Play in Steering

[Cincinnati Guy]

Can the shaft be welded solid?

 

[HammerDown]

Can the shaft be welded solid?

NO...it's designed to slip into its self in case of frontal impact vs being sent into your chest.
I slipped a snug shim up inside and it made a night and day difference in my excess steering play, and secured it from falling out with a hose clamp.

 

[ohiozj]

How much play you getting in yours? Come on we need to get on first name basis! Were gonna have to get together sometime...

haha.

mine has less than 1/8th turn of play i would say, its kind of hard to gauge.

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

Dtt

NO...it's designed to slip into its self in case of frontal impact vs being sent into your chest.I slipped a snug shim up inside and it made a night and day difference in my excess steering play, and secured it from falling out with a hose clamp.

Ill have to try that, what would be a good shim?

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

haha.

mine has less than 1/8th turn of play i would say, its kind of hard to gauge.

Dont make me stop by and snatch your steering box! I can get it off and gone before you get out the door.haha

 

[HammerDown]

Dtt

Ill have to try that, what would be a good shim?

Have you first confirmed the OE "curved spring" looks like a mini leaf-spring is busted and missing?
With a good light hang in over engine compartment grab the shaft and by hand turn the steering wheel side of the shaft > notice the L/R up/down slop.
You can use a feeler-gauge set to give you an idea the the 'thickness" needed >but make sure the final shim is a snug fit on all sides.
For a shim I used a flat piece of steel strapping, maybe 3" long x 1/2" wide and maybe 1/16" thick. Don't quote me on those dimensions but (if) the OE piece inside broke and fell out you'll have to experiment on what you can get up inside the existing gap. I forced grease up in the void and coated the shim...I made sure my shim went in at least 2" and tapped it in with a small hammer to eliminate ANY and ALL slop.
Leaving 1" handing out I secured it with a hose clamp. The two shafts will compress if needed but WOW did it tighten-up the slop that was there prior.

 

[MidnightBlade]

Wow, I have about 1/4 turn, no matter what I do I have never got the "Death Wobble" yet.

I'm going to check and see if HammerDown's trick will work.