Steering shaft Extension Question???

[Broncitis]

I am in the process of installing the Duffs steering shaft extension and think I need to grind/Cut the upper rag joint bell off the upper shaft. Is this correct? Is this where the upper spline is? Just do not want to cut something off and then discover I was wrong. Thanks in advance. Dwight

[broncosbybart]

Not sure which year or style yours is. They differed. Here is some good info on them. Let us know if you can't get it figured out.

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/category/Br...ing_Shafts

[Broncitis]

Thanks Bart, I looked at the WH link and mine is the same as the 73-75 listed there. I'll get busy taking the rag joint coupler off in a few. I got the front brake lines finished last night.

[broncosbybart]

No prob. The rag joint flange will pull off the splined shaft, as written in that article. I remember scratching my head the first time I ran across one of those. I didn't know how it was done at the factory.

[Broncitis]

Ok I got it done. I used a 4 in grinder with a cutting disc to cut a slot on each side of the bell where the safety lug grooves are. I then used a flat screwdriver as a chisel and about the 2nd bump into the groove I cut the bell fell off. I did nothave a puller with which to try pulling it off. The end of the shaft spline had a beveled edge which had to of been pressed after the bell was installed at the factory. Not sure if a puller would have been able to collapse that bevel to facilitate removal or not. After bell removal I used the grinder to remove the bevel and then a triangular file to dress the ends of the spline up. Overall I feel good about this mod as it definitely corrects the safety factor presented by the over extended rag joint. Thanks again Bart, Dwight