Steering shaft coupler.Cheap fix.

[1979cj71ton]

I recently stripped out the lower steering shaft coupling on my power steering box. The rebuild kit was like $40.00 or so. I wanted a better coupling,but the aftermarket ones were $60.00 or more. I went to the salvage yard today and bought a complete late model cherokee lower steering shaft for $10.00. I just cut off the better steering joint,measured and cut off the old coupling and shaft. I just lined up the two shafts and welded it back together. Installed it and test drove it in less than an hour. I now have a better,stronger steering shaft for less than $20.00 and a hours worth of work.

 

[cajun01]

Do you have any pica of this install?

 

[1979cj71ton]

Honestly i didn't even think about taking any pictures before i installed it back on the cj. I cut the new style steering joint a little long so that the pipe would overlap the old steering shaft.I installed the shaft on the cj and lined everything up,then i just did a quick tack weld to hold it. I removed it and welded the the two pieces together,then i installed the finished shaft and bolted everything back together. I will try to take some pictures and post them after i clean the jeep. I took it out and played today to try out the steering shaft before i race next weekend.

 

[dagr8tim]

I'd love some after the fact pics.

I have a steering shaft from a 98 XJ that I scrapped. Might be a nice upgrade.

 

[1979cj71ton]

I'm running 15/39.5 swampers on 10 inch rims,so i wanted a better steering coupler. The one that stripped out was only about year old since i rebuilt the shaft on the jeep. That late model coupling has a better clamping contact area and a universal joint instead of the blocks and spring. I will post some pictures when i get a chance.

 

[csuengr]

I was looking to do that, but the XJ lower steering joint has a smaller spline diameter then the CJ steering box. They don't go together. The XJ joint I know will work with SJ boxes. For some reason, the CJ steering box has a larger spline diameter.

 

[1979cj71ton]

I don't know about the xj steering joint,but the steering box side of the shaft from a cherokee worked great on the cj and was cheap. My local salvage yard only charged $11.50 for the complete lower steering shaft. The steering column side of the shaft is alot bigger than on the cherokees,so i just saved it in case someone else needed it later.

 

[csuengr]

Oh. You just did the steering shaft. I thought you did the lower U-joint.

 

[1979cj71ton]

I cut the lower steering joint off the Cherokee shaft assembly.Cut down my original cj steering shaft and welded the two pieces of shafts together to make one new shaft.

 

[1979cj71ton]

Re: Steering shaft coupler.Cheap fix. ..... Update ....

Well,we raced saturday june 1st and with all the rain we've had here the mud track was really deep and nasty. The steering shaft worked prefectly with no problems. However the track was so bad,that on the second pass i broke my drivers side front axle. Oh well i wanted to upgrade to better axles anyway. Any suggestions or any brand that you guys like or prefer better?

 

[ijeeper]

Re: Steering shaft coupler.Cheap fix. ..... Update ....

Wow, you broke the long side. Usually it's the short axle that breaks. Are you looking at replacing the axle shafts with better ones or changing out the entire axle assembly?
If you don't have a lot of expendable cash, I'd suggest carrying around spare replacement shafts. Also, you really need to consider the reason it broke and determine if it was weak from the get go or from the way you drive the Jeep. If it's your driving and you want to continue working the Jeep hard, then upgrades would be the better approach.

 

[1979cj71ton]

Yes,i'm looking at stronger axle shafts or possible going to a dana 60 front end. If i can find a decent complete front differential,i might just go that route.If not i will at least upgrade to stronger axles and Drive flanges on the hubs.I haven't had any problems with the 60 rear,so i would probably be good with a 60 front.
I hate to get stuck,worst yet to get stuck in front of a crowd on race night. I always drive the jeep hard when i race,but thats what i built it for.If your not having any fun why build a jeep in the first place.Right?
There are more videos on you tube of my daughter and i racing at Bandit Mud Racing.
I hope to have the jeep ready for the next race on July 6th.