92-Formula

iTrader: (4)

So I've had a long history of just annoying steering issues. I've rebuilt the whole front end - except for the steering gear, rag joint, and steering shaft.

I've always had awful dead play in the center - so i adjusted the steering box according to some guide i read here. KIND OF helped, but after a while i developed a notch / pop in the steering.

After investigating a bit, This is what i've found. It almost seems like the pop is originating from here, not the rag joint:




And here is a link to a video of it kind of clicking (need quicktime, right click-> save as):

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/721726/Steering_shaft.mov

92-Formula

iTrader: (4)

Right now im trying to debate what really needs to be replaced here. Is it the whole steering gear/box? Just the rag joint (Will part #31008 work)?, The whole shaft assembly?

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

Thats the u-joint. Id be willing to be that it got contaminated when the boot rotted out, and now its real loose. A new or repaired intermediate shaft is in order. You can get new rag joints at the autoparts stores.

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

I just saw the vid, that thing is loose and sloppy as hell. Dont drive it anymore until you fix it. Theres a possibility that the u-joint can come apart, and leave you without steering.

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

Also, the likely cause of the problems is the headers. They cook the boot to a crisp, and then it comes apart and allows the grease to exit, and dirt to come in. Wrap the primaries next to it, or shield it from heat somehow when you install a new one.

92-Formula

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for the information.

I removed the shaft and the top U-joint was definitely toast. Lots of slop. I was researching the whole astro van/cherokee option, but i found a guy on ebay who sells new stock units and just ended up going that route. Didn't want to deal with a used unit, and then having to modify it to work.