Late Vs. early steering shafts, Didn't know there was a difference Options

[Phoenix-MN]

Ever since I put my steering wheel and shaft in it's had an annoying "over center" notchy feel to it. Well I deceided to fix it and tore it apart today. I had read some threads to swap the shaft end for end to correct the problem but that doesn't index the u-joints any differently. I dug out a shaft from my spare parts to compare and the index slots are about 90 deg. different between the two.



Anyone else run into this before? Is there also a difference in the u-joints?

Paul

[Jeff Hail]

I have already differentiated the column differences. Let me see if I can break down the upper shaft and intermediate shaft differences.

Upper shafts:
Upper shaft early 70 had larger diameter at steering wheel hub/ spline differences. U-joint was unique to the shaft and serviced as part of the shaft assembly.

Late upper shaft had separate U-joints that are still serviced under 930 Part numbers. Oddly it shows 1 joint required for the 9144 and 2 joints for the 9146.
Will try to keep the 6 cyl parts out of this as its confusing enough.

Intermediate shafts:
9146
Early thru 71
72 on
72 on required 2 of the same U joints.

Column:
72 9146 used the 4 cyl column with the electric wiper switch.


I just figured out why. Early cars had an issue with the upper U joint, they changed the column and upper shaft which slightly altered the angle of attack on the intermediate shaft. This explains the keyway timing differences on the intermediate shafts.

72 on firewall with windscreen frame sheetmetal changed also.