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Any tips for removing half of a stuck rag joint? I've taken all the bolts off but it won't come off of the steering box! I've tried Kroil, and hitting it with a punch and a hammer. I don't want to damage the box at all.
On a side note, the steering box cleaned up really well and Cast Blast is great.
Any tips for removing half of a stuck rag joint? I've taken all the bolts off but it won't come off of the steering box! I've tried Kroil, and hitting it with a punch and a hammer. I don't want to damage the box at all.
On a side note, the steering box cleaned up really well and Cast Blast is great.
Thanks.
iirc the spline is in two parts, maybe you've moved it halfway and inadvertently turned it slightly before engaging the second set of splines?
Put a scribe mark on the joint and on the shaft before you seperate.
Use a hammer and a thin flat chisel to to drive in the slot and spread open the joint splines about 1/16"
Tap the joint off the splined shaft and clean the joint and shaft splines well/use grease to reinstall.
Grind a blunt piece of steel slightly thicker than the gap (file the tip of the steel at an angle) to drive in there and lightly spread it open. It doesn't need to open much..barely (because It's cast steel). And then try to back it off. You might try a 2-jaw puller with a small nut fit into the shaft area (if the puller-screw is tapered...like most of them are).
BTW ....Don't add any heat (you could take the temper out of the shaft) ...and I wouldn't recommend a pickle fork unless absolutely necessary. It'll just flat-spot the bearings. Try a puller first. That ought to do it. You can buy a cheap one at HF. Orr get one of THESE front end kits...they have nice pullers in them.
What's the status of the steering box? Are you going to have it rebuilt? If it's an old box I personally wouldn't put it back in unless it were recently inspected/redone.
The amount of heat needed to help the oil be drawn into the joint should not come close to removing the temper of the steel. If you want oil to be drawn into the corroded joint the heat needs to be applied directly to the part itself and you don't even need a gas torch. A good hot air gun will do the same job without any flames. If you get the part so hot that the parts start to change color, then you have likely ruined the parts and removed the temper of the steel.
Steering boxes can be rebuilt but like other important parts be sure to find the best person to do it for you. I had mine rebuilt by Van Steel back in the 1990's. It was not much better so I went with a SteeroidsPower Rack and Pinion system and it is great.
I'm 95% sure Autozone and OReilly both rent out (for free) a 'front end service kit. You could rent that and use the pullers to remove the joint. Just put a 5/16" nut or whatever fits best on the shaft if the puller screw doesn't match up well. Those long pullers are pretty robust.
Stuck rag joint?
