Safety Caution: Steering shaft

[JSM]

Just got done taking a coworker out for a quick ride at lunch. I have the upgraded jeep shaft that is very popular.

2nd Launch and the shaft came off the steering box side, obvioulsy ending all steering input I had. Not a good thing. Luckily I slowed it down hit a small curb and stopped in a driveway without anybody hurt, or major damage. Possibly bent a rim though.

Was able to burn my arms up pretty good getting it back on enough to drive back to work parking lot just a few blocks away. But probably going to get the trailer and bring it home and really look things over.

I have the bolt in that end of the shaft still. Looked perfectly fine. Just want to warn others to double check things. Obviously I am making a lot of power and things are moving around on my truck a bit more than usual. But it could still happen on a stock truck also.

 

[4C FED]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

Oh Sheeeet!!!!

Did your co-worker ask to walk back to work?

 

[JSM]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

When I started to hit the brakes and we were heading for the grass he asked what was going on. I knew something was not right fairly quick and let off and was on the brakes. New C5 calipers do work fairly well. Made sure nobody was around when we did it also. Was in the back section of industrial park.

Had I done it with someone in left lane it would have been ugly. Just wanted to hopefully save someone else the trouble. We were not going that fast yet so I got very lucky.

 

[mpettograsso]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

Time to go to WAL-MART and by some new fruit of the looms huh?

scary.

 

[WyoSyclone]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

Hey Jeff,
Are you sure the shaft was seated all the way down on the steering box? My bolt wouldn't physically go through the hole in the shaft unless the shaft hole was lined up with the smaller radius on the box shaft.. make sense? :dunno:

Glad you're allright.... could have been a BAD situation! I'll check mine when I get home tonight!

 

[mattw]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

If I recall the bolt on that lower joint actually "locks" the joint to the nipple coming out of the steering box. Are you sure that you had it installed all the way and that the bolt was passing through the grove?

Anyway glad to hear that everyone is OK and that there was no major damage..

Also, how far are you from Georgetown KY? I'm gonna be out that way for a few days next month.


-Matt

 

[JSM]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

If I recall the bolt on that lower joint actually "locks" the joint to the nipple coming out of the steering box. Are you sure that you had it installed all the way and that the bolt was passing through the grove?

Anyway glad to hear that everyone is OK and that there was no major damage..

Also, how far are you from Georgetown KY? I'm gonna be out that way for a few days next month.


-Matt

I thought I did. Hard to tell now that it is apart now. Bolts are still attached.

Trailering it home to be safe and going to do some good investigation. No new undies needed yet. Wasn't going THAT fast when it happened. I was actually being mostly safe and made sure nobody else was around and I had extra room in case of things like this.

I am 70 miles from where you will be.

 

[MikeRenz]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

how tight are your body mounts? surprised it moves THAT much.

 

[JSM]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

how tight are your body mounts? surprised it moves THAT much.

Don't be asking me how tight something is along with the word shafts involved in the topic. This just isn't right. I know your right arm is out of order right now but come on now.

Going to check them today. When I was on the side of the road trying to pry it back into place, burning the crap out of my arms you would see the firewall flex a bit more than I thought it would. And that is just my strength which is very minimal.

Take 1 launch in the truck and I think you will see, it isn't "normal". Guy at work said he was ready but admitted afterwards he really wasn't prepared.

 

[SY2455]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

Obviously I am making a lot of power and things are moving around on my truck a bit more than usual. But it could still happen on a stock truck also.

Sounds like you are just about right in the power department to do this, but just for safety. You should add another 300HP.:tup:

 

[JSM]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

I pulled the shaft apart last night. It obviously was not sliding very well at all and took a big hammer and a lot of swinging to get it to move. This probably didn't help. If it was installed right or not I don't know, impossible to tell at this point. I do know all the bolts were still in place. It will be triple verifed this time.

 

[NecroWolf]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

is the bolt big enough? or the input gear on your steering box worn?

 

[JSM]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

zq8 box, bolt is the original as the threads have to engage in the clamp part.

 

[FxsX24]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

you must have goofed when you put in on last time

the bolt should go through the grove on the top right of this pic

 

[JSM]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

Got it put back toghether last night. The shaft slides like butter now. I double and triple checked the bolt on the box side did go through the groove section. I think we can all assume I screwed up last time, but the sliding motion of things didn't help at all and being fixed gives me a big piece of mind.

 

[MikeRenz]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

are you using a stock fat bolt on the steering box end?

 

[JSM]

Re: Safety Caution: Steering shaft

are you using a stock fat bolt on the steering box end?

Yes.