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Looking for replacement rag joint recommendations for a 79 with borgeson box. Which is better rag or ujoint? They have 2 sizes 3/4" 36 spline and a 1" 48 spline. Anyone know what fits a stock 79 steering column? Thanks for any help.
The steering box twists the frame a bit as it moves the wheels. You would be surprised how much. I took a video once and am including a link here to a thread that is mostly about a RideTech reinforcement.
The rag joint allows some compliance with the body which obviously doesn't twist, whereas the ujoint allows for no compliance. So in my thinking, any off axis twist will transfer to the steering column. However others here claim to have installed the ujoint without complication. I stuck with the rag joint. I had a brand new factory rag so why take a chance?
I used a Flaming River FR2512-DD U-joint in my 79. I'll try to post a link tonight. It required modification to work at the Borgeson end. The Corvette steering column end was perfect. Perhaps the Borgeson U-joint is a better fit.
Last edited by Bikespace; Jun 20, 2018 at 12:43 PM.
Borgeson takes a 18MM end and this one has a 3/4", close but not perfect. Looks like I'll need the 1" 48 spline. I've found another post that claims it fits a 79.
You may have to loosen the steering column and pull it back. After collapsing the steering column to get everything to fit with the Borgeson, there was very little room left.
There's another post today about play in the steering that found this rag joint
which seems to hit all the right notes about originality. But here's a comment from another forum member "That looks like sneaky advertising to me. Look close at the pictures. The one with the red chocks looks good- layered material as original, then look at the other one- appears to be solid rubber cutout- big difference and not as strong. So what do you actually get? If the first one you got a deal, if the 2nd then you got the common imported ones."
My Borgeson came with a really sloppy rubbery rag joint. I elected to use the steering box end of their coupler and the original GM steering column side of the coupler along with a NOS rag joint.
Going with the Rag Joint over the U-Joint. I discovered my lower shaft bearing was completely shot so I'm replacing it as well. I've ordered a complete kit from Zip. One failure probably caused the other.
FYI: I had to unbolted the steering column to remove the old rag joint. Some older post recommend unbolting the steering box, but the Borgeson unit is larger than stock and I believe the column is best route.
Thanks for all the help. Any tips on coming install feel free to throw'em at me. Never done this before so any help is great.
Borgeson takes a 18MM end and this one has a 3/4", close but not perfect. Looks like I'll need the 1" 48 spline. I've found another post that claims it fits a 79.
How do you like the U Joints feel?
I wish I'd seen this thread a few months ago! You are correct, 3/4" DD is not a direct fit, which is why I had to burn up some Dremel attachments to open up the hole a bit.
The U-Joint, and the Borgeson box, feel GREAT, for a daily driver. The steering is VERY direct, and I should probably increase the caster a bit. It's on my wifes car, and she is very happy.
Here's the thread. Posts #23 and #24, and thereabouts, show what I did. I see you pulled the steering column already. Good choice! Perhaps pound on the rag joint flange instead of the steering column. I mushroomed the steering column trying to collapse it in the car. I pulled the steering column, then had to fix that, too, with a Dremel. I also ended up replacing the lower column bearing. Never let the column hang from just the firewall bolts. A PO probably did that, you can blame that guy.
Just finishing (I hope) the rag joint battle myself and reinstalling.
I moved the steering column mounted flange (the one that bolts to the rag joint) as far up the column as possible. I then unbolted all three of the bolts that go through the frame and hold the steering box on the frame. That enabled me to rotate the steering box enough to get the rag joint assembly off/out Hope this help.
I then unbolted all three of the bolts that go through the frame and hold the steering box
You must have a stock steering box. I looked at unbolting my Borgeson but it and the headers are way too close and hard to get around. I had the steering column out in 15 minutes.
Borgeson and rag joints.
