The telescoping feature is nice in a wreck as well, potentially preventing you from spiking yourself. That whole column or just the center shaft can come into the cabin if the front end is smashed a particular way. This is an area where the rule books for circle track, derby cars, etc. illustrate what needs improved if Nana's car is to be used for "spirited driving".
The Astro van shafts melloelky mentioned have no rubber isolator, and Hooker basically copied the design but made a few changes. They make a great product, though I personally see it as a more expensive version of a capable factory part. But we all buy that kind of stuff, don't we? I know I do.
I'll be installing an Astro shaft into the G Body & one from a 3/4 ton Express van into my C10. Nobody really likes the Jeep shafts unless they just don't know better, but their quick ratio steering boxes are good.
It's my opinion that the Jeep shafts are inferior due to there being 2 different designs utilizing a rubber isolator. One seems more likely to fail than the other, and I've only read of a few Jeep shafts failures to begin with, but one completely fell apart leaving a steering wheel that did absolutely nothing. The Astro/Express van design is safer whether purchased from GM or Holley.
Relevant:
https://gbodyforum.com/threads/astro-van-steering-shafts.61356/
I went ahead and bought the xj shaft 65 bucks on eBay. Mine had way to much slopp both at rag joint and at column. When you heat the shaft DO NOT heat for more than a min and 20 sec or it will ooze plastic out (i tested it with old shaft) You will have to Dremel the steering box out put shaft...
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