Shorten a Steering shaft

[David*BJ70]

It's time to soliciting your opinion. My idea is almost done, but another opinion, positive or negative, would be appreciated.

I swap OEM power steering gearbox unit on my 1982 BJ42.

I only have one steering shaft. The one from my actual unit without power steering... longuer than the power steering shaft assy. The other shaft was a regid shaft fram a 1979 FJ40. The mount one the fire wall are different.

I have to shorten it.

Picture above in the middle - I mesure the distance from the gearbox unit w/out power steering . (

Picture at the bottom - I mesure the distance from the gear box power steering w/power steering.

I plan to cut and weld it from 3cm.

Besides considering the angle of the shaft, did you have other recommendations

 

[rutbeer]

You can sleeve it. Grind a bevel all the way around both shafts to be welded. Insert a sleeve and push it up out of the way. Butt the shaft halves together, align with magnet clamps, then weld. Grind the weld flush, then slide the sleeve over the weld and weld it. That's way overkill, but that's how I did mine.

 

[erfworm]

I had the same problem on my old 76 years ago. I ended up just making a custom 1" body lift for the truck and it did the trick perfectly. I'm not a huge fan of body lifts, but I was 18 at the time and had no access to any fab equip. Just throwing it out there as a different approach. Cutting and sleeving is what I would do now because I know I can do it safely!

 

[Bear]

David,

Your diagram is for 8/80 up collapsible steering column, as well you have said you have an 82 vehicle which should have come with that collapsible column.

Since that steering column is in two factory pieces, wouldn't it be easier to cut the excess off the end of the short shaft, re-drill for the pin that holds the swivel blocks, and avoid having to weld and sleeve the column at all? The earlier columns don't have the two piece column and need to cut, weld, and sleeve; you don't, unless you like that kind of fabbing.


Something additionally to consider would be your seating position if you are fairly tall:

You could cut and sleeve the middle portion of the actual upper column rod as was described above, and do the same for the hollow column tube that surrounds it, and effectively have the steering wheel closer to the dash at a distance you choose to be comfortable.

Just some thoughts.

MS

 

[Bear]

Since leaving my comments over a year ago, I have learned that apparently the collapsible column went only to certain world markets, and was optional in others; so it was not mandatory to have it, as both were manufactured during the same time period.

But, yes, the diagram shown in this thread is of a bottom section of the collapsible shaft--only needs cut and then re-drilled for the pin. Easier than the typical column to modify IMHO.