Looking at upgrading the steering shaft on the car. I have a stock column and Jeep Grand Cherokee box with a Lee's adapter rag joint. Since the LS1 swap I don't have a lot of clearance at the rag joint and want to go with a u-joint style shaft. I have talked to Borgeson and will be ordering the parts from them. I plan on getting a telescoping shaft so it is still safe incase of an accident, but not sure if I should go all solid or use a vibration damper joint on one end?

This is the description on the site:
Noise, vibration, and harshness are on top of the list of concerns
for all automotive enthusiasts. With the more frequent use
of rack and pinions and low profile tires, there are more road
vibrations transmitted to the steering wheel than in the past.
Using urethane to isolate all the metal components, Borgeson
has developed vibration reducers to diminish the annoying
vibrations that are transmitted through the steering system
and felt in the steering wheel. The use of the Borgeson vibration
reducer results in immediate improvement in the steering feel.
As an added benefit, this reduction in vibration has been shown
to increase the overall life of the steering components, including
the steering column.

http://www.borgeson.com/VibrationReducers/ujointcombo.jpg

http://www.borgeson.com/SHAFTING%20COUPLERS%20AND%20SUPPORT%20BEARINGS/telescoping.jpg

Sounds like it might be a good idea, but I was wondering about the handling feel. Any input?

I would recommend a vibration damper personally. Not only do you have road noise to isolate but you have power steering pump noise to keep out. I do not believe that road feel will be impaired in the least. If you think about it what do you really need to feel? You need to feel the slip angle of the tires so you can judge where you are relative to the limits of the car. While getting and processing this input, there is no point in sending the "information" faster or in greater volume than you the driver can process and react to it. A bit of data smoothing from a vibration damper is actually probably a good thing.

I went without the vibration dampener on my U-joint. Doesn't really seem to be and issue and it certainly doesn't bother me. This car is basically a daily driver as well.

drive any later model car or truck, and odds are that there is no damper of any kind in the steering shaft. my 92 Astro van had a series of u joints and it didn't feel weird, and my brother's 2001 Chevy pickup also has a solid u joint and doesn't transfer any weird vibes, either.
one popular upgrade on 78-88 G bodies is to use a steering shaft from a mid 90's Jeep Grand Cherokee in place of the stock steering shaft. it just has a solid u joint in it, and i haven't read of anyone complaining about any extra vibration.

No vibration damper on my flaming river slipshaft & u-joints for years now.

No PS pump noise or real "vibrations" are transmitted up through the steering wheel, at least in my installation.

Ordered some parts from Borgeson. Should be here next week. Decided to go with solid aluminum joints and a steel collapsible shaft.

FYI: Grand Cherokee box is 3/4-30 and my auto column is 1-48. Shaft is ~20.5" long.

Should have called me on the Flaming River stuff, I wouldnt have done alumn. joints personally. We dont sell them any longer. Most times a vibration joint is not needed.

Should have called me on the Flaming River stuff, I wouldnt have done alumn. joints personally. We dont sell them any longer. Most times a vibration joint is not needed.

More info?

I talked to Borgeson again and he reassured me there would be no problems with the aluminum joints. Would like to know why you said to stay away from them?