Upper Steering Shaft Coupling

[67Camaro]

I disassembled the steering shaft in my Son's '80 CJ7 and replaced the upper bearing. When I began reassembly, the splined shaft coming out of the firewall only penetrates the coupler about a half inch. I noticed the shaft is notched to accept the pinch bolt. The splined end certainly does not stick out far enough to align the notch with the pinch bolt. I confirmed that the shaft is not pushed back into the column and everything is good at the steering wheel. Does this shaft collapse or have a slip joint? Maybe the incorrect shaft was installed previously? Help!
Read more: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/upper-steering-bearing-6454/#ixzz2WCDqaIz0

 

[IOPort51]

the shaft has a slip joint. some slide easily and some you have to pound on.

I am talking about the steering shaft and not the column shaft. If you are a 1/2" short I can see how you could have moved it when you took the column out.



This is where the shaft joins the column, I have no pictures of the slip joint, It just never occurred to me.

I do not know what kind of u-joint/rag joint you have on the bottom of the shaft but if you pull/drive the end of the shaft up you can pull it apart of put it under a load it may not like.

 

[67Camaro]

I pulled the steering shaft out completely and found that it had collapsed in the past. I cleaned it all up and extended it by fitting a small diameter brass drift into the hollow end and driving the assembly apart. What bothers me is the previous owner left the coupling attached to the shaft with only about 1/2" engagement. Thanks for all the help!