Steering coupler or Rag joint

[motornut]

I replaced mine last fall
when i ordered the part at first it seemed there was only one used
Dorman 31011
this puts my steering wheel out 180 or upside down
called and ordered the 31015.....wrong size

called dorman was told "they have never heard of this upside down before"
asked at a GM dealer "someone may have changed something"
before i turn my wheel around,is this normal?

[ghettoluxury]

When I swamped columns on my 79 it did the same thing. My solution was to drill out the plastic from the two holes on the steering shaft and pull the shaft apart. Once this was done I flipped the shaft over and reinstalled it.

[Gibson]

I ran into this exact same problem. I happened to have discovered earlier during an ignition switch replacement that the PO had actually swapped the original '78 column for a '77 and I assumed that is what caused it. All I did was center the wheels, take the bottom of the column off the streering gearbox, and slid it up so the steering column could turn freely. Then I the centered the steering wheel and pushed the column back on the box. Took a couple of tries to get it centered correctly.
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[motornut]

Originally Posted by Gibson

I ran into this exact same problem. I happened to have discovered earlier during an ignition switch replacement that the PO had actually swapped the original '78 column for a '77 and I assumed that is what caused it. All I did was center the wheels, take the bottom of the column off the streering gearbox, and slid it up so the steering column could turn freely. Then I the centered the steering wheel and pushed the column back on the box. Took a couple of tries to get it centered correctly.
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mine won't turn like that it's keyed

[Gibson]

If it is the same as mine, it is only keyed on the side that connects the coupler to the shaft: the other side of the coupler (the part that connects to the gearbox) just slips onto the splined shaft of the gearbox. In that first pic you have there you can see a big fat nut on the left side of the coupler right next to where it connects to the gearbox. I just loosened that, banged the crap out of the shaft to break loose the rust, slid it off and turned the wheel. So basically, the WHOLE joint is still connected to the shaft (the new shiny bit you just put on and the ugly old rust side too); you rotate the whole assembly and then join it back to the gearbox.

[motornut]

my gearbox is keyd with a flat side that only fits one way
and then are the two different sized bolts
thought i took more pics...nope

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Forgive my ignorance but what exactly is the rag joint for and why would it be a good idea to replace it?
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[mongoose]

it allows for flex between the steering shaft and box.. a really really low tech u joint really.

they become worn out and loose..

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by mongoose

it allows for flex between the steering shaft and box.. a really really low tech u joint really.

they become worn out and loose..

Sounds like a useless vibration damper. I think I will try and remove the rubber and make myself a solid aluminum one on my lathe. Should kill some of my slop huh?
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[mongoose]

do you have actual slop? tighten up your box too.

[motornut]

It sure helped to make mine feel better
driving along you could sorta wiggle the wheel left to right
looking under the hood the box didn't turn till the "pin " touched
the new one dosn't touch,i'd leave it rubber alumi don't flex
gee guess I could say don't 86 the rubber !lol

[str8axle55]

You can also swap in the steering shaft out of a Jeep Cherokee, XJ shaft swap. These have U-joints at both ends, and pretty much bolt in.

[Zylone]

Did ya figure this one out? I just swapped mine out, same exact part number and all. Had to flip my steering wheel upside down to get it back together. Now, it is pulling to the right some. Ugh.

[motornut]

No it's still upside down ,but drives fine,
I'm living with it, cause I' m going tilt, deal with it then
Only prob is I get caught flashing sometimes lol
Havn't seen any complaints , so I duno what ,but see if the tilt fix , fixes it
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[Zylone]

Yeah, mine seems to work fine.. I have a tilt column stock too.. same problem as you! I tried tearing apart the old joint to just put a new pad in it. No such luck so far.

[joe231]

Does your colapsable shaft unbolt from the column up by the firewall?
If so you can unbolt it there and spin the wheel 180 then bolt it back together.
It should fit either way...
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[motornut]

Originally Posted by joe231

Does your colapsable shaft unbolt from the column up by the firewall?
If so you can unbolt it there and spin the wheel 180 then bolt it back together.
It should fit either way...
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thanks gona check that out

[Zylone]

Joe, you are my hero! I went and took a look, and sure enough there was a bolt! It took some serious tugging to get it off, and putting back on, but my steering wheel is back to normal! No modifications to the backwards rag joint needed!

[joe231]

Glad I could help
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

You guys think that the rag joint I necessary? I know they are a cheap kind of u-joint/ vibration dampner. It seems lik the column to the box is very straight. I may pull the rubber part on mine and mill a aluminum donut for a replacement
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[Desert1957]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

You guys think that the rag joint I necessary? I know they are a cheap kind of u-joint/ vibration dampner. It seems lik the column to the box is very straight. I may pull the rubber part on mine and mill a aluminum donut for a replacement
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Just a note, I have an 87 tilt column in my Street Rod with a "Flamming River" Double D coupler instead of the factory Rag-Joint. You will notice ALOT more vibration in the wheel. I don't care its a HotRod , But in my truck I wouldn't like it.
Desert

[Your41Plague12]

I would definitely keep the rubber. It allows for a little bit of flex when needed, where aluminum won't.

[undr8ed]

Does the J**P steering shaft work for these trucks? I know it made a DEFINITE difference in my GN... And it's a LOT less espensive versus making your own (have one with pto outputs on another rig...)

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by undr8ed

Does the J**P steering shaft work for these trucks? I know it made a DEFINITE difference in my GN... And it's a LOT less espensive versus making your own (have one with pto outputs on another rig...)

You mean the XJ Cherokee column? Yes it fits. It cleans up a lot of slop.

[SCOTI]

I found this thread while researching options so I'm dusting this one off....


I lost the rag joint on my Dually Sunday night. It was only a few years old as I replaced it when I re-did the suspension on the truck. Now, it failed under extreme circumstances as I needed to straighten the front wheels but couldn't start the truck @ the time. I tugged on the wheel, the wheels straightened some but I needed a little more. Tugged on it again & snap. Rag joint coupler rubber ripped apart.

I put it back together w/another replacement piece but it leaves me lacking confidence in a 'worst-case' scenario. I looked into the Cherokee set-ups but I'm not doing the wrecking yard crawl for 20+ year old wearable parts. I looked up replacement stuff but online local auto parts don't break the models down into Cherokee XJ etc etc etc..... The replacement part that pops up on Oreillys doesn't seem to match my set-up either (3/4-30 spline X 3/4 DD).

Anyone found newer/better options that also work??