Trying to replace it I got the bolts out from either end but it won't budge. Even tried to play with the steering wheel height adjustment to change the angle but no success. Really tight space to get a hammer in there to smack around has anyone had any luck? The videos I see all have people with easy shafts where they just come right off. Mine was hard to remove the bolts so I can imagine it's seized.

 

The int shaft itself is telescopic however it has been known to seize. I've seen a video where one guy needed a metal wedge (he used a chisel) on the end with the u-joint and hammered that into the gap until it let go. When I replaced mine, it took some effort but I was able to pull outwards towards the firewall from behind the steering wheel just enough for it to clear then pulled it out.

 

Oh no ****!!! I will get a chisel and try today thank you so much. All the videos I've seen it's been so easy and I spent a bit of time yesterday trying to whack it and pull lol but that makes sense as looking at the new part

 

You might need to spray the hell out of that area since it's prone to bad rusting, but yeah it should work. The longer the handle for the chisel, the better.

 

No dice just spent another hour giving it my all and no success wanted my car to be ready for school tomorrow so I am debating just leaving it so I can continue tomorrow but then I gotta drive the wifes G5 or I just put it back together so I can drive and then attempt another time.

 

You might need a torch then if it's rusted that bad. Or just several days of *********** fluid treatments.

 

Ya and I think it's hard to do with just a jack in my apartment parking lot because I don't have enough room to really smack the hammer. I saw another video that the guy disconnected it from the bottom first with the chisel and a hammer from underneath and I tried to but with no success. I put it back together cause I wanna drive it tomorrow so it will be another weekend project lol I am thinking heat for sure though.

 

PB Blaster the hell out of it for a couple days in a row before working on it. Try spreading the wedge. If that doesn't work, might also want to look into a slide hammer.

 

Hit it with penetrating fluid and get a good dead blow hammer and a wedge. After the penetrating fluid has had some time to work it's chemical magic, use the wedge to gently open the connecting end. If I recall correctly it's a spline shaft so the rust makes it even worse.

I'd be very careful going in there with heat, you're really close to fuel lines and evap lines in that general area. If you have access to an induction heater that would be way safer and probably do much better