Rag Joint
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Rag Joint
Ever since replacing the rag joint, My steering wheel is off center. I moved the wheel and now my left turn signal does not lock on. I have re installed the rag joint several times along with the wheel. The car has been aligned and the wheel is straight, however, there seems to be more play in the steering and the turn signal is still not working properly. Is there a way to get everything lined up properly?
Thanks for any help,
Rob
Thanks for any help,
Rob
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Here's a link to the Jim Shea papers on the rag joint. Might help you or he will chime in.
Gary
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?page_id=4
Gary
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?page_id=4
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Never never move the wheel with respect to the steering column- or your turn signals will not work properly.
The steering box has to be centered also with respect to the column or you'll always have excessive play while going straight.
Undo the two adjustments you've made and then adjust road wheel toe-in to center the steering wheel if required.
The steering box has to be centered also with respect to the column or you'll always have excessive play while going straight.
Undo the two adjustments you've made and then adjust road wheel toe-in to center the steering wheel if required.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Here is a link to my paper on steering system centering in pdf format. It is a bit long but it will take you step by step through all the steering components and get them centered like they were designed.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...ev28jl2009.pdf
Jim
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...ev28jl2009.pdf
Jim
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Do as Jim suggests. Your steering system is not centered properly; either your steering column, steering box, and/or rag joint are not installed properly OR your wheel alignment is not correct. You need to verify that the components are installed and aligned correctly before taking it to an alignment shop for final setting.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Steve,
Are you sure about that? I uncovered the incorrectly machined flexible coupling flanges in May 0f 2007 (2 1/2 YEARS AGO). At the time I wrote to many of the companies that sell them indicating the problem. I never received any replies that said that the problem was fixed. I just assumed that it was fixed.
Jim
Are you sure about that? I uncovered the incorrectly machined flexible coupling flanges in May 0f 2007 (2 1/2 YEARS AGO). At the time I wrote to many of the companies that sell them indicating the problem. I never received any replies that said that the problem was fixed. I just assumed that it was fixed.
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,039
Likes: 668
From: FL
Steve,
Are you sure about that? I uncovered the incorrectly machined flexible coupling flanges in May 0f 2007 (2 1/2 YEARS AGO). At the time I wrote to many of the companies that sell them indicating the problem. I never received any replies that said that the problem was fixed. I just assumed that it was fixed.
Jim
Are you sure about that? I uncovered the incorrectly machined flexible coupling flanges in May 0f 2007 (2 1/2 YEARS AGO). At the time I wrote to many of the companies that sell them indicating the problem. I never received any replies that said that the problem was fixed. I just assumed that it was fixed.
Jim
I got an incorrect coupling from Zip back in April 2007. Documented it with photos. Never got a satisfactory reply from them either but did get my money back. All the photos in catalogs and on-line still show the bad ones.
Not only was the flat 180 out but they also did not have the right shouldered bolts. I just got a good one from GM.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Rag Joint
You guys are awesome. I centered the wheel on the shaft as per instructions. The flat on the joint on the steering gear is on the wrong side. Also, this turns the upper end of the joint so the clamping bolt is on the wrong side . Does this matter if the flats on the gear and the input shaft are both facing up at 12 o'clock? Can I leave this alone and continue with alignment? I assume if the wheel is 180 degrees out, the flats will not line up.
Thanks again,
Rob
Thanks again,
Rob
Last edited by endoman; Nov 16, 2009 at 11:41 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
You can get around the problem by exchanging the 5/16 and 3/8 bolts in the flexible coupling. This will get the orientation correct so that the steering wheel (and cancelling cam) now will be centered correctly.
With the gear exactly on center the pinch bolt that attaches the flexible coupling to the gear shaft will not be NCRS correct. It will be vertical, inboard, and the head will be pointing down. It should be vertical, outboard, and the 12 point head pointing straight up as you look over the fender.
The flat on the gear input shaft and the notch on the steering shaft that attaches to the detachable flange on the column should both be at 12 o'clock when everything is on center. (The chisel mark on the upper steering shaft that attaches to the steering wheel hub will also be at 12 o'clock.)
Jim
With the gear exactly on center the pinch bolt that attaches the flexible coupling to the gear shaft will not be NCRS correct. It will be vertical, inboard, and the head will be pointing down. It should be vertical, outboard, and the 12 point head pointing straight up as you look over the fender.
The flat on the gear input shaft and the notch on the steering shaft that attaches to the detachable flange on the column should both be at 12 o'clock when everything is on center. (The chisel mark on the upper steering shaft that attaches to the steering wheel hub will also be at 12 o'clock.)
Jim
Last edited by Jim Shea; Nov 17, 2009 at 07:05 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Good info about the 'backwards' replacement part...I didn't know about that, but will file that away for future [possible] reference. I just restored the original rag joint when detailing the engine bay.
