steering coupler aka rag joint

[cigar-]

Ok....time to put the truck back together with the new correct steering gear.. Got that. Got the power steering pump rebuilt too so its all nice and clean so as to not contaminate the new steering gear.

Sine the old steering gear was off of a later model Chevy truck and had a smaller input shaft than the correct steering gear, I need a new coupler (aka rag joint). I bought one from LMC and its not the right size. Made in Taiwan! Should I have expected anything but the wrong fit? Called and got a full credit as all of their stock is the same.

Called NAPA (no auto parts available) and they do't go back that far; called O'Reilly and they only carry rebuild kits; called Brothers Trucks in SoCal and they don't carry it.

Where have any of you guys gone for this part? Please help!! I hate to think I will wind up duct taping the steering shaft to the gear just so I can drive my truck.....

[michael bustamante]

whats the steering gear out of?

[EARNHARDT#3]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

whats the steering gear out of?

Yeah, whatever year the gear is from that's the rag joint you need.

[cigar-]

my truck is a 1971 C 10

[EARNHARDT#3]

Originally Posted by cigar-

my truck is a 1971 C 10

Irrelevant. What year is the box? For example: I put a box from a '78 in my '67....the rag joint I needed was a '78, not a '67.

[70CHEVYBB]

advance lists both rag joints with the small shaft and large shaft

[kcsa75]

I ran into the same problem when I replaced my steering gear a couple years ago. After multiple trips to various parts stores with no luck, I went to LMC and they had a new steering gear with the rag joint assembly included and already attached. I returned the steering gear that I bought at O'Reilly. Problem solved.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by cigar-

Ok....time to put the truck back together with the new correct steering gear.. Got that. Got the power steering pump rebuilt too so its all nice and clean so as to not contaminate the new steering gear.

Sine the old steering gear was off of a later model Chevy truck and had a smaller input shaft than the correct steering gear, I need a new coupler (aka rag joint). I bought one from LMC and its not the right size. Made in Taiwan! Should I have expected anything but the wrong fit? Called and got a full credit as all of their stock is the same.

Called NAPA (no auto parts available) and they do't go back that far; called O'Reilly and they only carry rebuild kits; called Brothers Trucks in SoCal and they don't carry it.

Where have any of you guys gone for this part? Please help!! I hate to think I will wind up duct taping the steering shaft to the gear just so I can drive my truck.....

The NAPA guys are full of crap. They just don't want to take the time to look it up. Here is the NAPA part number "Part Number: NOE 6301446" Fits at least '73-'79

LockDoc

[cigar-]

Ok....I didn't want to type out a huge portion of my previous post/problem but here goes....

I had a later model (73-87) steering gear in my truck that took o rings on the high pressure side hose. I bought a newly built steering gear that is year and size correct for the 71 truck. The difference between the two gear boxes is the size of the input shaft. The 67-72 is a 3/4" x 36 (?) spline rag joint. The 73-87 rag joint is a smaller metric size.

Yes, I bought the rag joint from LMC but when I got it and TRIED to fit I on the input shaft it wouldn't go. I measured the diameters and the Chinese made part is almost .040 inches too small. Being that the clamp is cast metal (iron) I don't think I can open it op with a pliers and I'm surely not going to heat it with a torch.

So I thought I'd turn to this forum in hopes that someone has rebuilt a truck and had to buy a new rag joint. So far I guess not. Everyone either has used their old one or rebuilt their old one.

Does anyone have an old one they want to get rid of??? :cuss

[EARNHARDT#3]

It takes a Lares 201

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...200&cc=1029899

[cigar-]

I'm going to buy one and see if it fits. If it does, I'm sending you a gift card !!!!

[EARNHARDT#3]

Originally Posted by cigar-

I'm going to buy one and see if it fits. If it does, I'm sending you a gift card !!!!

I'm confident it's the correct one. Gift cards are awesome!

[cdowns]

Me i'd go into the local autoparts store with your handy dandy measuring devise and go to the help section to get what you need

[68 P.O.S.]

Eckler's has it as well.

[EARNHARDT#3]

Originally Posted by cigar-

I'm going to buy one and see if it fits. If it does, I'm sending you a gift card !!!!

Where's my gift card? LMAO

[cigar-]

The steering coupler fits but......

......it doesn't have the flutes around the inside of the fitting so it doesn't grip the input shaft of the steering gear properly and slips. Still happy to mail you a gift card for the effort. I've posted a thread for anyone that might be selling a complete steering coupler off an truck that I can buy and rebuild.

[cigar-]

Just checked the Eckler's site. Will count the splines on the steering gear in the morning and buy one from them. Forward me your names and addresses in a private message and gift cards are on the way within a few days. That's a promise!