Hello all!

Hope this message finds you all well and enjoying the weekend!

The steering on my 1974 has become increasingly loose and I am wondering if any one has any advice on how to tighten it back up - there is a lot of play in the steering wheel and I know the power steering has been leaking for sometime now - but I have always made sure it has fluid in it... I feel like it has more to do with the linkage up front - any advice on what to look for/where to start?

Thanks so much!

 

start by having the tie rod ends, center link, and idler arm checked for play. In addition check for excessive play in the steering box and rag joint and steering control valve.

 

Any good advice for going about this procedure - any good ways to check these components for play?

Thanks!

 

It's hard to describe what to look at and how much slack is acceptable over the internet.
Go to 2 alignment shops and post back and see if both want to change the same parts or are they just selling you parts.

 

Thanks for the replies!

 

I replaced the Rag Joint on my 74 and that helped a lot.

 

did replacing the rag joint re center the steering wheel?

 

Havent had time to yet - will let you know! thanks!

 

Here are some videos:

Checking Ball Joints. It is important to note that you must jack up the lower control arm to do this check.
http://s413.photobucket.com/user/my7...314c9.mp4.html

Tie Rod Ends
http://s413.photobucket.com/user/my7...2be90.mp4.html

Idler arm
http://s413.photobucket.com/user/my7...073b8.mp4.html

I didn't have a video of the steering coupler (AKA Rag Joint) but here is a picture. The steering shaft is on the right and the steering gear (box) is on the left. When you turn the steering shaft the steering gear shaft should turn immediately. Any play in the rag joint means it needs to be replaced.
http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/p...psa176069c.jpg

 

Great vids! Hopefully I will have some time this weekend to investigate the issue further... with the rag joint - can I see play in those?

 

Yep. Just turn the steering shaft while looking at the rag joint. It's really easy to spot.

 

Hope I'm not alone but I'd like to know what is the exact purpose of coupling a steering shaft to steering gear box with a semi flexible connection - aka 'Rag Joint'? I can think of one or two likely reasons but defer to those in here that have a more technically detailed explanation. I don't use the word precise in describing the steering feel or accuracy in my '75. Almost every component in the steering and front and rear suspension of the car has been re built with new parts - except the rag joint.
RB

 

I think it is to compensate for very minor differences in the alignment of the steering column to the input shaft of the steering gear.

 

The rag joint also provides some damping of vibration coming from the steering system, providing some isolation for the steering wheel.
Freddie B

 

Some of the reasons that a flexible coupling was used to connect the steering column to the steering gear:
1. There is a slight angle (3 to 5 degrees) between the steering column and the steering gear. The rubber disc is able to compensate.
2. The rubber disc absorbs some road shocks.
3. The Corvette disc is known as a "7 ply" disc and is quite rigid, providing good road feel.
4. The rubber disc prevents annoying hydraulic power steering noise from transfering up the steering column and into the driver compartment. Most power steering systems (but not Corvette) use a softer "4 ply" disc to provide this hydraulic noise isolation.
5. The rubber disc allows (absorbs) some vehicle body motion relative to the rigid frame. Also allows for some minor "settling" of the body and body mounts to frame.
6. Allows for some minor misalignment of the steering column to the steering gear. (Please refer to the following generic Corvette Mandatory Steering Column Alignment Procedure.)

7. The flexible coupling assembly should provide a means for the horn grounding electrical current to pass from the steering column shaft down to the steering gear input shaft.
a. OEM flexible coupling assemblies manufactured at Saginaw Steering Gear before 1972 had a brass ground strap or a wire that electrically connected adjacent quadrants of the flex cplg assembly. (The wire or strap is very difficult to see with the flex coupling assembly installed in the vehicle.)
b. OEM assemblies and most service assemblies (1972 and later) had rubber discs with metal screen mesh molded into one side of the rubber disc to provide this horn ground electrical path. (You can easily poke your finger on the edge of the rubber disc where the sharp ends of the metal screen mesh stick out.)

There might be some other functions but these are the first that come to mind.
Jim

 

Thanks Jim. I didn't know about #1, assumed #2 but had no clue about numbers 3 and 4. I did know item numbers 5 - 7. Looks like I'll be buying a '7 ply rag joint'. Any warnings on installing it? Looks like it's going to be a pain in the butt to install.
RB

 

In order to remove and replace the flexible coupling assembly you are going to have to gain additional clearance between the steering column shaft and the steering gear input shaft. You have to do one of two procedures.
1. Drop and pull back the steering column by about 6 inches or so. After removing/replacing the flex coupling assembly, you will have to make sure that you reinstall the steering column such that it is aligned correctly to the steering gear. Note the Column Assembly Procedure from the AIM pictured above.
2. Or you can remove the steering gear mounting bolts and tip the gear so that you gain clearance to remove the flex coupling assembly. As I recall, you only remove three of the bolts and then tip the gear as it rotates about the one remaining loose bolt. Since the gear does not have a tolerance as it bolts to the frame, you will not have to worry about its alignment to the steering column when you button things back up.
3. DO NOT even think about prying on the steering column flange in order to gain that extra one or two inches needed to remove the flex coupling assembly. What you will do is collapse the steering column shaft back up into the steering column. Trust me! The steering shaft is MUCH, MUCH more difficult to extend back to its original length.

Jim

 

Looking over the driver side fender and down at the rag joint I peered right right and then left. Not much of a contest - left won . Steering box is a snap to move. Anything that intentionally or unintentionally ends up in the passenger compartment such as a steering column from the engine compartment is always a PITA
I wonder how they make those rag joints so inexpensively
RB