A steering shaft assembly is disclosed with an outer shaft operatively connected to a one of a steered member or a steering control. The outer shaft has an open end and a receiving chamber associated with the open end. The steering shaft assembly also includes an inner shaft operatively connected to another of the steered member or the steering control. The inner shaft has an engaging portion axially slideably received in the outer shaft receiving chamber. The inner shaft engaging portion also includes a polymer coating disposed on an outer surface of the inner shaft engaging portion. The coating has an outer surface that slideably engages with a surface of the outer shaft receiving chamber, and which has comprises projections and recesses along the coating outer surface.