Hi Guys,

I got a steering shaft from a 1988 Jeep Cherokee which, as I read on here, is supposed to be a direct fit. However, it is too long? It's my understanding that the shaft is supposed to collapse and once collapsed would fit, but the shaft seems solid.

Will this shaft simply not work? Or is there a trick to it?

I read many posts about this topic but none mention a shaft that's a little too long. Any advice would greatly be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

It's supposed to collapse.

You basically ruined it by squirting whatever that red stuff is all over it.

Clean that off and lube the slip joint, it should then work right.

 

Gently heat the area of the larger diameter shaft where the smaller shaft goes into it. About 6" length of the larger shaft.

Then bang the end of the shaft down onto a block of wood that is sitting on a solid surface (garage floor or driveway works). Keep heating & banging until the shaft collapses.

RBob.

 

Thanks for the replies guys!

I did as RBob suggested and it worked great! Shaft now moves freely and is installed but I have to go to the hardware store as my original 2 bolts won't work with the Jeep shaft.

 

After the fact for others who are converting:

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

JamesC

 

Thanks James! I read that post before tackling this job... I just had some difficulties getting the shaft to compress. Once it was compressed, it was a simple bolt-on

 

Any evidence that yours is slipping like James' did? Im going to the JY next week to grab a shaft and maybe a bearing since mine is apart right now. Wasnt aware of the slipping issue, but that's a deal breaker for me.

Im not afraid to weld on it though...so I might just look for the cleanest one I can find that will work the best and grab it.

J.