replacing the rag joint with a U-joint (sline counts)

[ajbirken]

Hey folks. I am wondering what the spline counts are on the 4WD box, 2WD box, and steering column.

I want to lose the rag joint on my 71 jimmy and would ideally just like to buy an entire borgeson collapsing shaft like this

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

The problem is that I eventually plan on going to crossover steering and will be switching to a 2WD box and don't want a 200 shafting!

Any info is appreciated.

thanks,

adam

[2wdBlazer]

3/4 inch 36 spline x 3/4 inch DD. All shafts.

Just buy the u-joint unless it's for show. Stock shaft will collapse for fitment.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=borgeson

[2wdBlazer]

My experince was on the steering column side only. Someone replied in my thread saying the box side is 30 spline.

[Yukon Jack]

I'm adding a u-joint down where the rag joint was on my 69 K20 and it is 3/4" with 30 spline. This is a mid 70's power steering box but Borgeson said the 67-72's 4wd and the newer 4wd box like the one I'm using all were the same. I didn't ask him about 2wd boxes.

[orange72blazer]

I replaced the rag joint with a ujoint at the steering box on my 72 blazer, the spline size on the steering box is 13/16 30 spline. Here is a website that has sizes listed http://www.flamingriver.com/p_view_i..._Tech_Tips.gif

[makovai]

I investigated this heavily bout 2 months ago and i got so much conterversy about whether we have 3/4 or 13/16 that i finally came to the conclusion you need to take it apart and measure. It's the only way to be sure. Also from the info i got i would look at the damperner as well.

[ajbirken]

Thanks for all of the replies and info.

I will probably measure and count before I drop the dough on the joint.

I agree that just the joint seems like the best way to go.

Any more experiences and actual measurements would be interesting since there is such difference between what people have found.

thanks,

adam

[2wdBlazer]

3/4 and 13/16 are near identical in size. Im sure a 13/16 would work as it is a hair larger and tight bolts would hold it on. The shaft is positivly 3/4 the whole length of the shaft, end to end. Just get your spline sides correct and order away. I would spring for a vibration dampner.

[2wdBlazer]

BTW 3/4 = 12/16 if you see what I mean.

[RunTMCfan]

I'm sure hoping everyone got what you mean. Ya never know though. Some people don't know that 1/8th is also .125.

[ajbirken]

Originally Posted by orange72blazer

I replaced the rag joint with a ujoint at the steering box on my 72 blazer, the spline size on the steering box is 13/16 30 spline. Here is a website that has sizes listed http://www.flamingriver.com/p_view_i..._Tech_Tips.gif

It's interesting that you said you used 30 spline, but the site you referred to says 36 (77 and older right?)

[orange72blazer]

Originally Posted by ajbirken

It's interesting that you said you used 30 spline, but the site you referred to says 36 (77 and older right?)

Sorry, i used a 36 spline. For some reason I had 30 spline stuck in my head.

[vtblazer]

I used a Borgeson when I switched over to a ram assist set up, had to change the lower joint in order to fit the new box that came with the PSC kit.

[69TowRig]

With all this talk of u-joints I guess I need to go inspect mine and see if it is shot yet. 37 years? How many people are killing these things?

[ajbirken]

Originally Posted by 69TowRig

With all this talk of u-joints I guess I need to go inspect mine and see if it is shot yet. 37 years? How many people are killing these things?

Hey,

I am in raleigh as well. Big ass ugly orange 71 jimmy on 35's, camo CUCV on 36's, various full-size jeeps (waggy, J10, J20), 91 cummins W250, and last but not least black ford festiva (pimp mobile). I never know what I will drive on any given day.



I have a body lift on the Jimmy that stresses the rag-joint. They last a pretty long time if your stock, but it only costs like 3 dollars and five minutes to replace the rag joint.

[2wdBlazer]

Body lift = mandatory

[Yukon Jack]

Originally Posted by 2wdBlazer

Body lift = mandatory

That's what I figured out on my K20 with it's body lift. Killed the rag joint. I was backing out of a drive when it ripped and I lost steering. Glad it didn't happen when I was moving at more speed!

[ajbirken]

I pulled the shaft today and both the steering column and steering box were 3/4" with 36 splines.

I think that I am going to just go ahead and buy a whole new shaft since the bell joint on the column side is kinda beat and I would need to buy a new intermediate shaft to replace the one with the rag joint coupler.

Thanks for all of the replies.

[Yukon Jack]

I installed my new steering box u-joint yesterday and mine is definitely 3/4 by 30 spline. It is pretty difficult to count the splines on the steering box. If you count the rag joint splines I think there are half the splines present so that will tell you if it is 30 or 36. You might want to double check before you order your parts. Again, my power steering box is from about a 78 4x4 but when I called Borgeson they said the Chevy power steering boxes of our era and the 1973 to at least 1978 should all be 3/4 by 30 spline.

[Baketown Scotty]

ajbirken - please post pictures of both ends when you do this.

[2wdBlazer]

just pull the shaft.....flip it around and see if it will slide on backwards. If it fits the are the same. If not well there ya go.

[ajbirken]

Originally Posted by 2wdBlazer

just pull the shaft.....flip it around and see if it will slide on backwards. If it fits the are the same. If not well there ya go.

Good idea. It appears that the steering box side is a hair bigger (likely 13/16 rather than the previously stated 3/4). They both appear to be 36 spline though. I'll take some pics later.

Yukon Jack, based on the site in the link above your 78 steering box should be 30 spline not 36 so maybe it makes sense.

I guess that it is possible/likely that these 35+ year old trucks have had the steering boxes replaced before which means that all bets are off on "stock".

[Yukon Jack]

Here is a pic of the u-joint at the steering box



and a pic of it at the steering column - the steering column is not secured yet so ignore the block of wood that has the column wedged in place



The telescopic shaft ended up being about 11 1/2" long but I'm using a van tilt column.