RETRO-Mod: Jeep intermediate steering shaft

[bucket]

Just center the steering wheel by adjusting the drag link.

 

[VAL]

I tried adjusting the drag link, and I found that I was making sharper turns to the right than the left. So I evened out the drag link, and now my steering wheel is off center, and my turn signal cam doesn't cancel correctly.

 

[HotRodPC]

I'd probably go ahead and loosen the bolt down on the gear box end, pry it open a bit, turn the steer wheel spokes straight with the front wheels pointed straight ahead, then tighten the spline clamp back down. That should have you very very close, to where and thread or 2 adjustment at the drag link next time you get an alignment should do the trick.

I guess I got lucky when I did mine. I left my wheel straight ahead, locked the steering wheel straight ahead, put the steer column shaft part on first, then extended the shaft to the gear box and where it landed it where I tightened it down. My spokes didn't move at all. Same as the old shaft without making any adjustments at all.

 

[VAL]

I'm gonna try to rotate the end where the shaft hooks up to the column, and see if that helps any. I'm also running a 4" raised steering arm with a 2" drop pitman arm, and wondering if I should put the stock pitman arm back on.

 

[HotRodPC]

I'm gonna try to rotate the end where the shaft hooks up to the column, and see if that helps any. I'm also running a 4" raised steering arm with a 2" drop pitman arm, and wondering if I should put the stock pitman arm back on.

I woudln't think the drop pitman arm would make a difference. If the OE shaft was working fine, then this Jeep shaft should work fine. If you swapped shafts cuz you needed a longer one, then you probably need to step up to the longer shaft. IIRC, that is found in the Jeep/Jeeps, like the Wrangler and such. Not sure of the model code,

 

[bucket]

I'm gonna try to rotate the end where the shaft hooks up to the column, and see if that helps any. I'm also running a 4" raised steering arm with a 2" drop pitman arm, and wondering if I should put the stock pitman arm back on.

Is the drag link level to the ground? If it's at too much of an angle, that can cause the problem you are having. And is it a stock drag link or one of those silly drop drag links that don't really fix anything?

 

[VAL]

I have a 2" drop pitman arm and a raised 4" steering arm. With the 6" lift I'm running, the drag link is level with the ground. Ill try to post up a pic in a bit.

 

[89Suburban]

I am in the middle of doing this right now, ******* awesome project. Relatively simple project only takes 20 minutes if that. Takin the rag joint apart help pop the old shaft right out.

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[89Suburban]

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[RetroC10Sport]

Looking good bud.

 

[89Suburban]

Looking good bud.

Great mod. I did hit a bump in the road with the column end mounting bolt. I thought it would cut thread all the way across but the sunuva bitch wouldn't line up. So I went to drill it out and the rotation of the bit kept trying to walk the end off the end of the column. On top of that both my damn batteries died for my Makita and it was getting dark fast so I said phuckit and just stuck a 1/4 x 2 hex head bolt, washers and nyloc nut on to clamp it down until I get time later to get it drilled for the 3/8 sized bolt.

I need to bump it a notch to the left too lol. But right away driving across that field I felt the difference. Towed the boat last night and it felt great. Thanks.

Matter of fact I might just pop that end off and use a grinder to carve a slot in it to kind of making a locating notch for the bolt to slide through instead of jacking up my drill bits.

 

[HotRodPC]

Great mod. I did hit a bump in the road with the column end mounting bolt. I thought it would cut thread all the way across but the sunuva bitch wouldn't line up. So I went to drill it out and the rotation of the bit kept trying to walk the end off the end of the column. On top of that both my damn batteries died for my Makita and it was getting dark fast so I said phuckit and just stuck a 1/4 x 2 hex head bolt, washers and nyloc nut on to clamp it down until I get time later to get it drilled for the 3/8 sized bolt.

I need to bump it a notch to the left too lol. But right away driving across that field I felt the difference. Towed the boat last night and it felt great. Thanks.

Matter of fact I might just pop that end off and use a grinder to carve a slot in it to kind of making a locating notch for the bolt to slide through instead of jacking up my drill bits.

Yep, I agree. We should make that notch a part of the instruction for this mod. Mine is not perfect on the 85K1500, and I do intend to pop it back off at some point and make ir better.

 

[Old77]

nice

Retro, is this a mod I can do on my '77 or are there differences that would prevent me from doing it?

 

[raylanr]

We "Retro" will be doing this mod on my CC as well. My 73 was special and didn't like the Jeep shaft.

 

[RetroC10Sport]

Just need to get another shaft which is no big deal. The one meant for his C30 went in to Sierra.

Cob, you will have to check the end of the column to see if it's splined or not.