Steering Question
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 96
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From: west tennessee
Steering Question
i am in need of a steering part but dont know what it is called. i was wanting to find a NEW part online but dont know what to search for.It is the part that(some kind of coupling?)connects steering column to gear box.Mine is stripped so i lost control going down the road but saved it.Any help would be appreciated.
1) what is it ?
2) know where to find it online?
1) what is it ?
2) know where to find it online?
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,613
Likes: 6
From: Coal country
Welcome, Randy to FTE! This is a great club to get good information, so we hope you will stay around.
To answer your question, it is called a rag joint for slang, and properly called a steering coupler. Most know it by rag joint, though.
You can get one at AutoZone, Advance Auto, Napa, and many others. Be sure to get the right one. Rag joints for all cars look real similar - but do not necessarily interchange. Look in the "Help!" section of Autozone first.
One kit will have just the coupler itself. With this one, you will need to re-attach it to your existing metal coupler, with the special bolts, as well as make sure the electrical connector is still there and hooked up for your horn. It is the cheapest one.
The other part usually sold is the complete coupler, metal and soft part together. This is an easy bolt on replacement, and although more expensive, I have found it to be worth the money.
Finally, you need to check why it failed. My '66 still has the original rag joint in it, so age is not necessarily a factor. The most common cause comes from the cab settling down too low. The steering column is supposed to be in a straight line with the gearbox. If the cab mounts have rusted out, the cab will settle, and cause a kink in the steering linkage. It will bend at the weakest point - the rag joint. So, you may need to fix something else to prevent the new one from failing too.
Again, Welcome, and good luck!
To answer your question, it is called a rag joint for slang, and properly called a steering coupler. Most know it by rag joint, though.
You can get one at AutoZone, Advance Auto, Napa, and many others. Be sure to get the right one. Rag joints for all cars look real similar - but do not necessarily interchange. Look in the "Help!" section of Autozone first.
One kit will have just the coupler itself. With this one, you will need to re-attach it to your existing metal coupler, with the special bolts, as well as make sure the electrical connector is still there and hooked up for your horn. It is the cheapest one.
The other part usually sold is the complete coupler, metal and soft part together. This is an easy bolt on replacement, and although more expensive, I have found it to be worth the money.
Finally, you need to check why it failed. My '66 still has the original rag joint in it, so age is not necessarily a factor. The most common cause comes from the cab settling down too low. The steering column is supposed to be in a straight line with the gearbox. If the cab mounts have rusted out, the cab will settle, and cause a kink in the steering linkage. It will bend at the weakest point - the rag joint. So, you may need to fix something else to prevent the new one from failing too.
Again, Welcome, and good luck!
Thank You
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