Power Steering Shaft difference??

[RTRCJ7]

I am doing a power steering conversion on an 83 CJ7 AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l . I just bought and recieved a CJ7 power steering shaft off ebay and it looks identical to the manual shaft thats already in there. Should there be a difference in length or something?

 

[Sasquach]

It should look the same except for the larger spline size at the steering box end.

 

[Kane]

Yup, all about the steering box end. Everything else is the same.

 

[RTRCJ7]

Aight , thanks for the info. So all I really needed was the bigger size coupler. I now have an extra steering shaft. But you can never have enough parts , right?

 

[IOPort51]

actually, yes you can, but don't tell anyone. wife/girlfriend/mother etc.

Aight , thanks for the info. So all I really needed was the bigger size coupler. I now have an extra steering shaft. But you can never have enough parts , right?

 

[Sasquach]

Aight , thanks for the info. So all I really needed was the bigger size coupler. I now have an extra steering shaft. But you can never have enough parts , right?

The coupler is part of the shaft and you did the right thing. I believe the earlier years used a coupler that could be changed but not for your 83.

 

[RTRCJ7]

The coupler is part of the shaft and you did the right thing. I believe the earlier years used a coupler that could be changed but not for your 83.

Ok , thanks Sasquatch. So I do need to replace the entire shaft and not just buy a new coupler for the old manual shaft ?
Also , on the PS shaft I bought , the coupler has just a small amount of play. Is this something to be concerned about or is this normal. I dont want to change everything out and still have some steering play.

Thanks

 

[Sasquach]

As far as I know the saginaw boxs don't use a coupling, it's a whole dif shaft. Your shaft should not have any play in the rotational axis other than the fact that the joints are not nasa quality. It should not be noticed at your steering wheel.