Intermediate Steering Shaft onto Steering Column... Any Tips?

[84GMC15tepside]

I've had a hard time getting the intermediate shaft onto the column... very tight fit. Anyone run into this/have tips to get it on? I used pliars as far as I could go but I cannot get it on any farther. And I tried hammering it lightly but I don't want to mess up the steering column. I could try heating up the end of the intermediate shaft but I want to see if anyone has run into this before I do that/have to repaint!

[nonstop]

Just a thought, what about pulling it off and cleaning the column and shaft with some steel wool, them some light oil on the shaft and column to help with the assembly?

[84GMC15tepside]

Originally Posted by nonstop

Just a thought, what about pulling it off and cleaning the column and shaft with some steel wool, them some light oil on the shaft and column to help with the assembly?

Yes I filed and sanded the inside of the shaft so it was smooth and applied grease on the column... it is extremely tight. I know the orientation of the shaft is correct on the column (only 1 way it slips on). My column is bowed out slightly at the end and gets skinnier where the bolt goes through. Getting over the bowed out area is the problem with installing the steering shaft.

[84GMC15tepside]

Also, the steering shaft bows in where the bolt goes through. This skinnier part is having trouble getting over the bowed out end of the column.