Universal joint shaft, particularly for a steering column of motor vehicles

A universal joint shaft, particularly for a steering column of a motor vehicle, comprising a tubular outer shaft, a tubular inner shaft slidably mounted in said outer shaft for axial telescoping movement realative to said outer shaft and engageable for rotation therewith, bearing means between said inner and outer shafts, guide means between said inner and outer shafts for guiding said inner shaft relative to said outer shaft and transmitting torque between said inner and outer shafts, said guide means comprising a tubular guide tube, said inner shaft comprising two separate shaft portions concentrically received in said guide tube, said bearing means being connected to a first one of said shaft portions and the second one of said shaft portions being axially displaceable in said guide tube, and slide friction means engaged between said second one of said shaft portions and said guide tube for resisting axial motion therebetween.