Anyone Replace Their Steering Coupler?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Anyone Replace Their Steering Coupler?
I took mine off of the steering gear box tonight and drilled the rivets out. I have a coupler from Autozone with about 4 or 5 different size bolts ready to go. Just wanted some advice before, if anyone has done this chime in and let me know.
Thanks ahead of time.
Thanks ahead of time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Re: Anyone Replace Their Steering Coupler? (Eddie 96)
Let me get this straight. You have it out, and you plan to replace just
the flexible rag portion, while re-using the ends ? HUH - I just replaced
the whole thing - bolt on. The HARDEST part was getting the damn thing off.
OK - I think I see now, that you want to replace the rivets with something
from the selection of bolts that you have. I would be very worried about the
possibility of them loosening. If you must, use a nylon locknut, or double
nut it really good, or mushroom the threads over so the nut can never
come right off, or buy the whole thing for - like $50.
Ok so the rag itself is $11. The ZIP rag joint says it come with all the
hardware. Did yours come with new rivets ? Am I totally wrong about the
bolts replacing the rivets ?
:crazy:
[Modified by Daves_rusty_75, 11:31 PM 9/21/2002]
the flexible rag portion, while re-using the ends ? HUH - I just replaced
the whole thing - bolt on. The HARDEST part was getting the damn thing off.
OK - I think I see now, that you want to replace the rivets with something
from the selection of bolts that you have. I would be very worried about the
possibility of them loosening. If you must, use a nylon locknut, or double
nut it really good, or mushroom the threads over so the nut can never
come right off, or buy the whole thing for - like $50.
Ok so the rag itself is $11. The ZIP rag joint says it come with all the
hardware. Did yours come with new rivets ? Am I totally wrong about the
bolts replacing the rivets ?
:crazy:
[Modified by Daves_rusty_75, 11:31 PM 9/21/2002]
Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 667
Likes: 3
From: College Station TX
Re: Anyone Replace Their Steering Coupler? (Eddie 96)
My Advise : take the Autozone one back - get your money back - then go to any Chevy dealer and order the whole assembly. I did that about 3 months ago - sorry forgot the part number. You'll get the OEM spec unit - it will be complete - and will be MUCH easier to install !!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Anyone Replace Their Steering Coupler? (Eddie 96)
You should never make a bolted connection through rubber. The rivets and bolts that are used in the production GM flexible coupling have shoulders that engage the flange and make a metal to metal connection. You have a tension joint that remains the same regardless if the rubber is there or not! Even when you double-nut or use torque prevailing nuts the rubber will eventually take a set and the connection can become loose.
The GM part number for the flexible coupling is 7818568. It fits all late 1969 through 1982 Vettes. This coupling fits the Corvette gear with a flat on the input shaft.
The GM part number for the earlier flexible coupling is 7806391. This one fits 1968 through early 1969 Vettes. This coupling has a full round serration and fits the early gears with a full round serrated shaft.
They are both available through GM dealers and also some Corvette suppliers.
The GM part number for the flexible coupling is 7818568. It fits all late 1969 through 1982 Vettes. This coupling fits the Corvette gear with a flat on the input shaft.
The GM part number for the earlier flexible coupling is 7806391. This one fits 1968 through early 1969 Vettes. This coupling has a full round serration and fits the early gears with a full round serrated shaft.
They are both available through GM dealers and also some Corvette suppliers.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: Anyone Replace Their Steering Coupler? (Jim Shea)
Thanks guys. I have since given up on using the one I have now and I am gonna order one from my local chevy dealer. I had already opened the one I had from AZ just to make sure everything was the same size and all would fit. Chalk that one up as a learning experience. I`ll let you know how it all turns out when I get it all back together.
[Modified by Eddie 96, 5:05 PM 10/6/2002]
[Modified by Eddie 96, 5:05 PM 10/6/2002]
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
Re: Anyone Replace Their Steering Coupler? (Jim Shea)
I would strongly recommend a factory rag joint also, but from some of the comments above it seems like you guys aren't aware that half of the rag is bolted together from the factory on many if not all Corvette rag joints? There are two rivets holding the rubber to the lower half and the upper bolts to the rubber with 2 bolts with different sized shoulders so it must be bolted in the proper position. This means the RJ can be seperated in the middle and half of it is bolted through rubber.
[Modified by Solidlifters, 1:41 PM 9/23/2002]
[Modified by Solidlifters, 1:41 PM 9/23/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,411
Likes: 0
From: Dandridge TN
Re: Anyone Replace Their Steering Coupler? (Solidlifters)
I would strongly recommend a factory rag joint also, but from some of the comments above it seems like you guys aren't aware that half of the rag is bolted together from the factory on many if not all Corvette rag joints? There are two rivets holding the rubber to the lower half and the upper bolts to the rubber with 2 bolts with different sized shoulders so it must be bolted in the proper position. This means the RJ can be seperated in the middle and half of it is bolted through rubber.
[Modified by Solidlifters, 1:41 PM 9/23/2002]
[Modified by Solidlifters, 1:41 PM 9/23/2002]
That's right!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Anyone Replace Their Steering Coupler? (Steve Adkins)
The rivets have shoulders just like the bolts. So they are all metal to metal connections. They put a controlled amount of squeeze on the rubber disc but the actual connection is metal to metal. You steer through the rubber disc until the steering effort reaches a point where the stop pin rivets hit the edges of the window cut-outs in the column flange.
With power steering, your stop pin rivets almost never touch the column flange.
With manual steering you might have the stop pins hitting the column flange only if you were stopped, with the brakes applied, and static steering. A steering maneuver you rarely perform.
The only time you would have excessive wear on the stop pins is if the steering column is not aligned with the steering gear. There is a Mandatory Installation Procedure in the Corvette AIM book for the steering column installation.
With power steering, your stop pin rivets almost never touch the column flange.
With manual steering you might have the stop pins hitting the column flange only if you were stopped, with the brakes applied, and static steering. A steering maneuver you rarely perform.
The only time you would have excessive wear on the stop pins is if the steering column is not aligned with the steering gear. There is a Mandatory Installation Procedure in the Corvette AIM book for the steering column installation.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: Anyone Replace Their Steering Coupler? (Eddie 96)
Just for everyones information, I bought the coupler at the local chevy dealer for $51. Brought it home and shot it with a coat of clear to inhibit rust. Installed it and no I have steering. Thanks for the part #, it made the whole transaction very easy.
