I recently put on a 1" BL. Prior to install I disconnected the lower piece of the steering shaft, not sure what it is called. After installing the steering shaft extension, I of course put it all back together. However, I have noticed the steering is slightly stiffer. Nothing major, and it does not even bother me, but I am just kinda wondering is it normal for the steering to tighten up a bit after a body lift. If I had to put it on a scale with the original pressure it took to turn the wheel being a 2, it is now at a 3...maybe 3.5 but closer to 3.....know what I'm trying to say? Any feedback, recommendations are appreciated. Thanks guys!
Slightly Stiffer Steering After Body Lift?
- Thread starter flyte74
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manhunter
New member
I installed the 1.5 body lift and noticed the same. Prior to installing the spacer on the shaft, you have what is called a rag joint connecting the upper and lower steering shafts, that moves back and forth fairly easy as it is just connected with the rubber gaskets or whatever you want to call them. You now have inserted a stiff, either aluminum or poly, spacer. I think therefore this will stiffen up the movement of the rag joint. I installed mine earlier this year, and it has loosened up quite a bit since them to where I don't even notice anymore.
brian2sun
Elite Member
Mine did that too. The problem was that the extension wasn't quite big enough to take up all the space caused by the body lift so it was pulling down on the shaft to close that gap and making it tighter. I loosened the screw on the clamp that goes around the shaft, moved the whole thing around a bit and it wanted to settle about 1/8" lower than where it was before. Steering isn't tight anymore.
Brian, are you talking about the single screw a bit further up the shaft? I'll give that a go and see if it resolves the slight stiffness. Like I said, it doesn't really bother me. However, I don't know if it would wear something out in the long run. Plus, it WOULD be nice to have it back to normal.
brian2sun
Elite Member
Yeah, that's the screw I'm talking about. It should feel just like it was before once you do that.
Spencer
New member
yea just wanted to say that sounds like a problem.
Your spacer could be too big or too small.
Before you put the spacer in you should loosen the sleeve and slide the thing up. The sleeve should have a little pay up and down after you mount the spacer. This way it doesn't bottom out.
Your spacer could be too big or too small.
Before you put the spacer in you should loosen the sleeve and slide the thing up. The sleeve should have a little pay up and down after you mount the spacer. This way it doesn't bottom out.
Ron Helmuth
Senior Member
good thread guys
I am shopping Body lifts now and curious if anyone replaced their body mounts with the PolyUrethane's?
this steering issue is good to know about and something I had not previously heard about. Appreciate you guys bringing it up.
I am shopping Body lifts now and curious if anyone replaced their body mounts with the PolyUrethane's?
this steering issue is good to know about and something I had not previously heard about. Appreciate you guys bringing it up.
A.Wilson013
New member
Hey Brian, trying to avoid making a new thread here.
When you say you, "moved the whole thing around a bit" how did you do this? Moved the steering wheel? Knocked the shaft around a bit?
I just did the 1/2" lift yesterday and my steering is much tighter than before... Used the other Brian's search method and was taken here.
Anyway, I loosened the 12mm bolt and moved the steering wheel back and forth a few times and tightened it back down. It feels a LITTLE better, but not like normal. I'd like to get it to "extend" a bit more and am not sure how else to try without damaging anything in the process.
Thanks!
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shootmymime
New member
You have to adjust the slip yoke.
Looking at the steering shaft there is a rag joint just above where the shaft meets the steering rack. And just above that there is the slip joke (basically same thing). The shaft has grooved line in it and a single clamp bolt that keeps the joint from sliding. Well your joint is in tension pulling the shaft away from the steering rack.
So with that slip joke you need to listen that single bolt and knock it down a touch towards the steering rack to relieve some of that tensions you caused by lifting the body.
No harm just do that and your good to go.
Gotta revive this old post
Having same issues here. Tried to loosen the bolt on the shaft to drop it a little but that sucker won’t budge. Tried penetrating spray, heat, impact and nothing. Any other ideas on how to get it off? Drilling it seems impossible cuz it’s in a tight spot. Hate to put a breaker bar on it and end up bending the shaft, knowing my luck. Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks
Having same issues here. Tried to loosen the bolt on the shaft to drop it a little but that sucker won’t budge. Tried penetrating spray, heat, impact and nothing. Any other ideas on how to get it off? Drilling it seems impossible cuz it’s in a tight spot. Hate to put a breaker bar on it and end up bending the shaft, knowing my luck. Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks
Formidable
New member
Just want to say that after doing the 1” body lift, my steering became extremely stiff. I loosened the 12 mm bolt on the steering shaft, (can’t miss it, there’s only one bolt right above the rag joint). Had to use a breaker bar with flex head. Moved the steering shaft Up and down a few times, (I wouldn’t rotate it for obvious reasons). This solved the problem entirely. Steering is back to normal. Thanks to the folks that contributed this info. VERY helpful.
JRambo
New member
If you loosen that bolt you can also just wiggle your steering wheel and it should help too. That's how I ended up doing mine
