RETRO-Mod: Jeep intermediate steering shaft

[89Suburban]

Well that 1/4" bolt just snapped so now I am relying on the RTV sealant mentioned here to keep the shaft from falling the phuck off and get me home safe towing the boat home. If I post tomorrow I am still alive. Going to have to be late to work to fix that **** right and fix a burned out drivers side headlight.

PEACE OUT


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[bucket]

Well that 1/4" bolt just snapped so now I am relying on the RTV sealant mentioned here to keep the shaft from falling the phuck off and get me home safe towing the boat home. If I post tomorrow I am still alive. Going to have to be late to work to fix that **** right and fix a burned out drivers side headlight.

PEACE OUT


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I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[89Suburban]

She made it home

That RTV sealant saved my ass towing that boat home on the highway.

I am fixing that **** tomorrow and TAKING SOME TIME OFF FROM WORK to phucking DEW IT.

And fix my headlight that's out.

 

[RetroC10Sport]

Put high beams in place of the lows and aim them down a little. I did that and they really light up the road.

 

[HotRodPC]

Put high beams in place of the lows and aim them down a little. I did that and they really light up the road.

NO doubt. As bright as HIDs are today, noone knows the difference so long as they are not pointed in their face.

Thing he needs to be careful of though, he aims them a little low, then adds the boat, the ass end sags a bit from the weight, then guess where the headlights are pointed?

 

[HotRodPC]

Well that 1/4" bolt just snapped so now I am relying on the RTV sealant mentioned here to keep the shaft from falling the phuck off and get me home safe towing the boat home. If I post tomorrow I am still alive. Going to have to be late to work to fix that **** right and fix a burned out drivers side headlight.

PEACE OUT


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Take a pic of what you're talking about. The bolt up at the primary shaft coming out of the steering column? Maybe not enough notch for the bolt to clear and the primary throwing the shaft off and it bound up and broke? Did you feel a bind? I"m worried my K1500 will do that, although it feels smoothe. But if you watch as it is turning, you can tell it isn't quite right and my intent was to grind the notch and make room for the bolt to slide through.

 

[MrMarty51]

I just posted in the parts wanted for a steering shaft from a Jeep, for My 79 K20.

 

[89Suburban]

Take a pic of what you're talking about. The bolt up at the primary shaft coming out of the steering column? Maybe not enough notch for the bolt to clear and the primary throwing the shaft off and it bound up and broke? Did you feel a bind? I"m worried my K1500 will do that, although it feels smoothe. But if you watch as it is turning, you can tell it isn't quite right and my intent was to grind the notch and make room for the bolt to slide through.

I think the threads on the nut stripped and it popped loose but the nyloc plastic part of the nut kept it from falling off. I was backing down the boat ramp to pull the boat and I turned left and hit steer lock and it popped. My analysis was the RTV would hold the shaft up in position and get me home which it did. Had like half turn steering play. Had to ride the crown of the road just right to keep a slight pull to the right and keep from too much back and forth steering movement. The interesting part was when I got home and crossed that field. **** was all over the place going through the field LOL.

There is already a shiny spot where that notch needs to be so I just have to grind a groove there and get the larger bolt installed and we should be good to go. Heading out there shortly.

 

[89Suburban]

I just posted in the parts wanted for a steering shaft from a Jeep, for My 79 K20.

I got ya covered ol timer.

 

[89Suburban]

Doh!!!!! Looks like the nut was bottomed out and the bolt just bent and popped through one of the washers. So it was loose but not snapped.

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[Old77]

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[89Suburban]

Here are the drill marks when I was trying to do it that way. See how the coupler walked on me and started a new groove?

By the way you guys with the older columns it's is the type of end you need on your column.

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[Old77]

stupid coupler!!!!

 

[89Suburban]

Well here is my experience and some tips from this part of the world. The first shaft I was all gung ho spread the coupler open too far for the column side so the bolt wouldn’t catch because it was crooked. So I went to drill out the threaded hole so I could just put a bolt and nut on it. So I am drilling and the damn bit gets stuck and it jerked the damn shaft and wound up buggering up a u-joint.

So I had to take my other spare shaft and take it apart for the upper shaft and use that. Sorry Marty I know I promised you the shaft but I failed.

So on the 2nd coupler I pried it open in small increments until I could get it started on the column shaft and used a hammer and dowel punch to tap it on the rest of the way, keeping the impact pressure off the u-joint. They seem to be frail to impacts like mentioned earlier in this thread.

Melting the plastic out of the collapsible part of the shaft was very easy with an oxy/acet torch. And I can tell you it was a lot easier to burn off the plastic then it was the RTV sealant when I had to take that shaft apart. So that RTV sealant is a sure bet to use when assembling. It will stay wet long enough for you to get the steering wheel alignment dialed in straight making a few short trips up the road and back. Then once it sets it is flexible but strong and will keep any annoying play out of the two shafts. Once I melted the joints apart and burned any stray material off them I cooled them off in cool water and wiped clean.

Big thing I found was to grind that locating slot in the column shaft for the coupler bolt to slide through and act as a safety stop as well. Pics:

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[MrMarty51]

I got ya covered ol timer.

Sorry Marty I know I promised you the shaft but I failed.

That is OK Mine friend, it is good to know that You were able to get Your rig back home without incident.
Sometimes it takes a couple of trys to get things all together so they are safe and sound, I would rather see the shaft go to Your Burb to get it back on the road. I think the safety of You and Your family is of the upmost importance. So, dont feel bad about it. There will always be another shaft from somewhere and Mine old 79 is working just fine with the rag coupler, it is in good condition and will last a very long while.
Thank You for thinking of Me.