SquareRoot
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2017
- Posts
- 4,192
- Reaction score
- 8,030
- Location
- Arizona
- First Name
- Mike
- Truck Year
- 85
- Truck Model
- K20
- Engine Size
- 350
Replacing it with a u joint is exactly what the jeep shaft does. Carry on.
RETRO-Mod: Jeep intermediate steering shaft
- Thread starter RetroC10Sport
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2014
- Posts
- 4,293
- Reaction score
- 3,339
- Location
- Kentucky
- First Name
- David
- Truck Year
- 1986
- Truck Model
- K10/LM7 5.3/4L60e/np208/3.73/32"
- Engine Size
- 10 yrs Air Force
These aren't the rag joints we're looking for....move along....move along.
mibars
Full Access Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2023
- Posts
- 268
- Reaction score
- 442
- Location
- Nadarzyn, Poland
- First Name
- Michal
- Truck Year
- 1990
- Truck Model
- Suburban V1500
- Engine Size
- 350 TBI
Thanks!
Can you help me with identifying which one is more likely to fit? Both look slightly different than the one in 1st post, however make/model/year is matching.
Can you help me with identifying which one is more likely to fit? Both look slightly different than the one in 1st post, however make/model/year is matching.
mibars
Full Access Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2023
- Posts
- 268
- Reaction score
- 442
- Location
- Nadarzyn, Poland
- First Name
- Michal
- Truck Year
- 1990
- Truck Model
- Suburban V1500
- Engine Size
- 350 TBI
Did the mod, ended up buying a different one than linked above. Steering is so much more precise now!
Some notes:
-These plastic inserts holding both halves together are most likely PTFE/Teflon. It emits highly toxic fumes when heated. Do it outside and mind the wind direction.
-After removing those inserts you may end up with little bit of slop between parts, as I did. A one good hammer smack on the tube part to close it a little was enough to remove it.
-You don't need to remove both nuts holding steering shaft from a firewall, you can leave the one under brake booster and just spread the bracket a bit.
Some notes:
-These plastic inserts holding both halves together are most likely PTFE/Teflon. It emits highly toxic fumes when heated. Do it outside and mind the wind direction.
-After removing those inserts you may end up with little bit of slop between parts, as I did. A one good hammer smack on the tube part to close it a little was enough to remove it.
-You don't need to remove both nuts holding steering shaft from a firewall, you can leave the one under brake booster and just spread the bracket a bit.
SquareRoot
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2017
- Posts
- 4,192
- Reaction score
- 8,030
- Location
- Arizona
- First Name
- Mike
- Truck Year
- 85
- Truck Model
- K20
- Engine Size
- 350
I drilled a 3/8 hole thru one side of the outer sleeve then welded a 5/16 nut over the hole. Assemble shafts and screw in a 5/16 x 1 inch bolt with a jam nut. Tighten just enough to eliminate the slop. Never had to mess with it since.
plugugly
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2023
- Posts
- 117
- Reaction score
- 55
- Location
- rocklin, ca
- First Name
- Damon
- Truck Year
- 87
- Truck Model
- blazer
- Engine Size
- 6.2 diesel
whats the difference in later jeeps? 97 and up?
edit: called borgeson. The earlier is 1" DD and the later is splined.
edit: called borgeson. The earlier is 1" DD and the later is splined.
Last edited:
plugugly
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2023
- Posts
- 117
- Reaction score
- 55
- Location
- rocklin, ca
- First Name
- Damon
- Truck Year
- 87
- Truck Model
- blazer
- Engine Size
- 6.2 diesel
beware: I had the rubber isolator pull out of the upper shaft at the steering column today resulting in a free wheeling steering wheel. Thankfully it happened in a parking lot.
squaredeal91
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2023
- Posts
- 2,534
- Reaction score
- 4,576
- Location
- Cave junction Oregon
- First Name
- Greg bush
- Truck Year
- 1991 SB
- Truck Model
- K30
- Engine Size
- 5.9 Cummins 12 valve
Pics?
plugugly
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2023
- Posts
- 117
- Reaction score
- 55
- Location
- rocklin, ca
- First Name
- Damon
- Truck Year
- 87
- Truck Model
- blazer
- Engine Size
- 6.2 diesel
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
first pic is what my son sent me when it happened. The second pic is when it was pushed back into place as I prep to drill a hole through to pin it. Another site says it should be pinned, but mine is not.
75gmck25
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2016
- Posts
- 2,260
- Reaction score
- 2,201
- Location
- Northern Virginia
- First Name
- Bruce
- Truck Year
- 1975
- Truck Model
- K25 Camper Special TH350 NP203
- Engine Size
- 5.7
The jeep conversion for older trucks like my '75 (and I think trucks up to about '79) is more complicated, since the splined input on the steering box is different.
For those who want to spend more and buy an off-the-shelf solution for older trucks, I installed a new -Borgeson- steering box and replacement steering shaft with universal joints. Bought it when Jegs was running a special discount offer.
However, just make sure you get the right combination of steering box and steering shaft, since the size and spline count on the replacement box are different than your original. The new box has a larger diameter input shaft, so you have to buy the steering shaft that is used with newer boxes.
The new steering shaft was too long, so I cut the upper end down to what I thought was the right length and pinned it in place at the upper U-joint. However, after installation I realized I had cut a little too much for optimal engagement in both universal joints. Had to call tech support to find out that the lower part of the shaft has a slip joint that allows you to extend/adjust length of the shaft by about 3-4", so I made the small adjustment and now have it exactly the right length.
Slip joint and set screw was hidden by a rubber bellows when I got the shaft, so I didn't realize how easy it was to extend the length. It also makes it easier to install because you can shorten it about 1-2" for clearance to get it in place, and then extend it fully into the fittings.
For those who want to spend more and buy an off-the-shelf solution for older trucks, I installed a new -Borgeson- steering box and replacement steering shaft with universal joints. Bought it when Jegs was running a special discount offer.
However, just make sure you get the right combination of steering box and steering shaft, since the size and spline count on the replacement box are different than your original. The new box has a larger diameter input shaft, so you have to buy the steering shaft that is used with newer boxes.
The new steering shaft was too long, so I cut the upper end down to what I thought was the right length and pinned it in place at the upper U-joint. However, after installation I realized I had cut a little too much for optimal engagement in both universal joints. Had to call tech support to find out that the lower part of the shaft has a slip joint that allows you to extend/adjust length of the shaft by about 3-4", so I made the small adjustment and now have it exactly the right length.
Slip joint and set screw was hidden by a rubber bellows when I got the shaft, so I didn't realize how easy it was to extend the length. It also makes it easier to install because you can shorten it about 1-2" for clearance to get it in place, and then extend it fully into the fittings.
mibars
Full Access Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2023
- Posts
- 268
- Reaction score
- 442
- Location
- Nadarzyn, Poland
- First Name
- Michal
- Truck Year
- 1990
- Truck Model
- Suburban V1500
- Engine Size
- 350 TBI
I will need to do something similar. I was turning wheel hard with engine off and managed to make it loose again.
In the one I got shaft goes through rubber and ends with two "wings" on the joint side that would hit the yoke if the rubber would ever fail and would also prohibit the shaft from falling out. The one you have looks like it was not designed to be fail safe!
fast_n_low86
Junior Member
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2023
- Posts
- 27
- Reaction score
- 32
- Location
- Sturgeon County, Ab
- First Name
- Daniel
- Truck Year
- 1986
- Truck Model
- c1500
- Engine Size
- 7.4L
Gotta see that and where to buy one.nice find, what are they bringing at the pick and pull yards?
Oh yea and i want to see a Picture of the said 5/8" Ratchet.
dd1990
Member
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2023
- Posts
- 36
- Reaction score
- 67
- Location
- Ventura CA
- First Name
- David
- Truck Year
- 1990
- Truck Model
- Suburban 1500
- Engine Size
- 350
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2014
- Posts
- 4,293
- Reaction score
- 3,339
- Location
- Kentucky
- First Name
- David
- Truck Year
- 1986
- Truck Model
- K10/LM7 5.3/4L60e/np208/3.73/32"
- Engine Size
- 10 yrs Air Force
Good to know, I drilled out my Jeep shaft for peace of mind. The GM is probably easier to find these days also.
90Supurban
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2024
- Posts
- 15
- Reaction score
- 14
- Location
- Midwest
- First Name
- D
- Truck Year
- 1990
- Truck Model
- V1500
- Engine Size
- 5.7
Is this a direct swap? Double D on the column side and same spline count at the gearbox? Looking at RockAuto at a couple of random year squares, I don't see a steering shaft listed at all. I see the one you listed, but they don't list one for a K-truck of the same year. The C3500 shows 14 spline count.
You must be registered for see images attach
$128 for a Dorman.
Last edited:
