I just receved a new rag joint form Chip Woyner at Power Steering Services. The joint is near identical to a used one that I have, but does not have the ground wire with the brass leads.

Is this wire required, and what will be compromised if I don't have it? I looked at removing the old one, but it is fastened under one of the permanent studs in the assembly, and there would be no way to attach it to the new unit.

I repaired mine with a kit from napa.Put everything back the way it was with that brass thing in between the joint and that brass strap. Now my horn doesnt work. It must make a ground connection for the horn because of the rag between the joint. Mine is attached to the bolt on either side of the joint. I'll get you a pic later.

It's very likely your horn won't work if you don't include that ground wire/strap. The horn button grounds the circuit causing the horn to sound. It gets it's ground through the column shaft and since the rag joint doesn't provide metal to metal to ground the shaft to the frame, without the wire/strap the circuit won't be completed.

Dan if its like the one I got from Chip it should have a wire mesh built into the rag joint. My horn works fine without having the wire like my original did. So I would think your good to go plus Chips only a phone call away if you would like to confirm.

Wow, I don't have, nor have I ever seen this ground strap.

And guess what, my horn dosen't work.

Anybody have a photo?

Dan if its like the one I got from Chip it should have a wire mesh built into the rag joint. My horn works fine without having the wire like my original did. So I would think your good to go plus Chips only a phone call away if you would like to confirm.

Bill is correct Dan. The newer style GM rag joints have wire mesh built into the soft part of the rag joint. This completes the ground circuit. Just check ground continuity at the steering shaft at the steering wheel end. It should show a good ground, without the ground wire

Wow, I don't have, nor have I ever seen this ground strap.

And guess what, my horn dosen't work.

Anybody have a photo?:clonk::D
John I thought you liked to yell out your windows, LOL

Here is a pic.

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll182/rocks66ss/P6260004.jpg



Rocky

I learn something every single day on here.

Thanks for the pic.

Not a real good pic, but you can see the strap.

Appreciate all the responses, fellas. Love this site!

Is this correct on a 70? I have never seen this.

Yes it is correct for a 70. Looks a little different tho. Black wire with a ring terminal. I don't think you can see it without taking it apart.

Is this correct on a 70? I have never seen this.Those pictures look like they are on older cars than a 69-72?
My original rag joint did not have that type of ground strap in it. Mine had a insulated wire looped on the inside of the joint.

I second that. Mine had the insulated wire also. When I replaced mine, it didn't have a ground strap and I never noticed a wire mesh. My horns work fine.

The picture I posted came off a 66. Bottom line is you need a ground from one side to the other. Be a brass piece, or a piece of wire with ring terminals on it.



Rocky

There might be another alternative to a grounding wire or strap that is part of the flexible coupling assembly. It is true that the grounding current travels down the steering column steering shaft. But there can be alternate ground paths rather than just down through the flexible coupling and out through the steering gear into the frame.

It is possible that the ground path could be through the steering shaft to the upper column bearing. As long as your steering column bearing housing is a die casting and not plastic, the path could be down through the casting into the column jacket and into the dash or floor of the car. It could be that paint, corrosion, etc could be preventing those alternate paths from effectively passing current to ground. You could try connecting various parts of the steering column to known grounded metal part(s) under the dash. Then try the horn with various ground points and paths. It could be that just a cheap jumper wire from steering column to an underdash ground could work.

Jim