Cheokee- most of the time rusted and seized; nylon clip can break
Astro/Safari- lives in a sealed rubber cocoon so looks like new when removed; never seized and no nylon clip to break; easier to find and more available
Trouble installing jeep steering shaft
- Thread starter Texas82GP
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Cheokee- most of the time rusted and seized; nylon clip can break
Astro/Safari- lives in a sealed rubber cocoon so looks like new when removed; never seized and no nylon clip to break; easier to find and more available
I was able to pull a nice clean one at the time. This was prior to hearing about the Astro-Safari shafts. So far I'm pleased with the Cherokee shaft.
South of the Kansas border we don't have to worry too much about corroded/seized GC shafts, especially on 2wd GC's.
The '95's all have a rubber boot, which makes corroded telescope joints even less likely.
Are you sure of the year models? I'm not saying you are wrong but when I look this up on Rock Auto and O'Reilly's websites, they are showing 93-94 Grand Cherokee's as having rag joints. When I do a Google search for a 94 Grand Cherokee steering shaft, I'm not coming up with anything. Also, thanks for contributing to this thread.
What nylon clip are you referring to Steve? Is it internal where the top and bottom halves come together?
I looked at hundreds on GC and Cherokees in the Junkyard and 93-95 GC's are the only ones with a straight up no mod G-body compatible shaft.
Earlier/later GC's have either different input or output mating and all Cherokees look too long.
I have never seen a Rag Joint in any 93-95 GC, but a G-Body rag joint shaft should bolt right in and be cheaper to make/sell.
Thanks for the reply. I had a little more time to search online and I'm seeing what you are describing now. It doesn't come up on Rock Auto's or O'Reilly's websites but they are out there. Thanks for the help.
I don't have any experience with it, some guys on here have had issues with a nylon piece(s) breaking when they took the shaft part to clean it.
but I might have found a cure for you, here is what a couple of guys had to do with the same shaft that you bought....
caleb
3.0 out of 5 starsIt's a good quality part except for one thing!
October 12, 2017
Verified Purchase
Works and looks great! The only down side is the telescoping does not work straight out of the box. The best thing for you to do upon recieving this part, is to put a torch to it and heat it up to seperate the two pieces. Then add some grease to the shaft and then you can go ahead and install it with ease!
Bailey28
5.0 out of 5 starsJeep steering shaft for GM G Body, this is the correct one!
September 29, 2016
Verified Purchase
Brand new steering shaft I used in my 1984 El Camino to replace the stock rag joint shaft. In order to install it, you must use one of those Bernz0matic propane torches you get in a hardware store to heat up the center of the shaft. This will melt the plastic 'goo' inside and allows the shaft to telescope in and out so you can install it. I spent a good 10 minutes heating the shaft hot enough so it would move. I tried a 'heat gun' but trust me, you need the torch. The paint on this is excellent and did not even dull with the torch application. This shaft did wonders for the steering. I had lots of free play due to the old worn rag joint. After installing this shaft, most of the slop is gone. The rest is due to the steering box itself and other steering components. A great bang for the buck upgrade!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008VPWBTY/?tag=gbody-20
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Jared,
The shaft I used was from a '90 thru...I wanna say '96-'98 standard Cherokee (possibly even later)....not the Grand Cherokee.
When I first tried it, it was obviously too long. I read that the shaft needed to be collapsed before they would fit our cars properly.
I believe mine was a later model. I think there was a difference with the U-joints on the earlier shafts.
The shaft I used was from a '90 thru...I wanna say '96-'98 standard Cherokee (possibly even later)....not the Grand Cherokee.
When I first tried it, it was obviously too long. I read that the shaft needed to be collapsed before they would fit our cars properly.
I believe mine was a later model. I think there was a difference with the U-joints on the earlier shafts.
I have a lot of experience with these shafts. There are basically two types of jeep shafts. The earlier ones have the plastic bushing that guys are melting apart. When you do this, you just added about an 1/8" of slop to the shaft. These shafts come on the Cherokees with the long rectangular air box. I don't mess with these.
I pull the other style. Like UNGN stated, they have a rubber boot which helps keep them from rusting. These shafts you do
not have to separate. Typically they easily collapse and have no slop. These shafts come on later Cherokees with a more square airbox and also have a fiber heat guard mounted above them to protect them from the exhaust manifolds.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure of the years, I just know by looking at them...timo22
I pull the other style. Like UNGN stated, they have a rubber boot which helps keep them from rusting. These shafts you do
not have to separate. Typically they easily collapse and have no slop. These shafts come on later Cherokees with a more square airbox and also have a fiber heat guard mounted above them to protect them from the exhaust manifolds.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure of the years, I just know by looking at them...timo22
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