutely would not grind on the steering shaft, and I do sketchy stuff.

 

[Hamps]

Get rid of the rag joint you will be pleased with the upgrade.

XJ Steering Shaft Upgrade (88-94 Trucks) 95+instructions on page 31

Hey all, Read about this in one of ChrisAU's threads. Thought I'd detail it out. This is a super easy swap to eliminate a butt load of steering slop. Minus my learning curve the basic swap took about 20 min. The shafts that fit are 84-00 Jeep Cherokee XJ steering shafts. They are almost a...

www.gmt400.com

Also here is the link for power loss when denting the exhaust. YouTube pulled it for some unknown reason.

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[961TonDually]

Update - I broke loose the steering column shaft and heated then dimpled the header for clearance. I coated the rubbed area on the shaft with blue marking agent to tell if it ever rubs once I get it back on the road, time will tell.