Jeep Steering shaft

[Ehodg66]

I found this for sale online for $50. Says it’s from an early 90’s Cherokee. It looks like the plug and play XJ shaft but curious if anyone on the forum has any input.

Thank you

[Mathew21]

I did it on two my my Square body's. I am very happy with the results. Here's the video I used for my install.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9C4RdvjPNQ

[Ehodg66]

Thanks Mathew,

That’s my plan as well. I haven’t purchased this yet because I wasn’t sure if it’s from the XJ. Does this look to be the correct shaft?

Thanks

[Mathew21]

Yes it looks right to me.

[bucannon]

Looks like the right shaft to me. I picked one from a cash n carry yard but have yet to install it

[Ehodg66]

UPDATE:
I purchased and installed my jeep steering shaft and what a difference! The play in the wheel is completely gone.
I highly suggest this relatively simple mod to everyone. Well worth the effort.

Thank you again Forum members!

[Mathew21]

Originally Posted by Ehodg66

UPDATE:
I purchased and installed my jeep steering shaft and what a difference! The play in the wheel is completely gone.
I highly suggest this relatively simple mod to everyone. Well worth the effort.

Thank you again Forum members!

Great update!

[Axle]

Since real steering shafts seem to be a unicorn right now here in Canada (have not come across an intact jeep front end in the wreckers for a while now) amazon canada is out of stock, and has been for some time, summit is also doing drop shipping right now on this so I don't hold any hope for that either. Other than rockauto, other U.S. sources are out of the question by the time shipping and all gets factored in.

Being the unicorn it is, I cast my eye towards Dorman because unremarkably enough those are available everywhere. You'll notice the completely different construction on this one, rubber boot and probably slip joint under that boot.
Dorman 1984-1994 Cherokee Shaft; https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-85394-425-284.aspx

Has anyone had this shaft in their hands to see if this has enough slip to work on the square body? Is the short end long enough to support cutting down the long half if it came down to it. Yeah, we know about dorman quality, but like most things dormans, last resort is better than no resort.

[edit, looking at current amazon canada pricing dorman ain't happening either at $394.67. Might as well wait for summit to get the crown back in stock.]
[edit 2: dorman suddenly turned into gold? steady yourself; $517.59 at Napa Canada]
[edit 2.5 Mother Mopar doesn't even list a steering shaft as available]

Alex.

[Bloodhound]

Originally Posted by Axle

Since real steering shafts seem to be a unicorn right now here in Canada (have not come across an intact jeep front end in the wreckers for a while now) amazon canada is out of stock, and has been for some time, summit is also doing drop shipping right now on this so I don't hold any hope for that either. Other than rockauto, other U.S. sources are out of the question by the time shipping and all gets factored in.

Being the unicorn it is, I cast my eye towards Dorman because unremarkably enough those are available everywhere. You'll notice the completely different construction on this one, rubber boot and probably slip joint under that boot.
Dorman 1984-1994 Cherokee Shaft; https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-85394-425-284.aspx

Has anyone had this shaft in their hands to see if this has enough slip to work on the square body? Is the short end long enough to support cutting down the long half if it came down to it. Yeah, we know about dorman quality, but like most things dormans, last resort is better than no resort.

[edit, looking at current amazon canada pricing dorman ain't happening either at $394.67. Might as well wait for summit to get the crown back in stock.]
[edit 2: dorman suddenly turned into gold? steady yourself; $517.59 at Napa Canada]
[edit 2.5 Mother Mopar doesn't even list a steering shaft as available]

Alex.

For that money why not just get the Borgeson shaft. It is very high quality, has to be better than a Dorman replacement. And it's cheaper.

[Axle]

Originally Posted by Bloodhound

For that money why not just get the Borgeson shaft. It is very high quality, has to be better than a Dorman replacement. And it's cheaper.

A borgeson is definately preferable, and like you say, it comes in well below the dorfman at $371.99cdn (add 15% tax add shipping). At least summit becomes a viable option again. Though I'll probably hold off a while yet in the hopes of stumbling across a usable jeep at the wreckers.
https://www.4wheelparts.ca/p/borgeso.../R-BLCC-000925
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/brg-000925

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Axle

A borgeson is definately preferable, and like you say, it comes in well below the dorfman at $371.99cdn (add 15% tax add shipping). At least summit becomes a viable option again. Though I'll probably hold off a while yet in the hopes of stumbling across a usable jeep at the wreckers.
https://www.4wheelparts.ca/p/borgeso.../R-BLCC-000925
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/brg-000925

Has anyone installed the Borgeson yet?

[Bloodhound]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Has anyone installed the Borgeson yet?

I have. Haven't driven on the road yet as I'm on the tail end of finishing this frame-off build. But from just low speed moving around the driveway it seems great.

[kipps]

What shaft am I looking for?

Any Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee from the 90's?

Or is it only the Cherokee?

What's the difference in those two models anyway?

[Mathew21]

Originally Posted by Axle

A borgeson is definately preferable, and like you say, it comes in well below the dorfman at $371.99cdn (add 15% tax add shipping). At least summit becomes a viable option again. Though I'll probably hold off a while yet in the hopes of stumbling across a usable jeep at the wreckers.
https://www.4wheelparts.ca/p/borgeso.../R-BLCC-000925
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/brg-000925

Next time I go the local u pull I will check to see if there any there. If there is I will grab one and message you to see if you are still in need.

Originally Posted by kipps

What shaft am I looking for?

Any Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee from the 90's?

Or is it only the Cherokee?

What's the difference in those two models anyway?

I know for sure a steering shaft (From 1988-96 JEEP CHEROKEE will work, I read some Grand Cherokee shafts will work but make sure the spline count matches.

[Axle]

Originally Posted by Mathew21

Next time I go the local u pull I will check to see if there any there. If there is I will grab one and message you to see if you are still in need.

Thanks for the offer, though I think international shipping these days is the killer. I know the last service manual I got off ebay (not using that global shipping nonsense, which would have been even higher) had basic shipping signicantly higher than my previous manual purchases. Shipping is getting so out of hand anymore. At least with summit and rock auto they have dirt cheap aggreements with shippers.

[Axle]

Originally Posted by kipps

What shaft am I looking for?

Any Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee from the 90's?

Or is it only the Cherokee?

What's the difference in those two models anyway?

Just Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee used different steering columns, and a different coupler on that side. If the coupler looks like the ones in this thread it should be fine. If it looks like a cylinder with a thru bolt it won't.

Alex.

[franken]

Do a web search for the--nevermind.
https://www.google.com/search?client...+jeep+steering

[kglowacky]

I just installed a 87-95 wrangler shaft and it fits good. I had to shorten it as I moved my column down 3 inches but even if I didn't I would had to shorten it. Easy to shorten .

[wraprail]

These days you can purchase the u joints for $25 each and a DD shaft or use your factory shaft and do the whole thing for under a hundred with all brand new parts.
Just did mine with 3 joints and cost me $85

[Ehodg66]

Wraprail,

I'm interested to see your mod, could you post a few pics?

[rodstored-72]

Ehodge66,
I did this in my build if interested. You can read and see pictures in my build thread here in the build section under rodstored-72 dd build in the square body builds, hope it helps you

[Axle]

Nice build! Have you got a nylon ball under that set screw you added? Reason that set screw sprung out at me is that the shaft will have movement in/out due to the frame and cab moving separately from each other to some degree due to frame flex, rough roads and cab bushing flex all adding a bit of movement into the mix.

Alex.

[Axle]

I got myself an Omix-Ada 18016.05 jeep steering shaft (1984-1994 cherokee, comanche (sx, xj, mj)).

Prep: heated it with a propane torch, as soon as it started oozing and the shaft moved I knocked it out with a pickle fork. Doing that prevented melting out all the plastic from the inner shaft, in hindsight, didn't need to worry about it, as installed in the truck, the shaft is shorter than it would be in the jeep so good full engagement of the two parts. But getting the heat off asap was also done so as not to destroy the rubber isolator.

Install went smooth. I did have to do some grinding on the steering column side to the rounded portion for it to fit, still ended up extremely tight and it wasn't going anywhere--bought a lower bearing as well and that did not get installed due to me being a bit enthusiastic getting the jeep shaft on. In the future, I will need to pull the column & shaft as one peice if I want to remove the shaft without destroying it. Didn't help that a previous owner/mechanic on my truck went to town on the original pinch bolt and distorted the lower column D-shaft. Just something else to add to the list of things to look for when I go to the wreckers.

Driving impresions; considering my rag joint was a lot worse than I thought it was, and the upper bell end joint was sloppy as all get out as well, the new shaft is like driving a rack & pinion vehicle. Ain't no slop there any more.You wiggle the steering, everything wiggles including the wheel. Can't ask for more than that. No new steering wheel vibrations to report either-but the jeep shaft has an upper rubber isolator. When that rots out, I'll weld it in place and see if theres any difference.

So, if you are on the fence about it, just do it. Insta-steering is nice.

Alex.

[rodstored-72]

nice job!!

[Axle]

Thanks.