Oh, Its weird that different XJ's had different styles of it. Some have have that rubber and some dont. I grabbed about 3 from the JY and they where all different

 

is there any styles that are better then others? and how do you check if your ujoints have failed in your column?

 

I prefer the ones without the rubber insulator. But I had a friend rock the steering wheel, engine off, and i traced the clunk to the ujoint in that shaft. Cant rebuild them unless you find a ujoint from Mcmaster Carr and make it yourself

 

ok so just buying a spare from the JY will work long as the ujoints are fine? and im sure you can buy em brand new from a dealership still or say crown if need be?

 

Yea not paying $120+ for a new one. I grabbed several from the junk yard and had to fight with them to fit cause i could not get the slip joint to move

 

damn.. so whats the way to tell if your column is shot? i like 95% pos it is. but i wanna be sure before i go replacing it as it sounds like a pita to replace.

 

Remove it and check the Ujoints. Its only 2 13mm bolts haha.....

...thats if you can get it to collapse otherwise i had to unbolt the steering box

 

i dont even have toremove mine, lol....i just grab it and shake it and feel all kinds of loose, lol...right at the center joint where the rubber is hiding got a 1/4" of play just by shaking it not turning it....then i got another 3" of play in the steering box but i plan to get the hydro assist kit from psc so ill wait before changing it...