Steering shaft

[grunt]

I have a CJ project that is almost complete . It has a fiberglass body with a spring lift and a 3 inch body lift. Anyway I'm going to get a Borgenson steering shaft to solve my body lift. The problem I see is the shaft coming out of the fiberglass body. The length seems to short. Here is a pic....



Here is a pic of my 1979, which looks correct....


How can I fix the top picture? Appreciate all replys...

 

[CJ]

Cut back the sheet metal from the column and when you order the shaft from Borenson, give them the dims you need, they will give a correct length shaft,

What worries me about your pic is -do the bearings in the column work with that short shaft?

 

[grunt]

There were no bearings in that short shaft. Which needs to be resolved. Pretty scary stuff. If I cut back the metal in the first pic I wont be able to use the bearing and clip. What can I do?...

 

[DHugg]

The problem I see is the shaft coming out of the fiberglass body. The length seems to short. Here is a pic....[removed]

Here is a pic of my 1979, which looks correct....[pic removed]
How can I fix the top picture? Appreciate all replys...

Here are some notes I've kept on replacing steering column from junk yard retrieval [one of my favorite pass-times]

[STEERING COLUMN]
"Yep - get the parts from any intermediate GM column, you won't find them at a parts store - but any junk / scrap yard will easily hook you up. Jeep used a GM tilt steering column.

I used one from a 96 Cherokee in my 77. I had to get a creative with the u joint but is bolted on and plugged in.

As IO said, Cherocar's are good, you even get a Jeep logo'd steering wheel. Late 80's early 90's Firebirds work well too.

I believe the year would be 73- 80's for the steering columns.Look at a Chevy Truck of that year same column."
__________________

end of saved notes

 

[yellow85cj]

The most likely reason the first column shaft is too short is that it has compressed. The shaft inside the column is designed to compress just as the intermediate shaft does.

You may be able to pull it out, but with the rust that appears on the end, it may be rusted all the way up.

I would agree with using an XJ column. When you order your intermediate shaft order the length you need for the lift and a double D top u joint (XJ) and not the splined end (CJ). Plug N play and you can easily wire the brights on column. Plug from the floor should fit the switch plug on the column if you cut the tabs off. Does on an 85.

 

[grunt]

Thanks again for all the help!!! I need to visit back more often....

 

[IOPort51]

The intermediate shaft will stretch a couple of inches. How much do you think you will need? after getting the main column sorted out.

 

[billyocup]

Grunt -

As yellow85cj said, it looks like the steering shaft has compressed. The internal shaft is in 2 pieces (see attached pics) and is meant to collapse during a collision. Once the plastic rivet that holds the 2 pieces together shears off, the upper part of the shaft slides into the lower part. Everything I've read says the shaft can't be repaired, it needs to be replaced.

Hope this helps, Bill

 

[73CJ]

I've read says the shaft can't be repaired, it needs to be replaced.

You can drill out the plastic and put a nylon bolt in it. Or get out the welder.

The problem I see in the photos is that the steering column shaft is pulled out. The older ones can get hung up on the horn contact located mid-shaft. Something is out of place.