DD shaft removal from U joint (steering)

[gcwill2011]

Replacing Saginaw box and steering linkage. Having a hell of a time getting the DD shaft out of the U joint in steering linkage. Any tricks of the trade? Don’t want to ruin U joint as it seems to be welded to the steering column coming through the firewall.

Removed bolt, tried heating it up, lots of blaster spray, etc

 

[rockcod]

Is that a slip yoke on the steering shaft?

 

[CondeCruiser]

Looks like the bolt goes through it. Tried taking that out?

 

[Mark Jennings]

That’s a 2 piece ‘slip shaft’…the lower section near the steering box slides over that ‘D’ shaft. You might be able to pull the box and just slid the shaft out….of coarse that is, if there is enough clearance.

 

[pb4ugo]

I'd probably just loosen the collar at the steering box and remove the whole column. Usually the column needs to be slid or pulled back anyways. Theres 3 or 4 bolts on the firewall bracket and 2 at the dash and a couple of plugs. It's easier to service the ujoints on the bench. Be sure to reference the shaft and box orientation, so the steering wheel stays centered.

 

[3_puppies]

what kind of heat did you use?
my guess is it needs to be hotter, turn the metal orange