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Rusty Steering Column

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by colojeepguy, Jan 16, 2022.

  1. Jan 16, 2022
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    My CJ has Saginaw steering, with a postal Jeep column and this intermediate shaft made by Borgeson. I am in the middle of changing from manual Saginaw to power, and I discovered this shaft was seized solid, it would not telescope. I beat the two halves apart and found they were full of rust which had caused them to stick together. Now that I've got them cleaned up, what should I put on them to try to prevent this happening again?
    20220116_082544.jpg
     
  2. Jan 16, 2022
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

    East Tennessee
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    Grease
     
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  3. Jan 16, 2022
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    Give them a wipe down with silicone grease. It doesn't matter much if that stuff is a little stiff as there isn't any differential movement there unless you crash.
     
  4. Jan 16, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    You don't leak enough oil. Fix that and you'll forget about rust.
     
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  5. Jan 16, 2022
    dnb71R2

    dnb71R2 SuperDave 2023 Sponsor

    Grand Mesa, CO
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    There should be a boot covering the flex joint to keep dirt and moisture out!
    That's how the flaming river joint is delivered.
     
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  6. Jan 16, 2022
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Telescoping is handy to compensate when the frame flexes or body shifts slightly around. I agree with Duffer, use some silicone based grease to lubricate the shaft. It sheds water and moisture quite well. Sil-Glyde is a brand I use for suspension bushings, rubber weatherstripping, or anywhere I need to shed moisture. Use it quite a bit on brake caliper slides that have rubber boots/seals as well.
     
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  7. Jan 17, 2022
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    There is. It didn't work. I put it back together with some silicone grease, and zip tied the boot to the shaft.
     
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  8. Jan 17, 2022
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    When I first did the manual Saginaw swap, I just had a solid shaft and 2 ujoints between the column and box. What I experienced with that setup was that when off road going over rocks, the steering wheel would spin back and forth violently...you didn't want to get your fingers in the middle of the spokes! With the telescoping shaft it greatly reduces that tendancy.
     
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