Moparmat2000
I'm Awesome
Headed to the junky today to get an XJ shaft for my 94 C1500, and some other assorted parts i need.
I would like to make a recommendation however. Do NOT weld the shaft pieces or bolt them together making it one solid shaft. The reason its a shaft in a shaft making it collapsable is for collision purposes. If you weld it or bolt it solid, in the event of a bad collision with the frame being bent back, your welded solid shaft will likely shove the steering column back and it will rip loose from the dash and hit you in the chest.
Also the cab moves slightly independent of the frame, even more on trucks doing lots of heavy offroad, the shaft in shaft arrangement will allow movement at the steering connection between the cab and chassis. This is probably why a rag joint was used for that small differential movement between cab and chassis. A double U joint setup though far superior allows no relative movement, as such the shaft itself needs to be able to slightly expand and compress.
I plan on drilling my xj shaft and adding a grease fitting where the collapsable center is, and a rubber boot to keep dirt and dust out.
I hope this helps
Thanks guys GMT400.com is the best.
I would like to make a recommendation however. Do NOT weld the shaft pieces or bolt them together making it one solid shaft. The reason its a shaft in a shaft making it collapsable is for collision purposes. If you weld it or bolt it solid, in the event of a bad collision with the frame being bent back, your welded solid shaft will likely shove the steering column back and it will rip loose from the dash and hit you in the chest.
Also the cab moves slightly independent of the frame, even more on trucks doing lots of heavy offroad, the shaft in shaft arrangement will allow movement at the steering connection between the cab and chassis. This is probably why a rag joint was used for that small differential movement between cab and chassis. A double U joint setup though far superior allows no relative movement, as such the shaft itself needs to be able to slightly expand and compress.
I plan on drilling my xj shaft and adding a grease fitting where the collapsable center is, and a rubber boot to keep dirt and dust out.
I hope this helps
Thanks guys GMT400.com is the best.
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