Steering Coupler Shaft

While taking care of some loose ends in our '94 this afternoon, I asked my wife to rock the wheel while looking underneath for the source of some growing steering play (it's really loose when cold, with a creak, but improves with heat).

I expected that the steering box would have a problem, but what I really found was that the coupler shaft between the firewall and the PS box is the real problem. It has a rubber bushing in the top joint that holds the joing to the square shaft, and that bushing is shot. Really shot. The rest of the steering linkage looks to be in decent shape.

I have a sinking suspicion that the bushing isn't replaceable by itself, and that the entire shaft is a dealer-only item. No luck on any of my usual on-line parts houses for this either.

Has anyone repaired one before, or am I just after an entire new $haft?

Also known as a 'Ragjoint"....I got a pic some where it isn't the best but did the best I could in paint


I'll look around for something a little clearer.The rubber part is bolted with 4 bolts that tie the lower shaft to the upper shaft...bout 11 or 12 bux at a parts store

Here's a pic...they're not that hard to r n r...just make sure the steering wheel is in the right position and centered...

I've never seen a rag joint on an XJ. All of mine have had universal joints at both ends. Is there a subspecies of XJ that came with rag joints? Or is it possibly a replacement column shaft already?