Hello all.
I need to get the steering column completely out of my 96 XJ6. Are there any tips or tricks to help get the splined bit at the end out of the first u-joint? It seems reluctant to come out. I have dropped the column, removed the pinch bolt, made some witness marks, and sprayed it with penetrating oil. And disconnected all the wires, of course.

A search on here turned up lots of good instructions on how to drop the column or how to get the wheel/airbag off the column, but nothing on extracting it. Do I need a special puller?

Thanks and regards,
-Thos/MA

 

cdma I think recently tinkered with this?

 

Add this one to the "Answered my own question" department - at least partially.

I looked at it with a fresh set of eyes this morning. The other end of the universal joint clamps onto a shaft that comes in through the firewall. That end just has an odd three-sided clamp that is held in with one 10mm bolt. Undo that, and out it comes.

Getting the u-joint of the steering column splines is still an open issue, but at least I can work on it up on my bench rather than cramped into the footwell.