Anybody in the Hou area ever change out the steering shaft ragjoint on a thirdgen?

Determined mine is the biggest culpret of the slop in my steering --done a search on the tech board and been reading about it, but anybody that has actually done it, might be able to answer a couple questions.

 

I replaced minme about 6 years ago, but at hte time you could order the whole shaft for about $30.00 from Chevy. So I did that.

I still had a buch of slop though. It turned out that the frame was cracked under the steering gear box. Nothing a bunch of welding couldn't fix.

 

I've done mine, ask away!

ESC: I changed mine to get rid of slop in the steering too but it also had cracked the frame around the steering box.

 

hmmm......2 with cracked frames....maybe I should look closer at mine?

I have determined there is play be tween the shaft right where it comes out of the firewall to the rag joint by holding one and moving the other one.

The questions I had, based on the "search" i did on the thirdgen tech board......there seems to NOT be a "replacement" rag joint U can just go get and swap it out. I've read of after market replacement shaft with solid u-joints or using a universal joint made by "Help--#31008"

I guess what I want to know is what part did U use--source and were U able to just replace the rag joint , and was it a fairly easy job, or did U have to pull steering column of what?

 

If you want to replace the rag joint with another equal part , I would start by removing the intermediate shaft. It attchaches to the gear box with a bolt and splines. The other end just uses a bolt. It is collapsable so once it is loose, collapse it and it will fall come off.

Then you will have to grind/drill off the rivets that hold the origional rag joint and bolt in a new one.

I have never replaced just the rag joint (only the whole shaft), but I'm pretty sure this is how it would go.

If you find a source for REAL u-joints let me know. I would much rather have a solid link than a rag joint.


BTW, our cars ALWAYS crack under the gear box.

 

http://www.unbalancedengineering.com/
the one listed is for a 4th gen-- not sure if it will work on 3rd

http://www.borgeson.com/steeringcolumns.htm

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...steering+shaft

First 2 are web sites I pulled from thirdgen search/threas--3rd is a thread dealing with this that I found while doing search. Haven't read thru all this yet--will when I have time. Like I have always said --there is way more info here on the thirdgen tech boards than U could ever possibly use--this is a good example! Just gotta sift thru it and find what U need.

 

http://www.colemanracing.com/catalog...hp?cPath=2_114

Another one

 

After reading some of those, it sounds to me like it's time to go hit a junk yard and stock up on Astro Van and 3rd-gen intermediate seering shafts.

Then we can start to experiment!

Anyone have any favorite J.Y's with lots of 3rd gens? or on the S.W. side?

Hey Craig you want to go?

 

Yes I WANNA go but my 2 artifical hips and screwed up back don't like places like that--especially now that I don't have any of the good (yes/docter's LEGAL prescription) pain pills I used to get.

One of those threads had post /thread about a guy who made one up from 3 different sources and gave exact parts list etc.

Also, the thread about a guy (and maybe the fourth gen replacement--first web site in above post) who replaced the ragjoint with a solid piece of round steel- sounda like it might be the easiest.

For that matter, since I don't care whether it's solid or not, the Help #31008 or 31002 (just the rag itself) may the best way for me to go.

 

If U are really serious about a solid shaft, I can call my buddies that build and race roundy round cars (late model asphalt--nascar type cars/chassis), as well as the guy who builds SCCA cars from the ground up, and see what they use.

 

I did mine the same way ESC described. A drill press comes in handy getting those hardened rivets out of there. I used the HELP kit from o'reillys. I took my old one up there to make sure I got the right size because I think they have two different sizes. I think the one you need is the smaller one but I am not positive, it has been awhile since I've done mine.

 

 

What if we go find a junk yard and get several samples from various cars to play with. We can then put the help part in one for you, Craig, and if we screw it up your car will still be driveable.

I'll play with the others and see what I can make for my car.

If you don't feel like going to a J.Y. Craig, I'll just go by myself, but let me know if you want me to pick up an f-body core for you.

 

Let's talk about it Sunday. I can go to the JY, just not much good at getting around and crawling in and out of cars and stuff.

The more I read about the subjuct, I am inclined to go with the HELP replacement universal rag on both ends of the intermediate shaft.

 

Just a little ? - Isn't the rag joint the collapsible joint in the steering column that prevents the column from spearing you in an accident?

Would it be a good idea to replace it with a solid shaft?

Just wondering if I was thinking of the correct part & if the possible implications of making it a solid part has come up to anyone?

 

I would keep the collapsable center section of the shaft, just replace the rag joints with u-joints. So the safety should not be effected much.

 

Ah, ok... was just wondering if I was thinking of the right part or not.. good luck!