I installed a 3" body lift and it came with a 3" steering extension.
I installed it and now there is lots of play in the steering.

Now I'm thinking of taking the steering shaft out and welding a 3" metal rod to extend it.

Has anyone done this, or do you think it would work???

 

Hey bro, i had the same problem with my bodylift as well on a 02 f150 supercab. If you got the body lift from BDS like i did their extension blows. it is a terrible fit and therefore sloppy wheel play and unsafe. Just get the extension from the Performance Accesories kit and you should be good to go.

 

It might not be the kit, if you had any play in your steering before the lift, adding the 3" extension multiplies whatever you had before.

 

Well it was from Performance Accessories. My father will drive my truck out to the ranch sometimes so he doesnt scratch up his Excursion. He said all the play in the steering was dangerous and not good..blah blah blah. So to make him happy, i want to try and fix it.

So if there are any concerns why i shouldn't fabricate and weld a 3" spacer in the steering shaft, please let me here them???

 

Considering the stress on the part, I wouldn't trust any weld.

Have you bothered to even look to see where the play is coming from?

 

Before the extension the steering was fine. I know its the spacer. But I wil prolly do it anyways, beacuse I know what I'm doing and a good weld is stronger than the metal itself.

 

For the extension to cause the play it would have to visibly slip on the stock shaft, I don't see how it could be that bad as to introduce any real play without there being a flawed part, wrong part etc.

I'm not a welder by trade, but I agree that in most cases a weld is at the least as strong as the metal being joined together, however in some circumstances, and I believe this is one of them, a weld would be weaker.