I have to rebuilt my steering box and now am giving thought to the rag joint. First, what does the rag joint do? Why isn't it solid like a u-joint?

Anyway, have a good replacement? Someone in another post mentioned Sumit. However they didn't list Corvette. The year is 1969.

 

The rag joint is made of rubber and absorbs any small vibration transmitted through the steering column before it reaches the steering wheel.

Russ

 

Hi, the rag joint serves two purposes, it compensates for any slight misalignment between the steering box and the steering column and it is supposed to act as a damper between the two to prevent vibration transmitting up the column. Seems the second function is minor as I don't recall anyone mentioning a problem with vibration when they have fitted a Borgeson conversion steering box which uses a solid universal joint.
There are rebuild kits for the rag joint but a lot of them are deficient in at least two areas that I can see.
1. The bolts are not the same as the originals which have shoulders on them which prevents them being over tightened.
2. The rubber jointing is not the same and also doesn't incorporate the mesh of the original that was there to allow an electrical connection between the chassis and horn circuit.
Some of the kits include a strap to make this connection.
You can dismantle the original joint and replace the rubber joint with one from the kit and reuse the original bolts at least that is what I did, rather than use a strap I found some stainless steel mesh that I bonded to the rubber material. I also fitted new pins by grinding off the part that is riveted over and punching the old ones out. You have to be careful fitting the replacements and if not sure how to get someone who can as the pins are a safety device!
All of this is based on my limited experience rebuilding my joint others may have better advice.

 

It also has a metallic component that allows current to pass. Necessary for the horn to work.
There are a lot of threads that deal with the rag joint. General opinion is most rebuilds aren't safe. Many use U-joints instead. Do a search on "rag joint" (here in C3 and in C2) and you'll have plenty to read.

Pete

 

The was one of my questions from reading other posts. Some mention u-joint replacements. Where can they be found. Any good sources for replacment?

 

Click on the vendor "Willcox" found on the left side of the screen along with other good vendors.....his site has replacement parts and repair info/videos.

 

Pretty sure I bought mine from Corvette America or ZIP. I only purchased the rag joint that had one side of the pieces necessary. I think they call it the lower half or coupler with flange, but it saves a little money. You just use half of your previous parts and bolt them to the new joint. It's really pretty simple, but I did struggle for quite a while since I swapped my box without removing any other parts and it makes for an awful tight fit.