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Old 08-05-2019, 03:55 PM   #26
MikeB
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Thumbs up Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTI View Post
I just finished swapping in a Jeep/Cherokee XJ u-joint shaft in place of my 2wd duallys rag-joint shaft. I purchased a new part for the swap from Summit Racing (Crown Automotive Steering Shafts; p/n 4713943) for $112 out the door.
Any mods required? Thanks for the tip!

Also, is the anti-vibration piece a rag joint? Any close up pictures? All of them on the Internet look like a silhouette and don't show much detail.
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Last edited by MikeB; 08-05-2019 at 04:02 PM.
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Old 08-05-2019, 04:15 PM   #27
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

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Originally Posted by MikeB View Post
Any mods required? Thanks for the tip!

Also, is the anti-vibration piece a rag joint? Any close up pictures? All of them on the Internet look like a silhouette and don't show much detail.
I added my experience to this thread. I came in around the 2nd page (post #26).....
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=505196

The 'anti-vibration' part (of the column end of the joint) basically looks like the shaft is inserted into a rubber sleeve that goes between it & the u-joint:
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Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive.
It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar.....

Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.

Last edited by SCOTI; 08-05-2019 at 04:23 PM.
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Old 08-05-2019, 04:48 PM   #28
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

Scoti -- Nice write-up on the other thread! Sounds like a lot of mods to do it right.

After reading another post on that same thread (I think), I just ordered a $16 Borgeson rag joint kit. And if I don't like that, then I'll get their 000935 shaft with dual u-joints.

Can't say my rag joint is toast, but it doesn't take much for it to hit the travel limiter pins. The truck wanders just a bit with around 1 degree caster, which is all the alignment guy could get while keeping camber in specs. So I will start with the rag joint and move on as necessary.

Sure would like to have my box modified by AGR. Installed one a few years ago on a friend's 66 truck (with adapter bracket and Ididit coulumn). It made a huge difference -- quicker, but stiff on-center due to larger torsion bar. Almost like driving a new sports sedan!

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1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 34 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes.
1982 C10 SWB -- sold
1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it!
1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming.
Retired as a factory automation products salesman.
Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop.
Member here for 23 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

Last edited by MikeB; 08-05-2019 at 04:55 PM.
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Old 08-05-2019, 06:10 PM   #29
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

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Originally Posted by MikeB View Post
Scoti -- Nice write-up on the other thread! Sounds like a lot of mods to do it right.

After reading another post on that same thread (I think), I just ordered a $16 Borgeson rag joint kit. And if I don't like that, then I'll get their 000935 shaft with dual u-joints.

Can't say my rag joint is toast, but it doesn't take much for it to hit the travel limiter pins. The truck wanders just a bit with around 1 degree caster, which is all the alignment guy could get while keeping camber in specs. So I will start with the rag joint and move on as necessary.

Sure would like to have my box modified by AGR. Installed one a few years ago on a friend's 66 truck (with adapter bracket and Ididit coulumn). It made a huge difference -- quicker, but stiff on-center due to larger torsion bar. Almost like driving a new sports sedan!
It really wasn't that much effort.

Locating the donor was the first issue. After doing the used parts thing before, I skipped to the new/aftermarket search to compare costs first vs. a used unit. No brainer there once I found the Crown Automotive stuff. I provided the p/n so that should help the next guy & speed that up.

You have to heat the binding agent out to get the shaft assembly to the correct length. 3-4 mins w/a hand bottle Mapp torch & it was out. Reassembly can be done immediately but I don't like black oxide fasteners because they rust & I was having issues w/the SS replacements I sourced. It was the multiple trips to my local fastener spot (Elliot's Hardware) that slowed things as well as my unknown on whether the two halves even "needed" the binding-agent.

Time will tell in the long run but it's easily serviced now so I don't anticipate any problems if I feel the need to make any adjustment.
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Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive.
It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar.....

Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.
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Old 08-05-2019, 09:36 PM   #30
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

I just did mine yesterday. I bought a used Jeep XJ shaft off eBay. Wish I had known I could get a new one for only $112, but the used one seems fine! I didn’t take the shaft all the way apart. I just heated it up enough to get it to the length it needed to be. I collapsed it until it was about a half inch short and bolted in the top side to the column. Then I heated it again and pulled it out enough to attach to the steering box. I test drove it on the freeway and the steering definitely feels tighter.

My steering was pretty tight to begin with until a few weeks ago when my power steering pump went out. I think wrestling with trying to steer it without power steering must have killed the rag joint.
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Last edited by Greenlee; 08-06-2019 at 07:59 AM.
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Old 08-05-2019, 09:44 PM   #31
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

After I got it all back together I noticed another problem. The lower bearing or bushing on the steering column just above where the steering shaft bolts up is wore out. You can wiggle the shaft back and forth. You can see what I’m talking about in this pic.
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Old 08-05-2019, 09:57 PM   #32
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

I just ordered the kit to repair the column. I had trouble finding it at first, but then found this one at Summit. It says it’s for a Jeep, but in the comments it says it fits a square body. Hopefully, I’ll have it in a few days and can get it put in over the weekend.
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Old 08-06-2019, 11:11 AM   #33
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

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Originally Posted by Greenlee View Post
I just ordered the kit to repair the column. I had trouble finding it at first, but then found this one at Summit. It says it’s for a Jeep, but in the comments it says it fits a square body. Hopefully, I’ll have it in a few days and can get it put in over the weekend.
Thanks, filed for future reference
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Old 08-06-2019, 11:56 AM   #34
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

I will be interested to know whether that column kit works for you Greenlee. I also had a lot of trouble finding the parts. As I recall, I ended up getting the bearing from a place that specialized in Cadillac parts and the rubber boot was supposed to be for a Jeep I believe. The bearing worked but the boot I got doesn't really fit right.
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Old 08-10-2019, 06:13 PM   #35
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

That part fit fine. Getting the old one off was a *****! I had to cut it in several places with a die grinder and peel it off.
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Old 08-10-2019, 10:45 PM   #36
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

Greenlee,

Did you have a lot of play or just notice it while in there working w/the shaft swap?
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Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive.
It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar.....

Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.
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Old 08-10-2019, 10:54 PM   #37
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

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Greenlee,

Did you have a lot of play or just notice it while in there working w/the shaft swap?
No. I just noticed it when I was doing the shaft swap. Getting rid of the rag joint got rid of most of the slop in the steering.

Last edited by Greenlee; 08-11-2019 at 07:41 AM.
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Old 08-11-2019, 03:08 AM   #38
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

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No. I just noticed it when I was doing the shaft swap. Getting rid of the rag joint got rid of most of the play in the steering.
Gotcha. Guess I'll double check & verify mine looks ok based on your situation.
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Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive.
It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar.....

Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.
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Old 08-11-2019, 10:16 AM   #39
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Re: Rag joint replacement with ujoint shaft, who’s done it?

I have used crown lower bearings quite a few times on columns that I have rebuilt. I have found that the bearing and plastic bushing fit great but most times I end up using the stock metal pieces off the GM columns as they seem to fit better.
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