Power Steering - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GlennBrittain · 11-29-2004, 10:47 PM

This may be old news , if not maybe this will save some the problem I had. I replaced the power steering gear box on my 69 C10 with a rebuilt unit from my local NAPA parts store. Of course I took the old one in for exchange. After I bolted up the new one, I discovered my steering shaft coupler would not fit my new gear box shaft.
I purchased a 68 thru 76 gear box, this one has a 13/16" shaft, I discoverd my coupler was for a 77 thru 86 power steering gear box which is a 3/4" shaft. The 1/16" does not sound like much until I tried to install a 3/4" coupler on a 13/16" shaft. Both boxs bolt up to the frame the same. My son installed the power steering, when he was using the truck. He went to a wrecking yard for the power steering gear box, it came with the coupler still bolted on the gear box. The coupler is interchangeable on the steering shaft but not on the box shaft. This is according to the NAPA dealer, I will go to exchange the gear box in the morning, and verify the sizes.

stickshift_or_walk · 11-30-2004, 11:46 AM

Thanks, Glenn.

I learned that same bit of info a different way last week, changing the '69 from manual to power steering. I didn't know that the coupler/rag joint was smaller on the manual boxes than on the power box, but I do now.

BTW, I later dug around in the old posts and found that the information was here, I just hadn't run across it. I'm still glad the search is back!

Apparently the complete coupler is not a parts-store item, either. Since I don't have the old PS box to rob, I guess I'm stuck with the GM dealer or salvage yard.

Unless someone else knows a source or has an extra PS coupler/rag joint laying around...

SSOW

stickshift_or_walk · 12-13-2004, 03:40 PM

TTT on this one, still looking.

I know I've read where someone here got a PS rag joint from a dealership, but I've talked with several, and even the one with the old books showed the part as discontinued (if they looked up the right one).

Does anyone have a GM part number ('69, C10, 2WD, PS) that they have used?

If I have to go to the boneyard for one, what years will work?

Thanks...SSOW

longhorn71 · 12-13-2004, 08:59 PM

i put an 84 steering box on my 72 and the rag joint was the same,bolted in.

4x4Poet · 12-14-2004, 01:31 AM

LMC Truck (CB.38, page 130) and GMC Pauls sell steering couplers that match the originals. They are not just the rag joint. They include the splined couplings They're properly sized for shafts and have correct spline counts with respect to PS, non-PS, etc.

I bought one each from both vendors for my K10. Near exact copies of my stock unit. Both were the same part that's made in Taiwan. I'm sure other 67-72 truck parts vendors sell them, as well. Hopefully, made in USA.

GlennBrittain · 12-14-2004, 10:01 PM

If you go the bone yard route 77 to 86 has a 3/4" output shaft, 68 to 76 has a 13/16" output shaft. Any one of these years will bolt up, and the other side the rag joint is the same on all years for the power units. I do not know if the manual rag joint is the same on the steering column side of the rag joint.

stickshift_or_walk · 12-18-2004, 11:22 AM

Thanks, guys, and Glenn, that was the info I needed.

Found a '75 K20 donor. Rag joint, $5. Rebuild kit at O'Reilly's, $8.

I like the cheap solutions, especially if they're factory.

SSOW

11-29-2004, 10:47 PM	#1
GlennBrittain Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Panola County Texas Posts: 401	Power Steering This may be old news , if not maybe this will save some the problem I had. I replaced the power steering gear box on my 69 C10 with a rebuilt unit from my local NAPA parts store. Of course I took the old one in for exchange. After I bolted up the new one, I discovered my steering shaft coupler would not fit my new gear box shaft. I purchased a 68 thru 76 gear box, this one has a 13/16" shaft, I discoverd my coupler was for a 77 thru 86 power steering gear box which is a 3/4" shaft. The 1/16" does not sound like much until I tried to install a 3/4" coupler on a 13/16" shaft. Both boxs bolt up to the frame the same. My son installed the power steering, when he was using the truck. He went to a wrecking yard for the power steering gear box, it came with the coupler still bolted on the gear box. The coupler is interchangeable on the steering shaft but not on the box shaft. This is according to the NAPA dealer, I will go to exchange the gear box in the morning, and verify the sizes.

11-30-2004, 11:46 AM	#2
stickshift_or_walk Left Foot Functioning Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duncan, OK Posts: 350	Thanks, Glenn. I learned that same bit of info a different way last week, changing the '69 from manual to power steering. I didn't know that the coupler/rag joint was smaller on the manual boxes than on the power box, but I do now. BTW, I later dug around in the old posts and found that the information was here, I just hadn't run across it. I'm still glad the search is back! Apparently the complete coupler is not a parts-store item, either. Since I don't have the old PS box to rob, I guess I'm stuck with the GM dealer or salvage yard. Unless someone else knows a source or has an extra PS coupler/rag joint laying around... SSOW __________________ 69 C10 (#1 son's ride) 72 C20 (Dad's farm truck) 82 K30 (Ex - brush pumper project)

12-13-2004, 03:40 PM	#3
stickshift_or_walk Left Foot Functioning Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duncan, OK Posts: 350	Rag Joint / Steering Coupler TTT on this one, still looking. I know I've read where someone here got a PS rag joint from a dealership, but I've talked with several, and even the one with the old books showed the part as discontinued (if they looked up the right one). Does anyone have a GM part number ('69, C10, 2WD, PS) that they have used? If I have to go to the boneyard for one, what years will work? Thanks...SSOW __________________ 69 C10 (#1 son's ride) 72 C20 (Dad's farm truck) 82 K30 (Ex - brush pumper project)

12-14-2004, 01:31 AM	#5
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	LMC Truck (CB.38, page 130) and GMC Pauls sell steering couplers that match the originals. They are not just the rag joint. They include the splined couplings They're properly sized for shafts and have correct spline counts with respect to PS, non-PS, etc. I bought one each from both vendors for my K10. Near exact copies of my stock unit. Both were the same part that's made in Taiwan. I'm sure other 67-72 truck parts vendors sell them, as well. Hopefully, made in USA. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup. Last edited by 4x4Poet; 12-14-2004 at 01:34 AM.

12-18-2004, 11:22 AM	#7
stickshift_or_walk Left Foot Functioning Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duncan, OK Posts: 350	Thanks, guys, and Glenn, that was the info I needed. Found a '75 K20 donor. Rag joint, $5. Rebuild kit at O'Reilly's, $8. I like the cheap solutions, especially if they're factory. SSOW __________________ 69 C10 (#1 son's ride) 72 C20 (Dad's farm truck) 82 K30 (Ex - brush pumper project)

12-13-2004, 08:59 PM	#4
longhorn71 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: CANADA Posts: 1,681	i put an 84 steering box on my 72 and the rag joint was the same,bolted in.

12-14-2004, 10:01 PM	#6
GlennBrittain Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Panola County Texas Posts: 401	If you go the bone yard route 77 to 86 has a 3/4" output shaft, 68 to 76 has a 13/16" output shaft. Any one of these years will bolt up, and the other side the rag joint is the same on all years for the power units. I do not know if the manual rag joint is the same on the steering column side of the rag joint.



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