I'm replacing the intermediate shaft. Holy hard job. Any tips to make it easier ?

 

What shaft is that?

I'm guessing it must not be the steering one, because that one takes about 15 minutes... pop the column out, shaft near about falls out, DONE. Must be some other one?

 

actually the column doesn't need to come out. The intermediate shaft collapes. It was the 20 years of rust of road grime preventing easy R&R. Mine was also complicated by the AIR tubes.

 

If you'd like an alternative to the OE shaft, you might consider a Jeep or Astro Van shaft along with the bearing:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...ing-shaft.html

JamesC

 

No, you're right, the column doesn't "need to" come out; just, makes it SUPER eeeeeeeeeezie. And as eeeeeeeeeezie as it is to pop the column out (doesn't even have to come "out" like laying on the ground), it's kinda dumb to fight it with it in there.

 

The following is from the link above and proved to be simple and effective:

How Do I Remove the OE Thirdgen Shaft?

(If your car is equipped with an air bag, take note of the warning on the stone shield.)

Verify that the steering wheel is locked and the front wheels are straight. Much of the below is from my GM shop manual.

1. Disengage the stone shield from the boss on steering gear housing or adapter. Remove the pinch bolt from the flexible coupling.
2. Remove the upper coupling clamp to steering shaft attaching bolt and nut.
3. Push up on the shaft to remove it from steering gear stub (I used a small pry bar and some PB Blaster), then pull down until the upper coupler is removed from steering shaft.
4. You may wish to install the Astro Van bearing at this point (info below).

JameSC