Update: contacted partsgeek and cardone. partsgeek did give me an RMA but cardone also got a hold of Me, and the rep said that's not how the parts leave the factory and they'll make it right but building a gear just for Me, so I held off. At first they had trouble finding a core, but then contacted Me telling Me it's on it's way. At first inspection it looked much better, paint was ok, and it was pretty tight and adjusted correctly, but, and it's a big BUT, the freggin splines on the input shaft look like they weren't fully machined and/or rounded off. Literally, they are not even cut to the edge. I tried it anyway, but could not get the steering shaft over it. Gave up, and went back to the original gear for Now and got to call them again . Wish I'd just returned it when I had the chance, but will give them another one, third time's the cahrm maybe..?