Stock Steering Shaft

I've bought a seal and bearing kit to rebuild my steering gear box. When I pull it off i figure I should go ahead and pull the shaft and coupler/ujoint out, and replace the ujoint, sand, and paint my shaft. How difficult is it to pull the shaft out of the coupler and the coupler off the steering column at the firewall?

 

It isn't very hard. I have had a few that were a little stuburn though. there should be one bolt at each end of the shaft, you have to take it all the way out and the coupler should slide up off the box splines and the same with the top. Some times the splines will stick from being on there all these years but will pull apart. Don't hammer on the box end. it will damage the seals from what I understand and your box will start leaking, (but then again you are rebuilding it).

 

X2 on the advice about removing the coupling bolts completely. They cross the shaft and ride in grooves in said shaft. I originally thought they were just pinch bolts and discovered the truth after struggling with it for awhile.