On the left is an '86 column, right is a '91.

Am I correct to assume the last 3 years use a different steering shaft?

 

I'm not seeing a difference, except the shaft on the right is pushed in. Did it come out of a wrecked car? Because the shaft is supposed to telescope in the event of a collision so the driver doesn't get impaled with a steering column.

Yeah, the columns on 90-up are different. They have airbag components built in. But that's at the other end of the column than you have pictured.

 

I tried to pull the shaft out assuming it was collapsed, but it won't move. Just wanted to confirm that the end that connects to the steering shaft and the shaft itself isn't different for the later years.

I'll keep working on it and see what I can do.

 

Pop the bearing assembly off, and you should have enough room to grab the shaft with a vise grip and pull it down. If the top half of the column is apart, the shaft can slide up, or it could be compressed from a collision. Here's a 91 column for reference...



And just the shaft, so you can see how it's two telescoping pieces.