Steering Coupler (Rag Joint) Replacement - Need advice!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
Steering Coupler (Rag Joint) Replacement - Need advice!
The steering coupler (also called the 'rag joint') on my '69 is shot. I have play in the steering wheel, and am a bit concerned about safety.
I need to get the coupler assembly off. Some of the repair books talk about unbolting the steering column and sliding it out a bit to provide clearance to take the coupler off the spline shafts. An article from Corvette Fever (May 2002) says to remove the steering box instead. Any advice on which is the easier, and preferred, approach? Any other tips? Thanks!
I need to get the coupler assembly off. Some of the repair books talk about unbolting the steering column and sliding it out a bit to provide clearance to take the coupler off the spline shafts. An article from Corvette Fever (May 2002) says to remove the steering box instead. Any advice on which is the easier, and preferred, approach? Any other tips? Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Re: Steering Coupler (Rag Joint) Replacement - Need advice! (DRE69L46)
Either method will work, just choose your poison...you aks 10 guys which method they prefer and you will get a 50-50 split, I've done both, and it really doesn't matter...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Re: Steering Coupler (Rag Joint) Replacement - Need advice! (DRE69L46)
I need to get the coupler assembly off. !
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Steering Coupler (GDaina)
One other thing you should be aware of. In 1969 there was an early steering gear with a full round input shaft. Later 1969 steering gears had an input shaft with a flat machined on one side of the input shaft. The two different gear shafts required that there were two different flexible couplings (one with full round serrations, the other with serrations and a flat).
You need to determine if your gear has a flat or not. (I doubt that you can see the flat with the flex coupling installed.)
The early Vette coupling with the full round serrations is GM #7806391.
The later C3 coupling with serrations and a flat is GM #7818568.
Either flexible coupling can be obtained through any GM dealer.
A coupling with serrations and a flat will NOT assemble to a gear with a full round input shaft.
You need to determine if your gear has a flat or not. (I doubt that you can see the flat with the flex coupling installed.)
The early Vette coupling with the full round serrations is GM #7806391.
The later C3 coupling with serrations and a flat is GM #7818568.
Either flexible coupling can be obtained through any GM dealer.
A coupling with serrations and a flat will NOT assemble to a gear with a full round input shaft.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 153
Likes: 2
Another note on the early cars - I looked high and low to find a GM original replacement and they are hardly available. If you can find one they are big $$$. The only parts place I found the "proper" reproduction for the early coupler was Zip Corvette. It is the one I put on my car and it's legitimately grounded via a copper strap so that the horn will work. However, I would recommend, as Jim does, to pull out your old shouldered bolts and use them in place of the ones that come with the reproduction. Jim's got a really nice paper with a compete overview of replacing these parts, maybe you can get him to send it to you. I can't seem to locate mine.
