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Extending steering shaft


Lardog
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  • 1 year later...

Hi all, new member wanting to lift a 97 Legacy wagon and the steering shaft extension has me worried. In my model, my mechanic is telling me it may be knuckle to knuckle at the rack and pinon so no room to cut or add. He is looking more closely at it today as this whole Idea came about after I saw the SJR website.

So, has anyone lifted a 97 Legacy wagon? Im hoping the steering shaft extension doesnt kill my project before it gets off the ground

 

Thanks

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Ive got power steering, and I like the comfort rag joints provide.

 

My solution was a short extension for my small lift, and double rag joints. The extension is nothing more than a small section of steel tubing, and two flat bar flanges. The rag joints are made from heavy heavy dude radiator hose, doubled up.

 

RUlift10.jpg

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With power steering the rag joints see very little stress.

 

The rack should turn effortlessly with the motor running, and a good power steering pump. hence the "power" in power steering ;)

 

Dont even think about using rag joints on manual steering. They wont hold up.

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Allied Armament. No.

 

Current Lift Makers (I think):

Scott R. - SJR

Bill O. - BOSS (The Beast I Drive)

michael appel

Jeff P. maybe - One Eye

 

Don't forget

 

HighGuys.

 

And to answer Splitboarder, yes you can extend your coupler. I don't think it's knuckl to knuckle.(EA82 w/ps IS, Legacy I think there is about 1" of shaft between) Even if you had a knuckle to knuckle setup in there, just go to a junkyard, and get a donor from an outback to cut and sleeve.

 

I've got kits on several newer Legacies, Outbacks, and Forresters.

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Thanks Gloyale

 

Now that I have the car at my house I can see the one inch of round stock between the two u-joints. When you say cut and sleeve- tell me about the "sleeve". Do you weld it after the install at the exact lenght ? Can you take a pic and post it if you have this set up?

 

Also, I cant decide between a 4 inch or 6 inch lift. I do know they are both body lifts with 1 inch of suspension lift. I want to run 16 wheels and 205/75/16 TA all terrains

 

Thanks

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Thanks Gloyale

 

Now that I have the car at my house I can see the one inch of round stock between the two u-joints. When you say cut and sleeve- tell me about the "sleeve". Do you weld it after the install at the exact lenght ?

 

 

Cut the rod in the middle.

 

Find some steel tubing that fits tightly over the end of the stubs left after you cut.

 

And yes, best way is to install the 2 ends on the car, cut the sleeve to fit, and tack weld it on the car to the right length. Then remove it and do a full final weld.

 

Have a bucket to dunk it in. Don't weld either end for too long without dunking, the heat can soak in and burn up the grease and seals in the u-joints. Quick passes then cool.

 

If tacking it in place on the car isn't possible (very hard on an EA82 w/engine in) you can simply install the ends, then measure the space between them and cut your sleeve to length.

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I recently bought a 1992 Loyale wagon. I have also purchased a 4" lift from SJR Lifts and was wondering if anyone has some pics of how they extended they're steering. I hope to be putting the lift kit on in a couple of weeks.

 

I just used a steering knuckle out of a first gen Forester. Has the right length and has a vibration damper built in. Even the splines are the same.

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