AJ and Hemi Denny thanks for the feedback,
I took mine out, set it aside for 3 months (in a safe place) and when I went to put it in it just reaches the top of the coupler inside, so the little shoes are in the coupler at the top and I can get the cap on.
The shaft is tight and not moving up or down or loose at all in there, so with what you are saying I don't believe the pins are sheared.
Hemi Denny, are you saying that if I loosen the plastic collar at the bottom I can make the shaft come down more (or lengthen the unit)?
Or is it ok for the shoes to be riding at the top of the coupler?
In reality (as long as the pins are not sheared) the overall length of the unit shouldn't shorten, right......My obvious fear is that it comes out of the coupler and therefore no steering. I know I am probably being Paranoid, but because I am not sure where the shoes were riding in the coupler before I removed it I have this fear of going 60 mph down the road and then loosing steering.