This afternoon I installed the driver's side BD exhaust manifold. In order to gain access, I removed the bolt near the steering box and the bolt near the firewall end of the shaft. I tried to seperate the shaft from the portion affixed to the firewall. The issue is that the shaft would not pull down (even after bolt removed). I sprayed the area with penetrating fluid and let it sit. I tried pulling down and away from the firewall to no avail. I then tried pushing in toward the firewall and the whole unit pushed into the cab (but the part where the bolt goes through did not give). I ended up giving up and working around the shaft (as I was able to remove the end at the steering box and move it as needed). I put everything back together but now every time I turn the wheel I get a noise/clunk. Is that the steering clunk, and what happened to my steering column shaft (upper portion pushing into cab)...

Thank you in advance.

your steering is probably hitting against the new exhaust manifold, seeing as how it takes away the dip in the manifold (i think this is the right one i am talking about there is only one right that has that) so check your clearances. as far as the pushing into the cab i dont have a clue. but this is just my 2 cents

that "dip" isnt needed in the trucks. it is there for the vans. i just installed mine and there are no clearance issues.

yea, the clearance should be fine. It's either the grease in the shaft or the bearing under the column. Threads galore on this topic.

ok i wasnt sure on it because i havent changed mine and really never looked.

Yeah, no issues with fitment around steering shaft. I found the reason why my lower and intermediate shaft did not split was due to rust between the parts. Heat, vice grips, hammer, and swearing finally got it free. I cleaned both male and female parts and never-seized them back together, as well as regreased intermediate shaft and no more noise.

As for my original question I found the shaft is supposed to push toward the cab (oops, rookie mistake :-) )

yea, the clearance should be fine. It's either the grease in the shaft or the bearing under the column. Threads galore on this topic.

:exactly: