R A G Joint
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,701
Likes: 1,893
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
R A G Joint
Whats involved with swapping out a rag joint ? mine is looking a bit "RAGGY" easy ? hard ? any thing special to know ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
There is not sufficient room to just remove the flexible coupling. You need to either loosen the steering gear on the frame so that it can be tipped (you do not need to disconnect the relay rod.) Or you can disconnect the steering column and pull it back a couple inches into the driver compartment.
Either procedure will gain you that needed additional distance to disconnect the coupling and remove it.
Jim
Either procedure will gain you that needed additional distance to disconnect the coupling and remove it.
Jim
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,701
Likes: 1,893
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
There is not sufficient room to just remove the flexible coupling. You need to either loosen the steering gear on the frame so that it can be tipped (you do not need to disconnect the relay rod.) Or you can disconnect the steering column and pull it back a couple inches into the driver compartment.
Either procedure will gain you that needed additional distance to disconnect the coupling and remove it.
Jim
Either procedure will gain you that needed additional distance to disconnect the coupling and remove it.
Jim
IS THERE ANYTHING TO LINE UP / MEASURE WHEN REINSTALLING ?
CURIOUS IF THIS WILL THIS TIGHTEN UP THE PLAY A BIT IN THE WHEEL ?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 3,959
From: Connecticut, USA
Use only the GM rag, the rest are junk. Be sure it's flat when you're done otherwise the column was pushed up while you didn't know it. Do a search here or on DC I had a lot of pictures of correctly installed joints.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
I replaced mine with an OEM part. Unbolted the steering column and pulled/yanked it forward to gain the necessary clearance. Use something to support the column so it just doesn't hang when you pull it out. I had a big plastic tacklebox that was just the right height to put between the steering wheel and seat to hold it up. Really not a hard job to do. Soak the coupler bolts and shafts with PB Blaster for a day or two before.
If yours is as bad as mine was, you will notice a big difference in your steering. Significantly less slop. Use an OEM part, costs a little more but well worth it. The aftermarket rag joints are suspect. Some are machined with the flat wrong and your steering wheel winds up being upside down. There are some posts about this on this forum.
If yours is as bad as mine was, you will notice a big difference in your steering. Significantly less slop. Use an OEM part, costs a little more but well worth it. The aftermarket rag joints are suspect. Some are machined with the flat wrong and your steering wheel winds up being upside down. There are some posts about this on this forum.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Looking over your driver side fender, this is what things should look like with your steering gear and steering wheel pointing straight ahead.
If the flat on the gear is not at 12 o'clock. Or the pinch bolt on the flange that attaches to the gear input shaft is not pointing straight up at you. If you have a detachable flange on the end of your steering column shaft, the pinch bolt should be pointing at the engine, passing through the 12 o'clock quadrant on the steering column shaft as shown.
BTW, this picture is accurate for any GM steering system (power steering or manual steering) in the 1960s through 1980s.
Jim
If the flat on the gear is not at 12 o'clock. Or the pinch bolt on the flange that attaches to the gear input shaft is not pointing straight up at you. If you have a detachable flange on the end of your steering column shaft, the pinch bolt should be pointing at the engine, passing through the 12 o'clock quadrant on the steering column shaft as shown.
BTW, this picture is accurate for any GM steering system (power steering or manual steering) in the 1960s through 1980s.
Jim
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,701
Likes: 1,893
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I went to a local chevrolet dealer & the parts guy said the rag joint is still avail from Gm $80.00 / thought it was a discontinued item. Dont want a made in China POS repro..............
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
make sure you get the 68 style part if that's the one you need (most likely). of course, it is different.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 3,959
From: Connecticut, USA
The 67-e69( rd shafts) are still avail. $80 is a good price on that as it lists over $100 now. Be sure you have the correct box on your car- it should be a rd shaft but it could have been changed. The later boxes have a coarse spine and a flat on the the input. You can't interchange the rags, they won't fit.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,701
Likes: 1,893
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
The 67-e69( rd shafts) are still avail. $80 is a good price on that as it lists over $100 now. Be sure you have the correct box on your car- it should be a rd shaft but it could have been changed. The later boxes have a coarse spine and a flat on the the input. You can't interchange the rags, they won't fit.
I WORK FOR CHEVROLET
Just wanted to make certain that when someone said make sure it's NOT aftermarket, that this is infact the correct part & equal to NOS
because there are new GM restoration parts of which some are ok & others that are horrible. Was also told 67-69 are the same
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,429
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From: Macon, GA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Arkansas
