Fixing this old rag

[resto75]

I discovered that my rag joint is loose and sloppy and needs replacement. I found that I have some play in the steering wheel and a quick look at the rag joint at first appeared to be OK. With a closer exam and a little shaking of the steering column post showed the rag joint had considerable play and it was separated at two points over the bolt holes.

I haven't attempted taking it apart yet but did find that there is a steering column coupler repair kit for fixing the problem.
Has anyone done this and can you offer any advice. I am not sure whether or not you have to move the steering column to get clearance to take it apart.

Thanks

 

[GTR1999]

Don't bother with the $10 repair kits. Use a new GM rag joint assembly so you know you have the best quality part on there. Go to www.gmotors.com and you can get a new one for about $50. There are two type depending on the year of your car. The early ones are round spined and the later(late69+) have a flat in them. The splines are different between the 2 so be sure which one you need.

You have to remove the bolt to get the joint off. then you should be able to move the upper flange up enough to remove the joint. You might want to check your steering box for play too.

 

[80convertible]

I agree, don't both with the $10.00 repair kit you find with the "Help" label. I installed on of these cheap kits and the rag joint is not made of the same material. It's more rubbery than the original. I plan to replace with a GM oem part this summer. You can find a good tech article at corvettefaq.com. A gentleman named Jim Shea wrote the article, and he used to be an engineer at GMs Saginaw Division plant. The project is not that hard.

As far as play in the steering, the rag joint can have an impact. You may also need to adjust the lash in the steering gear box. This made a HUGE difference on my car and really cleaned up a lot of the slop in the steering. Other parts of the steering system such as pitman arm, idler arm etc.... can also have an impact on steering. Again check out corvettefaq.com as well as your factory GM service manual.

 

[Pepe Le Pew]

I third the motion here. Go with the new coupling. I replaced mine last Summer. The only trouble I encountered was trying to get the steering wheel straight when the car was driving straight. I had to loosen the coupling and fine tune it after a few road tests. Mark the shafts before you remove the old one. Enjoy!