Steering shaft removal

[TJ_YJ]

My lower shaft is stuck on the spline and I cant get it off. I've tried using a crow bar and leverage, PB blasted is 3 times, and used heat. Its still on there.

Any advice is welcomed and needed!

 

[AndyG]

First , is it disconnected from the upper ..reason I ask is you can damage bearings up in the cab..and that is bad.

Drive a flat head into the split where the bolt is, and then tap it sharp but not hard a few times to break the corrosion

Keep on with the PB

You don't want to damage the gear box either , unless it's slated to be replaced.

If Mr. Blaine chimes in, do what he says.

 

[TJ_YJ]

It is disconnected from the upper. That part was easy. I will try with a flat head tomorrow and update. Thanks

 

[Goatman]

Completely remove the bolt that holds it in place. They often will only disengage from the splines when out. The groove the bolt locks on to needs the bolt out for the splines to slide past. Then get a chisel as fat as possible and tap it in the opening to spread the female splines open a hair. A squirt of Croil and Bob's Your Uncle!

 

[TJ_YJ]

Completely remove the bolt that holds it in place. They often will only disengage from the splines when out. The groove the bolt locks on to needs the bolt out for the splines to slide past. Then get a chisel as fat as possible and tap it in the opening to spread the female splines open a hair. A squirt of Croil and Bob's Your Uncle!

What bolt are you referring to? If its the retention bolt that locks the shaft to the spline its been removed. Are saying take the box off?

 

[mrblaine]

It is disconnected from the upper. That part was easy. I will try with a flat head tomorrow and update. Thanks

As stated, remove bolt, open the split but make sure what you drive in there is parallel to the shaft or the end will go into the bolt groove and make it harder to remove the shaft. Or, it won't get in there far enough to open the split much. After that, the really stubborn ones need a prybar on both sides of the shaft at the same time to get them off. One side just binds the collar.

 

[mrblaine]

What bolt are you referring to? If its the retention bolt that locks the shaft to the spline its been removed. Are saying take the box off?

No, the bolt for the split clamp. There is a groove in the shaft that won't let the collar be removed with the bolt in place.

 

[Irun]

As stated, remove bolt, open the split but make sure what you drive in there is parallel to the shaft or the end will go into the bolt groove and make it harder to remove the shaft. Or, it won't get in there far enough to open the split much. After that, the really stubborn ones need a prybar on both sides of the shaft at the same time to get them off. One side just binds the collar.

This is exactly what I did when removing my steering box recently. The trick is to get the collar in a position where you can easily tap in a small flat chisel. You don't hve to go to deep, just enough to break the rust free. Once that was done I applied two small pry bars and it released with a pop.

 

[AndyG]

That bolt rides in a groove on the shaft as an extra safety feature if I'm not mistaken...it won't come off with the bolt in the hole, even if it is lose.. essentially about 20 percent of the hole is in the shaft also. It doesn't run beside it like most collars, but partially in the shaft .

 

[TJ_YJ]

As stated, remove bolt, open the split but make sure what you drive in there is parallel to the shaft or the end will go into the bolt groove and make it harder to remove the shaft. Or, it won't get in there far enough to open the split much. After that, the really stubborn ones need a prybar on both sides of the shaft at the same time to get them off. One side just binds the collar.

Thank you so much for the two pry bar idea. Using two bars and Kroil and she came out.