Manual to power steering gear help

[eric8]

I thought this was a pretty straightforward swap, but I’m having trouble with the steering (intermediate) shaft. This is on a 77 C10 2wd. I removed the pinch bolt at the rag joint as well as the 2 nuts on the rag joint. I thought the column was collapsible and would slide back and forth but I’m getting no movement. It looks like it is staked in place where the two white dots are?

So I’m assuming I’ll need to loosen my steering box and uncouple the steering shaft that way. However, the splined input shaft on the manual box looks significantly longer than the power box, suggesting maybe two different steering shaft lengths were used in power vs manual boxes?

[old Rusty C10]

youre fighting the rust spray it down it does move on impact thats part of what crumples to absorb energy

[eric8]

So those white spots almost feel like spot welds, so there is something connecting the two sections besides rust. So just give the rag joint end a whack and they should shear off?

[kwmech]

The white dots are where they injected nylon into the shaft to hold it in place. What I have done in the past is by taking a small drill and drilling the dots out and smacking the end of the shaft to break it loose. After I break it loose I pull the shaft apart and lube it up and put it back together. Keep it indexed the same. And yes it will be rusted and tight

[eric8]

I’m going to look at it closer this evening. The overall lengths of the manual and power boxes may be the same (even though the manual box has the longer looking input shaft) so I may not need to do any drilling just yet.

The factory service manual doesn’t mention the steering shaft sliding up, and says to separate the rag joint by removing the steering box bolts and sliding the box down and away from the shaft.

[Accelo]

I have replaced several manual steering boxes with power. The overall length is the same.
No reason to mess with the steering shaft.
On can unbolt the box and slide it out of the two studs. That worked well for me.

[eric8]

Originally Posted by Accelo

I have replaced several manual steering boxes with power. The overall length is the same.
No reason to mess with the steering shaft.
On can unbolt the box and slide it out of the two studs. That worked well for me.

Just to update the install went great. Didn't have to mess with the shaft rivets...just unbolted the steering box and the rag joint slid right out of the steering coupler. Length of the new Borgenson power steering box was perfect and lined up to the intermediate shaft without issue!