A word about steering modifications. Safety is the issue!

DISCLAIMER: Any usage or adaptation of any or all of the information provided here or on any or all of my web pages is purely at your own risk. You must take into account your own circumstances and vehicle requirements when attempting to utilize any or all of the information provided on any or all of my web pages. I assume no liability or responsibility for any results, damage, or unforeseen circumstances related in any way to the usage or adaptation of any or all of the aforementioned information.  Enjoy! 

I have seen many posts on off-road forums and got countless emails requesting information regarding the retrofitting of the CJ column to tilt. These are some things you should know if you are studying to do the modification yourself.

I first started looking about 2 years ago for a cheap and easy way to get a tilt column into my CJ much like lots of other fellow jeepers have been doing here and there. I heard stories of certain vehicles having columns that would fit perfectly or that were sort of a close fit, such as Blazers, Cherokees, Eagles, Wagoneers, and other vehicles of various years and models. I followed every lead and logged every vehicle make that was supposed to have a “perfect” or “close fitting” column. None of the vehicles that I checked have a column that will fit without substantial modification. The Eagle column has the wrong spline, the Blazer, Cherokee, and Wagoneer columns are all to long, etc, etc, etc.

The most critical measurement is from the dash bracket to the end of the column spline. You will be hard pressed to find a column that is the right length or spline other than a CJ column.
In my experience, I have never seen a column that fits perfectly without modification. If the above measurement is longer or shorter, you will have to do major surgery to make the dash bracket sit in the right place or you will have to move the steering box, cut the column, or cut the steering shaft, not to mention making sure the spline is right. This subject has come up many times and for safety sake, if you have a daily driver like me, the only real safe way in my opinion to get a proper fitting column is to buy an aftermarket column unless you can build them yourself.

The closest fitting column I have seen is the Wagoneer column. It has the right wiring and measurements everywhere except for the dash bracket to the spline. The spline is the same as the CJ, but since the shaft is 1” longer than the CJ, you will have to have a collapsible steering shaft, which will set you back the price of an aftermarket column.

If anyone knows of a column that will fit into a CJ dimensionally, without modifications, please email it to me and I will post it for the benefit and safety of everyone that is interested in this modification.
I have been this route, and I am talking from experience when I say, spend the money for a column like the ones built by Centech, Flaming river, or Snake river.
You will probably be much safer and happier. 

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THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED 02/29/2004 This site is about my Jeep. My goal is to help you to better your Jeep through my experience. Thanks for visiting..... Trailhed.com 

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DISCLAIMER: Any usage or adaptation of any or all of the information provided here or on any or all of my web pages is purely at your own risk. You must take into account your own circumstances and vehicle requirements when attempting to utilize any or all of the information provided on any or all of my web pages. I assume no liability or responsibility for any results, damage, or unforeseen circumstances related in any way to the usage or adaptation of any or all of the aforementioned information.  Enjoy

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