I have a 98 dodge 1500 5.2L 2wd and I decided to change the leaky power steering gearbox, in the middle of taking out the old one I had too attend to an emergency and left it dangling only connected to the shaft( my dumb mistake). The truck needed too be moved when I got back and I didnt have enough time too completely change it out so I tried putting the three bolts back in and it wouldn't align back up with the holes as if the shaft got longer so i just unbolted it from the shaft just so I could move the truck. Also i didnt tie up the steering wheel so when I moved it the steering wheel spun around a couple times. A day later I got around to putting the new one back on so I first tried attaching it to the shaft first but still had the same problem of the holes not aligning back up, then tried attaching it up too the frame first then trying too attach the shaft together second and the shaft isnt even close to sliding back on like I said it seems too be too long as shown in the picture. So any ideas what's going on? Keep in mind it never made any noise or had any problems before I took it apart.

 

Should be able to push it back, it does extend (like the front driveshaft). Also depending on how many times the wheel turned you may have ruined the clock spring

 

I already figured the clockspring was ruined but that wouldn't cause this too not go back together normally would it?

 

The steering shaft extends and retracts. Just push it back up towards the steering column to give you room to attach to the steering box, once on the splines, pull down tight and install your bolt.