Stock Steering Shaft

[1979CJ7]

I am converting my tired gearbox to a better one and when I went to put the steering shaft back into place it was about 3 inches too short. it just barely fit so I could turn the wheel. it was not in far enough to make me feel safe so I am believing that mine has been collapsed at some point from a tree hit or the like.

Now could anyone tell me what the lenght of a stock one is. I Measured mine and got about 31-32 inches. A new Borgeson Adjustable Steering Shaft goes from 31 3/4 collapsed to 38 1/2 extended. thats what i am thinking about replace it with. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks , Matt

[bigjoe]

From what I've read Jeep stock steering is so so after awhile. Not so much the colum but shaft between colum and box. The little u-joints go bad. If I had the coin and was redoing the steering as you're doing I would replace all parts with a Borgeson setup from colum to shaft. Just my opinion. Goodluck

[1979CJ7]

Where is there a Borgeson Column? i only see a flaiming river one and i am sure not going to buy that... way too much... i think im just going with the steering sharft.

Still anyone know the length of the stock one? Just to see if its compressed

[bigjoe]

I have a catalog from them that I thought had one in it. I maybe wrong. I'll check and see.

[1979CJ7]

ok thanks man!

[GPER]

If you just took the shaft out, replaced the steering box the shaft should go back in. Do you have a body lift or after market frame???????? Anyway the Bourgeson is a nice shaft.

[1979CJ7]

that was my assumption. i figured it would go back in but i measured it and it was 31.5 to 32 inches in length. i figured i needed about 34-35 inches to make me happy.
the front of my frame is hacked together but to my knowledge its stock. If i have a body lift its only 1 inch but i am not sure on that as well either.

i see the new shaft in my future. I really wanted to see if it was collapsed or it was something else.

[nasd]

I have 2 steering columns in my shed. From the floor to the top they measure 35 1/2" and 36". I can't easily get to them to tell you how long they are without them sitting on top of the steering wheel.

[BESRK]

Might want to check eBay and type in "jeep steering shaft". I'm at work now so I can't access eBay to do the link. Anyway, there's a guy selling Crown Shafts with needle bearing ujoints on both ends. I put one in my CJ5 3 years ago and it's still as tight as the day I bought it. Definately worth the $130 I paid. Its slip joint was easy to extend/collapse too.. unlike the stock setup. If nobody posts up the length by the time I get home from work, I'll measure and post the length to my 80 CJ5 with power steering and non-tilt column.

[Mud Machine]

Here's an eBay link to "Jeep Steering Shaft"


http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2 F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=jeep+steering+shaft&catego ry0=&submitSearch=Search

[bigjoe]

Checked on that catalog. Mullins is a div. of Borgeson that makes columns. Mostly for hot rod applications though. Catalogs are a few years old so prices are off. If you think that column is ok swap-out shaft and call it a day. Goodluck.

[fromme]

www.summitracing.com also carries the borgeson shafts. I believe they stock them, it's where I got mine.