I'm doing my trackick body lift but I cant get the steering shaft bolts out at the rag joint.  Is there a special technique?  Looks like the nuts are held in place by welds so they don't have to be held while unbolting.  My problem is I can't get the bolts to break free.  The shaft flexes so much under tension that the wrench hits the engine.

I'm thinking impact gun...any help from body lift experienced would be great.

Disconnect the steering shaft where it mounts onto the steering box (splined area). Should be one bolt to unloosen and then you can remove the steering shaft from the steering box. If it needs to be lengthened then just unbolt the other end and we can cut the shaft and weld a piece in to lengthen it  and then bolt back into place.
Jim

Disconnect the steering shaft where it mounts onto the steering box (splined area). Should be one bolt to unloosen and then you can remove the steering shaft from the steering box. If it needs to be lengthened then just unbolt the other end and we can cut the shaft and weld a piece in to lengthen it  and then bolt back into place.
Jim

ditto,X2

Thanks for the help guys

i had to replace the steering shaft u joint closest to the steering column about a week ago.

we had to take the bolt out by the gear box and take the bolt off by the steering column by the firewall. this gave us enough play to slide the shaft towards the gearbox and remove it.

the shaft that comes out of the gearbox was longer than we expected. just taking the rag joint apart gave us nothing. there was still no room to disassemble the steering shaft. i believe the bolts are pressed in but im not sure. 

This is what i had to do.  taking the rag joint might work for you. just giving you another option.

yes your right, the bolts are pressed in.I drilled mine out and replaced when I did my body lift.