Steering shaft woes

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Ohearchai

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1990 suburban v1500, had a leak at the input shaft seal, was gonna replace it, before buying a new box. Took out the necessary bolt, shaft is seized, cannot get it back far enuff to clear the spindle. Options cut rhe shaft, replace the shaft, replace seal, and see how it is. Or just go the whole way, get a new sterring box as well.
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legopnuematic

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The steering shaft has plastic injected in it to hold its dimension, then in the event of an accident it can slip and collapse, to not impale the driver. If it hasn’t been collapsed before it shouldn’t really move.

Loosen the steering column, two bolts under the dash, two on a clamp where it emerges from the firewall and pull toward the rear of the cab, should give a 1/4”-1/2” of movement. If you need more, remove the nuts on the under dash mount and drop it off the studs and pull further.
 

dd1990

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I used a long crow bar to un-seize my steering shaft, I had alot of slop went with a new box and c3500 steering shaft
 

nvrenuf

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If you have a friend with a torch, heat the shaft in the middle and the plastic will ooze out freeing up the slip joint.
 

Ricko1966

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I was going to say pretty much what legopnuematic said. Unbolt the column from the cab. NBD .
 
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Chevy 88

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Probably doesn't matter now, rather than moving the shaft away from the box, couldn't you move the box away from the shaft?

Unbolt it and move it forward / down?

Sounds crazy I know - because normally us guys are always trying to move the shaft closer to the box.......
 

Ohearchai

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Okay I will give this a go, remove these 2 bolts, pull back and hoping that gives me e off clearance. Thanks to all.
Marty.
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Trucksareforwork

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You’ll have to unbolt it under the dash as well. Two large bolts.

I heated mine and melted the plastic. That allows it to telescope.
 

Ohearchai

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Have four, these are 2 others,
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legopnuematic

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Ohearchai

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Cheers for that, got her done, although I should be probably go the whole hog and throw a steering box into her
 

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