As most of you know I installed 5" lift blocks between the subframe and the body of my van but I had one problem my shaft was too short (story of my life ) after talking to Dan, lockdoc and several others my options were (1)Flaming River (custom shaft) (2)purchase one from Overlandvan or (3) weld two together as lockdoc did well option 1 &2 was two expensive and option 3 well my welding skills are you know I wouldnt trust them on a steering component... So you say come on get with this after talking to a member at vannin he did some research for me as what may work and he told me to go to the scrap yard and find a shaft from a newer fullsize and that should work so off to the JY i went and found the only full size in the yard and with luck the colume was out and the shaft was dangeling from the steering box so I yanked it off and to the counter I went with it bought it for $20.00 what a deal if it works. I got it home and tried it on and with lots of praying and finger crossing it went on smoothly and still have over an 1" of travel on it. hope this find helps others out...
Ill post some pics later when I get back home....
Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
LiftedAWDAstro wrote:Sounds like a great solution Dennis! What are the specifics on the full size you took it out of? stuff like year, brand, model, 2wd or 4x4, etc.
It was the ones with the tailslights up high (dont know exact year) and was a 2wheel drive cargovan. but he told me any newer model would workthe older ones used the same as the Astros (Length wise)
And GEJ to answer your question I dont think so.....
LOLOL, there's a simpler approach! Just make sure the shaft still has at least a coupla inches of extensioning capacity to go. Not too comfy with just one 1" I remember when Jesse (an ole-timer AS member) had his steering shaft come apart while driving during a body-articulating trail ride. Scary!
peter wrote:LOLOL, there's a simpler approach! Just make sure the shaft still has at least a coupla inches of extensioning capacity to go. Not too comfy with just one 1" I remember when Jesse (an ole-timer AS member) had his steering shaft come apart while driving during a body-articulating trail ride. Scary!
I checked the tralev on the old shaft and it approximately 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 travel which I have 1 5/8 so I think it will work... got the front break lines done today to. 87 days and counting to have her done and road tested....
Chops,
I think I would want more of the shaft in there too.On the other hand my best guess is GM set that spec based on how much the front end bents in a front end crash to protect the driver.
I think he should be ok with around 1.75" still in the shaft. Best bet would be to measure what slack you have in a stock application and try to mimick that. Just to be sure
peter wrote:I think he should be ok with around 1.75" still in the shaft. Best bet would be to measure what slack you have in a stock application and try to mimick that. Just to be sure
Peter
If my shaft pops out I'll call you so you can come help me pop it back in! lol If I did my measuring correctly the slack is about the sameor very close....
How much play would be in a stock AWD steering shaft and a 2" body lift? Whatever it is...it is PLENTY! I am pretty sure I have had my van twisted into positions nobody else here (except for Lockdoc) has ever come close to and I have never had an issue.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition
Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
[quote="TheChopFatherIf my shaft pops out I'll call you so you can come help me pop it back in! lol If I did my measuring correctly the slack is about the sameor very close....[/quote]
Pally, your freakin' shaft can pop to it's hearts content. I ain't touchin' it!
lol im so happy u tried this...i had asked before if a shaft from another vehicle would work and was just given the three normal options....i knew there was another stock shaft out there! thanks man. time to go play in the jy
--->2000 RWD 4.3L/4L60E ,3.43 gears.exhaust and throttle body mods....gone =(...
-->1998 kia sportage 3 inch lift 30 inch tiresunder repairs
) after talking to Dan, lockdoc and several others my options were (1)Flaming River (custom shaft) (2)purchase one from Overlandvan or (3) weld two together as lockdoc did well option 1 &2 was two expensive and option 3 well my welding skills are you know I wouldnt trust them on a steering component... So you say come on get with this after talking to a member at vannin he did some research for me as what may work and he told me to go to the scrap yard and find a shaft from a newer fullsize and that should work so off to the JY i went and found the only full size in the yard and with luck the colume was out and the shaft was dangeling from the steering box so I yanked it off and to the counter I went with it bought it for $20.00 what a deal if it works. I got it home and tried it on and with lots of praying and finger crossing it went on smoothly and still have over an 1" of travel on it. hope this find helps others out...
I am pretty sure I have had my van twisted into positions nobody else here (except for Lockdoc) has ever come close to and I have never had an issue. 
