bert6781

There is play in my rag joint (steering coupling) where it is riveted to the adapter that is attached to the steering column shaft. Is the fix as simple as removing the adapter, drilling out the existing rivets and install a new rag joint (rubber coupling) with nuts, bolts lock washer and red lock tight? Any insight would be helpful and greatly appreciated.
thanks, Bert.

65 vette dude

I had my original rag joint rebuilt by Corvette Steering. Beautiful work, and fast turn around. I think the cost was 125 dollars. Beware of those cheap rebuild kits from China, they are junk.

365GTB4

You could just press the rivets tighter. A big hammer, punch and anvil come to mind. The question is who's rag joint is it. Is it a stock one with the big rivets and the little bent metal spacers or some thing made up with washers.

bert6781

it is one with big rivets and little bent metal spacers/tabs. I'm not concerned with originality or visual correctness as soon I will be installing a LS3 with 5 speed. Just looking to "tighten" the steering.

6T5RUSH

bert6781,

Just got a headsup via an e-mail from Long Island Corvette Supply (LICS) featuring this particular part.

Here's a link to their online catalog. believe the complete coupler including the rag joints is $125.00. Check it out here:

http://www.licorvette.com/steering__...s_corvette.htm

Good luck!

Jim
In God We Trust!

365GTB4

The reason I bring this up is I had a failure with the after market ones with washers. The fabric simply tore out. The washers do not distribute the load like the formed metal pieces. I was lucky as we just moving the car in the shop. I put the old rag joint, back on.

If the fabric is good, I would just tighten the rivets. Make sure the column is secured at both the lower clamp and the upper u-bolt and the pins and joint clamps are tight. Also pre-load the spring at the base of the column so you can't pull the column out of the rag joint pins.

bert6781

Thanks for all the input on my rag joint problem. For the time being, I went to NAPA Auto Parts and bought a replacement rag joint kit, drilled out the old rivets and bolted the new one in using the existing original metal tabs. So far so good.

gman1001

Ive searched and searched and can't find contact info for this vendor. Anyone?

66jack

Probably out of business..this thread is 3 years old...

gman1001

Anyone know of a solid rebuilder of these joints?

66jack

Buy a new one, not cheap...from one if the Vendors..Corvette Central, doc rebuild, Zip, GM parts direct...

JohnZ

He died about two years ago. LICS has new reproduction rag joints that look pretty good.