HEATED jeep steering shaft will NOT collapse

[HK_Camino]

It's really not hard to ventilate fumes in a safe way, especially if you have experience working around hazardous gasses and chemicals.

I was able to slowly compress the shaft using a rubber mallet and wooden block, with some heat. I got it to the perfect length, although I'll have to take the steering box loose since the shaft is still very rigid and won't telescope in and out.

ribbedroof - In hindsight, I definitely wouldve just gone with an original replacement. Reading on this forum would led me to believe it is a very easy replacement, that offers great benefits at a relatively low cost. It turned out to be a total b&*%h of a install, assuming I can eventually get it into place. It seems to me that the shaft collapsing during a collision would be better than the alternative, it staying rigid and becoming a potential spear.

It does look way better than the big ol blue boot that I had.

 

[Ribbedroof]

Yes, the shaft collapsing in a collision is a good thing. Way better than a 5 foot long steering shaft through the chest.

My point was that once collapsed, the integrity of the injected composite is no longer as-manufactured, and should be replaced...according to current guidelines.

And I left my blue boot off as well...guess I'll take my chances on random loose debris locking the steering up while in motion.

 

[melloelky]

ok,I'll bite,if a steering shaft isn't "designed" to be collapsed,then how is it installed/replaced on it's intended application?is the rack/column r&i'd to r&r a steering shaft?the part is female on each end and it's receiving counter parts are male.

 

[Ribbedroof]

Seems like some of the GM trucks have a telescoping shaft (and I've changed a few "clunkers" circa 2005 model year), but I still vividly recall changing them on those damn Neons, PITA, along with the GM frt drivers with the "tunnel" from the rack to the floor.

I'm sure plenty of people have found a way to "free up" the shaft, but they're supposed to be a specified length, as I recall. There would be no real reason for it to be free to slide in/out, unless the chassis was so weak the shaft had to change length to stay connected....

So yeah, drop the box, or pull the column back.

Or melt the plastic and slide into home

 

[HK_Camino]

Makes sense about the integrity being compromised, but I'm ok with that.

mello - mine is rigid, even though I was able to compress it to the right length I had no luck getting it to telescope back out. I'm going to loosen my steering box from the frame, connect in the splined end, then shove the other end into the steering column as I tighten back down the steering box to the frame. I assume this procedure could be used for any rigid steering shaft that is already the perfect length.

 

[565bbchevy]

One more reason I am glad I went with the new Borgeson shaft on both my Gbodys the shaft is telescoping by design so it is very easy to install plus it is not some junkyard piece with unknown history and wear or just plain stuck.
I do agree that adding a shaft with u-joints will tighten up the steering feel over the rag joint which is what I was looking for when I bought the one for my Monte.

 

[melloelky]

these chassis's are rather week knee'd and they had fixed length jobs O.E but unitized construction introduced tube/sleeved tube design,sure there's variables on every assembly but i can't imagine why they'd switch to a design that doesn't move much or at all.

 

[HK_Camino]

565, that shaft is very clean. I would've paid a premium to have one that is designed to telescope.

 

[64nailhead]

The shaft needs to be able to slide, and yes heat is no good due to the plastic stuff inside of it. I'm not as technical as Anubis on the product description of the plastic, but......the toxic fumes are indeed toxic and the plastic is supposed to be there. The shaft should slide freely enough to collapse it a couple of inches to get it in place.

I would strongly recommend against dropping the steer gear to get this installed. By the time your done you'll need a new gear AND steering shaft. Not trying to be a wise *ss about this at all, but stop before you damage something else. Do you want a stock shaft with a freshly replaced rag joint? I have several used ones that I've yanked for Astro shafts. Not for steering feel, but rather all of my turbo headers run next the rag joint that gets melty when the EGT's are enough to have the manifolds turn orange.

 

[Jakefromstatefarm]

565, that shaft is very clean. I would've paid a premium to have one that is designed to telescope.

They are nice and have a nice premium