87 Intermediate Steering Shaft too short???

[TABrinn]

Last month I bought an 87 Ranger STX Super Cab 2wd that is pretty much a Basket-Case of half-way done repairs, a rats nest of wiring and vacuum hoses, and missing hardware.

It looks like the PO started to replace the rag joint but the DD-shaft from the Steering column is about 2" too short. I tried soaking everything in PB Blaster, and forcing the DD shaft to extend from the collapsible portion of the column, then tried to extend the intermediate shaft too. Nothing budged! Maybe PO got a new Intermediate shaft from Junk Yard with wrong dimensions??? Is there supposed to be a rag joint at the top and bottom of the intermediate shaft? Isn't one end supposed to be a Universal joint? I really don't see a purpose of 2 rag-joints.

If anyone can share a good pic or drawing of the Intermediate shaft assy. for a 1st gen 2wd Ranger that would be great! I'll see if I can finish removing it tonight and post some pics.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

83-88 had two rag joints

89-?? had one rag joint and one u joint.

I have a bodylift in my truck I modified the steering adaptor (soldi bar) to fit a second gen intermediate shaft and ditch one of the u-joints.



Went from this:



To this:



Watch the clocking of the ends because there is some variance but there are Jeep Cherokee XJ intermediate shafts that can be shortened to work and have no rag joints. I snagged one and the orientation wasn't right so pay attention if you go this route. The shaft will also be way long and will need modified.