I am installing a new rag joint coupling this week in my 66 big block with manual steering. Can anyone tell me what is involved in this procedure like does the steering wheel and shaft have to be removed ect.

 

Great post! I'm interested too.

 

My 65 has Power steering, but for lack of a response so far, I can tell you my own experience. I have NO idea how applicable this is to manual steering, but if what I describe below looks like it would work for your car, then it was worth typing it up.

The steering column of my car did not need to be removed from the car, but did need to be pulled into the interior a little in order to extract the column shaft from the end of the rag joint.

This meant loosening a bracket at the firewall, as well as the bracket under the instrument cluster.

The rag joint, if I remember correctly, has a 12 point bolt on each end of it, which clamps one end of the joint to either the steering column shaft, or the steering box shaft. Loosen both bolts, withdraw the steering column, then remove the rag joint.

Note that on my 65 the shafts were keyed with a flat spot on one side, which must be properly aligned in order for the 12 point bolt to properly install.

After getting the front wheels pointed straight and your steering wheel aligned normally:
1) Loosen steering column bracket at firewall
2) Loosen steering column bracket under cluster
3) Remove 12 point bolt on column end of rag joint
4) Make a mark on the steering column shaft in order to indicate how far into the rag joint the shaft penetrates (yeah, I know what I just said)
5) Persuade the column shaft to move out of the rag joint and pull the column into the interior a bit
6) Remove the 12 point bolt on steering box end of rag joint
7) Make a mark on the steering box shaft in order to indicate how far into the rag joint the shaft penetrates
8) Remove rag joint assembly
9) Do whatever you plan to do to the rag joint (rebuild it, replace it, have professionally rebuilt, whatever I'm not getting into that debate). Note the rag joint has a metal strap in it in order to provide a continuous ground circuit all the way through the strap

Installation is the reverse, but you need to make sure the keyed shafts go into the rag joint properly, otherwise the 12 point bolts won't clear the shaft.

 

The way I install mine is pretty easy. I don't touch the steering column at all. With the wheels straight ahead and the steering wheel where I want it -
1. Unbolt the two halves of the coupling.
2. Slip the upper portion of the coupling in between the end of the steering shaft and the end of the steering box shaft.
3. Line up the flat on the steering shaft with where the bolt goes through the coupling.
4. Slide the coupling half up the shaft.
5. Slip the lower part of the coupling between the end of the steering shaft and the end of the shaft on the steering box.
6. Align the lower coupling half with the upper half.
7. Loosely bolt them together.
8. Make sure your steering wheel is still straight.
9. Slide the coupling down onto the steering box shaft until you can insert the bolt in the lower half.
10.Put the bolt in the upper half and tighten and torque all the bolts.
Note - make sure the rag joint itself is "flat".
If you need to take out the old one;
Take out all the bolts, slide everything upwards until you can take out the lower half. Slide the upper half down and take it out.

 

I love this forum. I couldn't have asked for a more detailed explanation on how to do this job. Thank you for your response Jeff. Hopefully I will be able to return the favor some day. Just FYI; I bought a new coupling from Zip Products which has the steel interwoven into the rag joint. I can only hope that the grounding strap was installed as well. For the $289 price it should have been. Thanks again for your response.

 

Thanks to all of you guys for all the reasons I already mentioned.

 

Great description. For some reason I was thinking my rag joint was riveted together, and that drove me to move my column.

In any event, Rodman you now have several offerings from which to guide your next move.

 

As I said before this forum is my most valuable tool in my toolbox. Great information! Thanks nassau66427 and Jeff!

 

The steel mesh in the "rag" IS the ground medium between the upper and lower coupling flanges; it replaced the separate copper strap in the early 70's, and in all service replacement joints.

 

You learn something new everyday. Guess I won't be looking for the grounding strap.

 

Anyone know if there is a difference in the rag for manual and power steering cars?