Jeep steering shaft

[gearhedjon]

good topic, i just added a $49 u joint shaft no ame to my cart on amazon for later purchase. never crossed my mind that that the joints go now i see 2 here that have, are they worth it or should just get a new rag joint shaft? current 1 is 86 original equipment.

The jeep shaft I bought was one that was procured from the junk yard. The person I bought it from shortened it and repainted it. I mention this because it was not a brand new shaft. Brand new U joints will last alot longer.
If your looking for improved steering feel it is a good modification.
It looks like buying a new shaft rather than buying the U joints Is the more economical way to go. The Hooker Blackheart shaft is on E bay for $49.

 

[L05edSS]

The jeep shaft I bought was one that was procured from the junk yard. The person I bought it from shortened it and repainted it. I mention this because it was not a brand new shaft. Brand new U joints will last alot longer.
If your looking for improved steering feel it is a good modification.
It looks like buying a new shaft rather than buying the U joints Is the more economical way to go. The Hooker Blackheart shaft is on E bay for $49.

ok thanks. awhile back i seen someone install a blackheart on their gbody and they had to hog out the end a bit that goes to steering wheel a and sounds like 1 i'm lookin at does too.

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

The Hooker Blackheart shaft is on E bay for $49.

The knockoffs are. I just went through 4 pages and didn't see a real one. IT'S ALL CHINESE PARTS.

Edit: Went back & found this on page 3 when sorting by price, I missed it earlier. Could just be a Chinese unit he's selling in the Holley box to recoup some $$. It's an extremely common scam.

Hooker BlackHeart 71223022HKR Steering Shaft 82-93 S10 82-88 G-Body LS Swap | eBay

New open box. Box has some wear and tear.

www.ebay.com

 

[565bbchevy]

This is the one I was comparing mine too.

1986 BUICK REGAL Hooker Headers 71223022HKR Hooker Blackheart Steering Shafts | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Hooker Blackheart Steering Shafts with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Steering Shafts at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

 

[gearhedjon]

This is the one I was comparing mine too.

1986 BUICK REGAL Hooker Headers 71223022HKR Hooker Blackheart Steering Shafts | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Hooker Blackheart Steering Shafts with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Steering Shafts at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

View attachment 253718

Thanks, looks like I dodged a potential bullet!
There I go again forgetting how old I am!!

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Another member posted a while ago that the Jeep shafts are designed for unibodies and lack the telescoping joint the stock ragjoint shafts have to allow for flex in body on frame construction.

There is also the lower steering column bearing upgrade.

 

[gearhedjon]

Another member posted a while ago that the Jeep shafts are designed for unibodies and lack the telescoping joint the stock ragjoint shafts have to allow for flex in body on frame construction.

There is also the lower steering column bearing upgrade.

I could see with factory rubber body bushings, you may need that telescoping feature. My bushings have been replaced. My body is solid mounted.
I also have the lower column bearing upgrade as well.
I like the Hooker shaft as it has no rubber isolater. I think that's the way I'm going to go.

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

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/

Xj steering shaft

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...

ck5.com

 

[gearhedjon]

Have not used a

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/

Xj steering shaft

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...

ck5.com

.Have not had any experience with the Astro shafts. Are they plug and play or do they need a little fussing?
I bought the jeep shaft many years ago and held on to it untill recently. I can say it does improve the feel of the steering.
Maybe I could take a look at the Astro shaft. I'm looking for something that has a more factory look while still being better than a rag joint shaft.
Ok so what's the consensus? What appears more factory but is a double u joint shaft? Price consideration also. Hooker or Astro?

 

[melloelky]

one of the other beef's i have with the jeepster shaft is most of us are aiming to get one from the junk yard or an ebay seller etc etc.the rubber inside has a service life like everything else.chances are it's in ok shape because it's relatively late model(compared to the metric chassis we're all using)probably hasn't seen the heat/cool cycles as our stockers have but why bother as it's a safety issue.if you're set on the jeep model,spring for the new one and it'll outlive you.yes i'm sure the rag joint'd shafts we're all removing isn't shot juuuuust yet but i can see the attraction with these swaps.that said i perfer my astro shaft vs the jeeper.and for those of you not sure what the swap intails,here's an article.

Driveway Tech: How To Swap A Jeep Steering Shaft Into Your GM B-Body or G-Body Car With A Trashed Rag Joint - BangShift.com

We’ve been piling up the miles on Buford T Justice, our 1987 Chevy Caprice project recently. Having completed the suspension upgrade and installed the new wheels and tires, the thing is a riot to heave into the corners and scare the kids, passengers, and passers by with. That being said, there...

bangshift.com