I'm looking for some help. I ordered the 2" body lift kit from 4crawler and it didn't come with a steering extension and I think I may need one. I'm about 1/2"-5/8" short of the extension shaft meeting up with the rag joint. see pic



I have a 2 pc extension shaft and I drilled out the pins and . . .nothing. I can't separate the 2 pcs for the life of me. Am I missing something here? I know the 4wd steering is different but hopefully someone can help.

 

I think I screwed up my steering column now. I tried to pull the 2 piece shaft apart with a clamp and a hammer. Well, it moved the entire 3/4" I needed, but the 2 piece shaft only came apart 1/8". Now the steering wheel has a major grinding sound when I rotate the wheel. It also no longer moves freely. I'm worried I may need an entire new steering column.

Does anyone have any experience with a body lift on a 2wd? I tried searching but everything I find is on newer vechiles and the lift is no more than 1".

anyone? I need help. . . .

 

did you extend it while it was in the truck? I removed mine and clamped it in a vice. I also heated it up to melt some of the wax. Once it was to the length I wanted, I placed a small tack weld on the edge to keep it from moving.

 

This extension should work, looks like you have a rubber rag joint at the steering box:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...#RecircBallExt



You can also try compressing the shaft first then try extending it:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...irculatingBall




Driving it together first loosens up the plastic injected between the halves of the shaft. Then use a rod up inside the bottom end of the tube and you can hammer the rod in to push the other end of the shaft out.

Or just slip the shaft out of the upper clamp a little:

 

I will try heating it up. I don't have the upper u-joint like the 4wd's. My 2wd is just a straight sleeve coming right out of the fire walll into the shaft that connects to the rag joint. That spacer. looks like it may work except it looks like I will have to take the lower steering shaft out in order to put the new bolts on for the spacer. I'm not sure how the shaft will come out because again, I don't have the upper U-joint to remove it.

I'll have to look at it again I try to figure out how the thing comes apart.

 

i figured I would attach photos of my progress: I decided to take the bed off since I had all the bolts off anyway.




The rust looked pretty bad so I took a wire brush, used Rust treatment ( 2 coats) and then added the rubberied undercoat.





I'm happy with the way the frame looks now, so I'm putting the bed back on asap.