Great steering
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From: Hattiesburg MS
Great steering
I have been fretting over the slop in my steering on my 77. It was very unstable at speeds above 50MPH. New or rebuilt gearboxes are very expensive, figured I was going to have to spend over $500 to get good steering again. I got real lucky and a $7.95 new rag joint has got it working great. It was a PITA to break the flanges free after not moving in 28 years!
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From: Hattiesburg MS
Originally Posted by CrossedFlags77
Where did you get the rag joint at? And were there signs that your rag joint was bad or did you just replace it to see if it would help?
Steering had slop in it and I thought it was the gear box. After reading an article off the net on checking the gear box slack I had my wife turn the wheel back and forth while I watched the gearbox shaft. I noticed the rag joint didn't move until it was so compressed it couldn't help but move. What a cheap fix with great results. Now there is no slop at all! BTW, if you change it I suggest you take the flanges off and check them real well for wear. Let me know if you want info on how I finally figured out how to get the flanges off without dropping the gear box.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,427
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From: Boxford Mass
Did you loosen your steering column? That's the only way I thought it could done. Keep your eye on the rag joint for awhile and check for wear. The aftermarket pieces tend to break apart if they arent aligned properly. The GM replacements have little red guides to help you align it during installation.
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From: Hattiesburg MS
Originally Posted by Jack71
Did you loosen your steering column? That's the only way I thought it could done. Keep your eye on the rag joint for awhile and check for wear. The aftermarket pieces tend to break apart if they arent aligned properly. The GM replacements have little red guides to help you align it during installation.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Allen TX
Thats what I thought. Too bad for me, I had someone move my steering wheel around and the two shafts move together but the arm connected to the steering box doesnt move until the steering wheel has turned a couple of inches. Looks like my problem is the steering box. Thanks.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,135
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From: Connecticut, USA
I would like to caution you on the use of those rag joint replacement kits. The quality of some of them is questionable. You can still buy the GM joint which is much better part. It does cost about $60 but worth it.
Gary
Gary
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: I can walk to MA
I have read (Jim Shea) that the aftermarket kits are dangerous,
since they rely on the bolt/nut squeezing against the rag joint
to stay tight. Ultimately, they loosen up and can fall out.
But, it sounds from your post that the kit came with SHOULDER bolts.
This way, the nut tightens against the shoulder of the bolt -
not the thickness of the rag.
Good luck and keep an eye on it.
Jack, you don't HAVE to loosen the steering column.
No, you could drop the steering box instead.
I'm not sure which is worse.
since they rely on the bolt/nut squeezing against the rag joint
to stay tight. Ultimately, they loosen up and can fall out.
But, it sounds from your post that the kit came with SHOULDER bolts.
This way, the nut tightens against the shoulder of the bolt -
not the thickness of the rag.
Good luck and keep an eye on it.
Jack, you don't HAVE to loosen the steering column.
No, you could drop the steering box instead.
I'm not sure which is worse.
Last edited by NHvette; Feb 1, 2005 at 05:20 PM.
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From: Hattiesburg MS
Crossedflags77 - Try adjusting the lash in the gear box. There are two adjustments and it sounds like yours has lash in the pittman arm shaft.
NHvette - Yep, the nuts tighten against the shoulders. I also used about half a bottle of red loc-tite!
NHvette - Yep, the nuts tighten against the shoulders. I also used about half a bottle of red loc-tite!
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From: Hattiesburg MS
Originally Posted by CrossedFlags77
How do I adjust the lash for the pitman arm shaft? All I see is the adjustment on the top of the box. Thanks!
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/GearAd...-Rev21FE04.doc
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,135
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From: Connecticut, USA
Be sure if you adjust the box it is centered or you'll wreck for sure. It's more accurate to bench adjust the lash but you have to first adjust the bearing preload, hard to dial it in on the car.
Gary
Gary