What Is a Steering Shaft Extension and Why Does a Body Lift Need One?

If you're looking at fitting a body lift to your 4WD, you may have noticed that some kits also require a steering shaft extension.

It's a relatively small part of a body lift kit, but on vehicles that require one it's also one of the most important.

When you install a body lift kit, the vehicle body is raised higher above the chassis. The steering column moves upwards with the body, while the steering box or steering rack remains attached lower down with the chassis.

This increases the distance the steering shaft needs to cover.

Some vehicles have enough adjustment in the factory steering shaft to accommodate the lift. Others don't.

That's where a steering shaft extension comes in.

What Is a Steering Shaft Extension?

A steering shaft extension is a component used to add the additional length required in the steering shaft after a body lift has been installed.

You may also see them called:

• Steering extensions
• Steering column extensions
• Steering shaft spacers
• Steering column spacers

You can see our full range of steering shaft extensions for body lift kits here.

Why Does a Body Lift Affect the Steering Shaft?

To understand why an extension can be required, it helps to understand how a body lift works.

4WDs we make body lift kits for use a separate chassis.

The engine, gearbox, suspension and steering box or rack remain attached to the chassis.

The body sits above the chassis on rubber body mounts.

A body lift installs additional lift blocks between these mounting points, raising the body while leaving the mechanical components in their original position.

The steering column is attached to the body, so it moves upwards with it.

The steering shaft connecting the column to the steering box or rack therefore needs to compensate for that additional distance.

Doesn't the Factory Steering Shaft Just Slide Out Further?

On many 4WDs, the steering shaft has a sliding or telescopic section that allows some movement.

This is why not every body lift requires an extension.

However, there is only a certain amount of available movement and spline engagement in the factory steering shaft.

When the body is lifted, some of that available adjustment is used up.

With a larger lift such as a 2 inch / 50mm body lift, some vehicles no longer have enough factory adjustment available.

The steering shaft may still physically connect, but simply being connected isn't necessarily the same as having the correct amount of spline engagement.

A properly matched steering extension restores the additional length required rather than relying on the factory shaft being pulled further apart than intended.

Do All Body Lift Kits Need a Steering Extension?

No.

This is important because there isn't one universal rule that applies to every 4WD.

Whether a steering shaft extension is required depends on things such as:

• Vehicle make and model
• Steering shaft design
• Amount of factory adjustment available
• Body lift height
• Steering box or steering rack position

Some vehicles can accommodate a body lift using the adjustment already available in the factory steering system.

Others require an extension.

This is one of the reasons we manufacture vehicle-specific body lift kits rather than treating every 4WD the same.

Vehicles That May Require a Steering Extension

We manufacture steering extensions for a large range of Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Mazda and other 4WDs.

Some examples include:

• Toyota Hilux 1998–2004 steering extension
• Toyota Surf / 3rd Gen 4Runner 1996–2002 steering extension
• Nissan D22 Navara steering column extension
• Ford PX Ranger steering shaft extension

There are extensions to suit other vehicle models available in our complete steering extension range.

Always check the individual product or body lift kit for your vehicle rather than assuming an extension is required.

What Happens If the Steering Shaft Is Too Short?

The steering shaft is not an area where you want to take shortcuts.

If fitting a body lift reduces the amount of available steering shaft engagement too far, you can potentially end up with problems such as:

• Unsafe spline engagement
• Steering shaft binding
• Tight or notchy steering
• Unusual steering movement
• Additional load on steering universal joints
• Steering components operating outside their intended range

This is why we recommend checking the steering during a body lift install rather than simply lifting the body and assuming everything else will accommodate the additional height.

How Do Flatout Offroad Steering Extensions Work?

Our steering extensions are made for the vehicles they're advertised for.

Flatout Offroad steering shaft extensions are machined from solid steel and contain no welded sections.

Our extensions use high-tensile fasteners and are designed with New Zealand's LVV certification requirements in mind.

We've been supplying body lift kits and steering extensions for more than 10 years.

Why Don't We Use Welded Steering Extensions?

One option you sometimes see on modified 4WDs is a factory steering component that has been cut, extended and welded.

That's not how we manufacture our steering extensions.

Our extensions are machined from solid material and are designed to connect with the original steering components without cutting and welding the steering shaft.

For us, it makes much more sense to manufacture a repeatable vehicle-specific component that can be fitted between the existing steering connections.

This is particularly important in New Zealand, where steering modifications fitted as part of a body lift will be inspected during LVV certification.

If you're in New Zealand and planning a body lift, our Body Lift Cert NZ guide explains the certification process and some of the things your certifier may check.

Steering Extensions and 3rd Gen 4Runner Body Lifts

The 1996–2002 Toyota Surf / 3rd Gen 4Runner is a good example of why steering extension design matters.

When installing a 50mm body lift on these vehicles, additional steering shaft length is required.

Our solution is a CNC-machined splined steering extension that engages with the factory steering components. This is the only style that can be certified in New Zealand.

We've seen aluminium block-style steering spacers available in other manufactures kits fitted to these vehicles. This style of extension cant be certified in New Zealand as it creates a shear point in the steering system. 

We've covered this particular setup in much more detail in our 3rd Gen 4Runner Body Lift guide.

If you own one of these vehicles, it's worth reading that guide before choosing a body lift kit.

Does a 2 Inch Body Lift Need a Steering Shaft Extension?

Sometimes.

A 2 inch / 50mm body lift is enough to require an extension on a number of common 4WDs, but it still depends on the individual vehicle.

Is a Steering Shaft Extension Legal in New Zealand?

A steering extension can form part of a road-legal modified 4WD in New Zealand when the vehicle and modification meet the applicable requirements and are correctly certified.

A body lift on a body/chassis 4WD requires LVV certification in New Zealand.

We've written a separate guide covering whether body lift kits are legal in New Zealand, so I won't repeat all of the certification information here.

The important point is that the steering setup forms part of the overall body lift modification.

What Else Needs Checking When Fitting a Body Lift?

The steering shaft isn't the only thing that can be affected when the body is raised away from the chassis.

Depending on the vehicle, you may also need to check:

• Radiator and cooling fan position
• Gear and transfer-case shifters
• Air intake hoses
• Fuel filler hoses
• Brake lines
• Wiring
• Ground straps
• Handbrake cables
• Bumper position
• Body mount bushes

Some vehicles require additional parts such as radiator drop brackets, intake extensions, shifter extensions or bumper brackets.

We have these grouped together in our body lift accessories and extensions collection.

It's also worth having a good look at the original rubber mounts while the vehicle is apart. If they're cracked, badly compressed or worn out, have a look at our range of replacement body mount bushing kits.

Choosing the Correct Steering Extension

When ordering, check:

• Make
• Model
• Year
• Body lift height
• Whether the extension is already included with your body lift kit

Some of our complete body lift kits already include the required steering extension, while on other vehicles it is available separately.

If you're starting from scratch, have a look through our complete range of 4WD body lift kits first.

Flatout Offroad Steering Shaft Extensions

Flatout Offroad manufactures and supplies steering extensions for a wide range of popular 4WDs.

Our steering extensions are made specifically for their intended application, machined from solid steel.

We ship throughout New Zealand and worldwide.

If you already have a body lift kit and just need the steering component, browse our steering shaft extension range here.

If you're not sure which extension or body lift kit fits your 4WD, get in touch with Flatout Offroad with your vehicle's make, model and year and we'll help point you in the right direction.