55.2-59 cpp 400 rag joint

[dsraven]

a rag joint absorbs vibration that can come up through the steering shaft. not required, just icing on the cake so to speak. power steering pumps can transfer some vibration as well as the road. some guys confuse a rag joint's purpose with a u joints purpose. a u joint is capable of changing the angle between 2 shafts, up to approx 7 degrees, without changing the speed of the shaft (if used in pairs) and not causing a binding in the joints. a rag joint is not made to absorb any angle change, or very slight angle change. if you se a rag joint in place of a u joint it will wear out prematurely and the rubber that connects the 2 parts will seperate. not a safe scenario. some u joints are advertised to have a larger angle change