Jim,
I'm about to have Gary R. blueprint the steering box on my 69 Vette and, while I'm at it, I'd like to replace some leaky power steering components. I was hoping you could help me find some quality parts such as the lines, valve, & cylinder. I'm also wondering where the best place would be for getting a quality rag joint. If you'd rather not discuss vendors here, would you please PM me with your recommendations? Thanks.

 

I'm pretty sure that everything you listed can be purchased from the usual Corvette parts vendors - Ecklers, Willcox, etc.

 

You're absolutely right. I'm just trying to find out if the PS components are all made offshore or if there's a good source for American made. I'm pretty sure I know the answer but I figure Jim may be able to point me in the right direction. The rag joints are a different story. Quality on many of those is pretty poor and the NOS pieces are very expensive. Some good info on a quality piece that doesn't cost $200-300 would be nice. Thanks for posting.

 

replace the rag joint with a borgeson joint?

 

I'm sorry, I just don't have first hand information as to particular vendors and quality. There are a very limited number of companies that can rebuild and remanufacture such things as control valves and steering gears. Usually I would try to purchase parts from suppliers that do the actual work themselves if possible.

I am most familiar with flexible coupling assemblies since I was the supervisor of that product line back in the 1970s. The rubber and cotton laminated disc was very high quality when made to the Saginaw OEM specs. The ones I see in rebuilding kits are warped and rarely are as "stiff" as the OEM parts. By "stiff" I mean torsionally stiff so you would have a good firm road feel. Also the "kits" never seem to have replacement shoulder bolts that provide a secure metal-to-metal connection of the coupling assembly to the flange on the lower end of the steering column.

To make matters worse, when some of the GM service parts began to be available without a ground screen, wire, or brass strap (and therefore the parts did not provide electrical continuity from one side of the coupling assembly to the other for the horn ground) Chevrolet's response to the loss of function in the service part --- just cancel it altogether. Why listen to the complaints and try to figure out a solution to the problem.

So you are really faced with trying to find a rapidly dwindling supply of original Saginaw manufactured flexible coupling assemblies. I wish that things were better.

Years ago there was a dictate from General Motors that Corvettes and certain Cadillac models would have service parts available much longer than the typical service life (10 years?). But I'm afraid all that went out the window with the GM bankruptsy.
Jim

 

Les,

I initially replaced all of my power steering components with parts from Advance Auto and they all leaked. Bought and installed three pumps before they finally gave me one that functioned correctly. I gave up on the control valve and returned it. Bought one from duntov motor company in Texas and it worked great; they rebuild them in house.

Don’t know if you have a early or late ’69 (flat milled edge), but the best source for couplings with the metal screen for ground and correctly machined is Corvette America.

My orginal coupling and CA part # 30029, if you have the flat milled edge this is the one you want:


No flat milled edge, CA part # 30028:



Forum member twinpack recently purchased 30028 and confirmed it had the metal screen embedded in the rubber. His thread here: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...rag-joint.html

Neither 30028 nor 20029 are being shipped with the correct shoulder bolts, reuse your original shoulder bolts.

Steve

 

Thanks Jim, that's great info and unfortunately it's consistent with what Gary told me. I just wanted to verify it through you if possible before moving forward and was hoping you could point me to a good source for the rag joint. I appreciate your time.
Steve,
My Vette is a very early 69. You've provided me with the specific type of info I was hoping for. Given the limitations of what's available at this point, I now have a direction and can begin the project. Much appreciated!