Hey All,

I didn't see a section for steering so I'm posting here.

I am coming to the end of a 6 year project car and am attempting to assemble the rag joint to the lower steering shaft to the spline on the steering column. I have a couple of issues that I have uncovered and could use some input.

1) Rag Joint
The original P/S Gear Box was replace with a quick ratio P/S Gear Box. The spline that the rag joint goes on appears to be smaller. I can tighten the bolt as tight as it will go (metal to metal on the collar) and I can pull the rag joint off with my hand. The spline won't even engaged on the collar. Has anyone run into this before? Can you get a rag joint with a different collar ID?

2) Column to Lower Steering Shaft Hook Up
There is a small half moon shape on the spline shaft that sticks out of the lower steering column for the bolt on the Lower Steering Shaft Collar to pass through and lock it into place. It appear that this is to close to the bearing on the lower column. I can't get the bolt in because it doesn't line up the the half moon slot. I have seen post about the steering shaft getting slightly collapsed. Is this correctable? If so how? Has anybody seen a replacement steering shaft?

Thanks for any help that you can offer.

Bill

Hey All,

I didn't see a section for steering so I'm posting here.

I am coming to the end of a 6 year project car and am attempting to assemble the rag joint to the lower steering shaft to the spline on the steering column. I have a couple of issues that I have uncovered and could use some input.

1) Rag Joint
The original P/S Gear Box was replace with a quick ratio P/S Gear Box. The spline that the rag joint goes on appears to be smaller. I can tighten the bolt as tight as it will go (metal to metal on the collar) and I can pull the rag joint off with my hand. The spline won't even engaged on the collar. Has anyone run into this before? Can you get a rag joint with a different collar ID?

2) Column to Lower Steering Shaft Hook Up
There is a small half moon shape on the spline shaft that sticks out of the lower steering column for the bolt on the Lower Steering Shaft Collar to pass through and lock it into place. It appear that this is to close to the bearing on the lower column. I can't get the bolt in because it doesn't line up the the half moon slot. I have seen post about the steering shaft getting slightly collapsed. Is this correctable? If so how? Has anybody seen a replacement steering shaft?

Thanks for any help that you can offer.

Bill

Yes, the spline that the rag joint on a quick ration gear joint is smaller than the original. You can probably order one through Lee Manufacturing. I am switching out my old gear box with a Jeep Grand Cherokee quick ratio box and ordered one from Lee, should be receiving it any day now.

I would recommend that you do a search on steering conversion in the brakes and suspension section here on TC. You should find a lot of informationt there. Jim Shea also has a lot of good information posted about the Jeep Grand Cherokee quick ration conversion on a corvette site.

Here is the address for Lee Manufacturing.

Lee Manufacturing
1661 Pendelton St.
Sun Valley, Ca. 91352
(818) 768-0371 (talk to Tom Lee or his wife)

Useful TC link

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166135&highlight=STEERING+CONVERSION

Bart

The 1969 Chevelle steering column is designed to collapse and absorb energy in a frontal collision. The steering column steering shaft will collapse into the steering column if it receives any kind of a sharp hit on the end. This is a fairly common problem with the GM energy absorbing columns.

The steering shaft is a lot easier to dislodge and press into the column than it is to get it back out. You want to pull the shaft back out with a constant force. Don't pound on it! You may damage the ball bearings inside the column that support the shaft. Unfortunately, I don't have a measurement as to how far out of the column the steering shaft should extend. Possibly you will be able to see corrosion on the original shaft length that will give you an idea as to how much was sticking out. PERHAPS SOMEONE CAN MEASURE THE LENGTH OF STEERING COLUMN SHAFT THAT EXTENDS PAST THE LOWER BEARING ON THEIR CHEVELLE COLUMN AND SUPPLY A DIMENSION.

The steering shaft is perfectly safe even though it has been collapsed. The shaft is manufactured in two pieces that have quite a bit of overlap. The original shafts are held in place by injected plastic that is designed to shear and let the shafts collapse.
Jim

Do a search on the rag joints. You can use a later GM joint to join the new gear to the old column. JimL82 posted the detailed info. If I recall the rag joint from some of the 1977-82 models will work. I used the joint from a 79 olds Omega on my car.

Here's what you need for the rag joint issue.

http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref29.html

Tom

The following vehicles (with power steering) were produced with flexible couplings that will attach to a steering gear with a 3/4 input shaft:

1977 thru 1982 Chevrolet and GMC C/K (2 wheel and 4 wheel drive) Pickup Trucks
1977 and 1978 Camaro, Firebird, and Nova
1979 Nova
1983 thru 1986 Chevrolet and GMC C (2 wheel drive only) Pickup Trucks

I have found a flexible coupling in the GM parts system that will connect to a ¾ input shaft. It is available through GM dealers. It is part number 7826542. It is fairly expensive (around $80 from GMPartsDirect) but it is brand new.

JIML82

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the help.

I finally got the couplings I needed after reading your posts.

I ended up getting rid of the rag joint and going with a universal setup from Flaming River. Two billet nickel plated U-joints (Steering Gear and Steering Column) and a nickel plated shaft costs me $205.00.

Thanks again!

Bill

Hey Bill, not to rain on your parade but I did the same thing with an Aluminum U-Joint on both ends of the intermiediate shaft and the road noise through my steering wheel is driving me crazy. I'm getting the splined Rag Joint from Lee's

Tony

That is one of the main reasons for a flexible coupling in a power steering system. The valves in the recirculating ball power steering gears make a lot of hydraulic noise when you steer the car. The hydraulic noise from the valve can travel straight up the steering shaft and into the driver compartment. The rubber disc in the flexible coupling is a hydraulic noise and road shock isolator. That is why replacing the flexible coupling with a universal joint (in a car with power steering) does not make for a quiet, pleasant drive.

JIML82

Tony,

Good info. I'll have my car running by spring (finishing the engine and trans installation) and I'll be able to take it on it's maiden voyage.

With the info you gave me I won't be scratching my head going "What the heck!" and I know there is a rag joint option out there for me.

Thanks again.

Bill