Shaft assembly

A telescopable shaft assembly, comprising:

• at least two shaft elements capable of sliding in one another, said shaft elements including an internal shaft element and an outer shaft element;
• at least one sliding splined portion connecting said two shaft elements to one another in a torque transmitting manner;
• an axial fixation forming a predetermined breaking point between said shaft elements, said axial fixation becoming ineffective once a predetermined impact force acting in a telescoping direction is reached;
• said shaft elements being movable relative to one another, once said axial fixation has become ineffective, in low-friction manner along said sliding splined portion under action of the impact force;
• said outer shaft element having a free end formed with a splined portion runout and said inner shaft element is formed with an unsplined portion;
• wherein, when said axial fixation is effective, an annular gap is formed between said splined portion runout on said outer shaft element and said unsplined portion of said inner shaft element;
• and
• a sealant at least partially filling said annular gap, at least in an area of said free end of said outer shaft element.