I'm rebuilding my steering system in my car. Could anyone who has installed the rag joint eliminator describe the differences it made in their car's steering? I've heard that in some cases it cause a point of binding in the steering. Anyone experience this?
Thanks in advance!

 

Some experience a slight binding... If you think about how that steering shaft works, and what the eliminator is doing, its quite easy to see where the bind is coming from.

I have no issues with a rag joint... I really wanted to eliminate mine...but for me the only option was upgrading to a two u-joint steering shaft. Thats the way to do it if you want it to be me 100% smooth. The amount of work to get the astro van shaft to fit was more than I was willing to do at the time, so I just replaced the joint. And the flaming river shafts are too expensive in my opinion.

Maybe I dont push my car hard enough to notice any ill effects from having the rag in there... Have you looked into the astro van upgrade at all?? Ide like to maybe do that this next time around on my new car...

J.

 

I've not looked into the Astro van upgrade. I'm just looking to tighten up my steering without ill effects such as binding. It's really bothersome on highways/interstate. From a performance standpoint, it's fine. I'm not concerned with improving the steering performance-wise.
I'll be replacing my steering box and what ever else in the steering system that needs replaced. Did you notice an improvement with the new rag joint?

 

I just installed the Unbalanced Engineering Rag Joint Eliminator this past weekend.

Steering did tighten up some and steering response feels "snappier". Only downside so far is I now get a slight "clunk" in the column while turning full left or right.

 

Gah, thats enough for me to stick with a rag joint. New of course. Thanks for the heads up!

 

As with all these cars, you WILL notice a vast improvement by replacing worn out parts. You might not notice the rag joint as much, unless its falling apart. But, if you arent looking to road race the car, I see no need in an eliminator. I would just replace it with a new piece that will last another 20+ years.

Dont forget to look at your other steering parts though. I didnt really do any upgrades to my steering. I just replaced EVERYTHING. Every part down to the ball joints. And the difference was absolutely amazing. My car handled great before (ws6), but wow. The new parts made it so much better.

Each part by itself might not be worn very much. But a teeny tiny bit of slop here, and some there....will start to add up.

But anyway... Ide just replace the rag joint if I were you. Or do the astro van upgrade. But a new joint will suit ya just fine.

J.

 

Yep, I get the same clunking sound after installing the RJE. I'll probably go back to a new rag joint when I replace my steering box in the next month.

 

Thanks for all the info guys.
I've already replaced my tie rod ends, ball joints, and will be doing my A-Arm bushings with the WS6 steering box and new rag joint. I don't think I need the center-link or the other pieces. I check them and grease them with every oil change. I'm glad I'm doing all this myself. The labor for replacing A-arm bushings, steering box, rag joint, rear sway bar swap, and replacing the throttle vavle/valve cable....ouch.

 

I would check the condition of the centerlink and make sure it's within spec for play. I know on both my Fbodies, the centerlink was always the first thing to go and I also grease it everytime I do an oil change.

 

Dont forget to check out those strut mounts... I suggest a set of solid/bearing type. Like the ones from Spohn. He makes them for dropped cars, and I think for standard height cars...but in any case, if you ask him he MIGHT make them however tall you want. My mounts were BAD when I took them out.

If you replaced everything else...no reason to let the centerlink out of it... Spend alittle more and get it completely refreshed.

For those of you that are reading this and are thinking about replacing all of their front steering components... You should definitely check out the package that Spohn has. Everything you need in one package, with a couple upgrades to the stock stuff like solid adjusters.

J.

 

I'll probably go aheand and get the center-link and just do it when I do the rest. I already replaced the tie rods and ball joints in the past as they wore out, or I would have gotten the Spohn kit.
I already have the J&M strut mounts. They went on with my KONIs.

 

So does the binding with this kit happen while turning or when going straight ahead? I don't think I've noticed any binding with it, but after I put in my quick ratio steering box (rebuilt, AC/Delco) I don't like how "light" my steering feel is, at high speeds it is hard to drive with one hand. I've been wondering if this was somehow caused by the RJE and I've been thinking about buying reproduction i-shaft off eBay.

 

haha... It happens while turning the wheel... How would the steering bind while going straight???
If you are having issues driving the car down the road with a lighter box, Ide be checking the alignment out. If the toe is incorrect it can cause the car to be very touchy and unstable feeling while trying to cruise straight. The steering on my 87 was light..too light for me, but I had no trouble driving with one hand. And that was a rebuilt box.

91_5.7_TPI: Sounds like you will be pretty good to go then. You replaced all the major components, and should definetly be on the track for better handling. Next step is to make sure the rear components are in good shape. THe rear of the car has to follow the front of the car. SO if there is slop or issues in the back, it can make the whole car feel unsettled during certain driving. Less to go bad back there...but its just worth checking over since you are going through the front so throughly... why stop there. Domino effect in full swing! haha

Oh...and by the way. I friggin love your camaro man. That thing looks great. The black and white combo does it for me. Put together a decent LS1 powerplant, and then you'll probably have one of my favorite 3rd gen camaros that I've seen.

J.

 

Thanks for the compliments. I really appreciate it. What wheels are on yours? ZR1s or 4th gen Trans Ams?
Take a look at my sig. I've already done the rear suspension too lol. Just now getting around to the steering. Guess it's a little backwards, but hey.
After I finish this and graduate from college, I'm planning a LS1/T56 with a STS/boost cam.

 

To be completely honest, i don't remember any binding or clunks only a twitchy very responsive steering. Which i can see that being annoying for a daily driver. I drove the car probably 2-3 months with the rag joint eliminator. The car has not moved by its own power since last august though hopefully it'll be moving on its own power in the next 3 weeks. So its been awhile since i've driven it. Ive upgrade a few other things with my suspension since then so ill post back how it feels.

 

My wheels are just 17" WS6 wheels off a 4th gen. They looked way better than I thought they would. I basically got them because I was running LS1 brakes and a 4th gen 12 bolt. So the 4th gen wheels elminated spacers in the rear, and any fitment issues with the brakes up front.

You will LOVE the LS1 swap... You wont regret it at all! Its getting more affordable as time passes too. Youre car will be totally bad friggin *** if you do the motor/trans swap.

J.

 

I just installed an Unbalanced engineering RJE in my car and I had severe binding issues, I called UE and they told me that the tolerances on our cars was not the greatest. The problem is that the steering gear box and the column don't line up. I spent a few days adjusting the box with hardened washers and the column with the built in adjustment. Its still not perfect but the binding is gone however the box input shaft seal is now leaking. As far as benifits go, I don't know, but I will be autoXing this weekend so we will see.

 

Yeah, I've decided at some point I'm going to get the new aftermarket i-shaft off eBay. I still don't like the way my car steers and I think this rag joint eliminator is part of the problem.