Steering shaft replacement t800

2001 T800 dealer calls for part number - 418512 (old # 916657-65SX) and is $1200.
I found a place called Steering Repair Solutions Inc. online that sells them for $400.

Ordered part number I needed , shaft came in every dimension smaller. Thinner, shorter, smaller Ujoints. different splines.... just all wrong.
Called them. They said the Kenworth number is wrong. All new shafts are now made to be skinny.
New shaft arrives... Im not falling into their claim.. So the pinch bolts, that hold the yoke to the splined shaft pass through a notch in the shaft, like a key, tight fit so that is the bolt ever loosens it prevent the shaft from just falling off. This new skinny shaft with smaller everything is now the correct length, but the pinch bolts are smaller and wont lock in or even make contact with the notch in the shaft. So if they loosen..... shaft falls off.
Im sending all this junk back.

Their new skinny shaft uses 1-0475 Ujoints which is part of the 0400 steering series (measuring 0.750" cap diameter). It is a light-to-medium-duty steering joint used heavily in lighter duty applications.

• 0400 Series (Small): Includes the 1-0475 joint. Features 0.750" bearing caps. It is built for light-to-medium steering assemblies (like pickup trucks, step vans, or smaller buses).

• 1000 Series (Big): Built into your heavy-duty 418512 commercial truck shaft. Features 1.000" bearing caps. It is designed specifically for Class 8 heavy trucks like Kenworth and Peterbilt.

Has anyone else dealt with this company out of Florida?
Seeing these stock bigger Ujoints last a few years before wearing out, the smaller ones seem like a hell no. Or am I wrong? Are people actually using these?

I ordered a Spicer one instead. Just giving people a heads up what you will get if you order one from these guys.

 

This shaft diameter wouldnt be an issue if the whole thing was made correctly. I assume these are chinese knock-offs. Nothing is safe about them.

The part on the female end that holds the male end (slip joint, blue part), star shaped, splined.... on the factory shaft the internal area is the entire length of the male shaft. meaning contact between it all all the time. The aftermarket one only had about 1 inch at the end of the internal end that was star shaped, beyond that it was just a hollow tube. Only 1 inch of material transferring the steering pressure. I could see it wearing out fast, maybe even break?

Also the pinch bolts.. if they dont fit into the groove on the shaft there is nothing to lock it on, if they loosen, shaft falls off. This pic shows difference circled in red. The aftermarket one no way i would use. Also on the aftermarket one there are only splines half way around inside it, its mostly smooth.. lol. and the splines that are there are nowhere near as aggressive as the stock one... You can see that the bolt doesnt even protrude into the shaft at all.

Maybe they'd work yes... but steering being a MAJOR safety thing... even more so than brakes. I would not use these... My Spicer one is supposed to be here today.

 

Those dont look like the little u-joints though. I think those I got were chinese knock-offs. Everything about them was off.