new to site; beginner at working on truck - have a 68 f150 and the steering shaft coupler is just gone. how do i remove what's left of it and replace?

thanks

 

do u mean the round rubber piece some folks call a "rag joint"? if thats what u mean napa has a replacement kit for like $9 i think. u just have to sorta get two wrenches in there and undo the bolts holding it in. its a pain if there rusted i broke one when i changed mine. i also had to loosen the steering column so i could move it 2" or so up to get it in and out. the kit has replacement bolts that are easier to work with. good luck

 

They sell the rag joint in the "HELP!" section at Autozone and Advance Auto Parts.

 

rebocardo you're right. But I've read threads here where those cheapo HELP! rag joints don't last. They're $8 so if the NAPA part is $9 then that's probably a better deal.

 

i'm not saying they don't have it, but i the one i found at the "help!" section in autozone was too small. they only had one size, maybe differerent stores have more. napa had two sizes, one says its for fords and is a little bigger and is the one i needed. i see npd catalog has the whole coupling available as well

 

got the coupler off... it's not easy! now it looks like a flange is bent and broken andthe parts house doesn't know what i'mtalking aobut. any help??

 

Tim, Go back, take the part with you and ask to speak to a manager. Ford trucks used them for many years, somebody may have renamed them for the computer but they are available.

Maybe ask for one for a 79, see what happens, as far as I know they are all the same.

John

 

haven't figured out how to get the flange off. it doesn't screw off and i can't kknock it off. it's probably original.. most everything else has been..

 

Keep in mind that the flexible part of the "rag joint" is fastened at the bottom and top.
The top part is bolted to the bottom of the steering column, which has a wide bent flange with 2 large openings or slots. There are 2 bolts with nuts in the flanges. Removing them will allow the the coupling to drop free of the steering column.

The bottom part of the rag joint is fastened to a metal coupler. This coupler is held onto the steering gearbox with a "banjo" bolt which has an unusual sized multi-pointed head. I have never found the correct size socket to use, but an 11mm 12-pt socket works great.
This banjo bolt goes through the coupler, and sits in a cutout on the steering gearbox input shaft. Remove this bolt to remove the coupler from the gearbox.

The rag joint is held onto the metal coupler by two specialty threaded bolts. These are extra tall shafts, which stand up between the slots of the flange on the steering column. They are an emergency backup, so that if the rag joint tears off completely, the tall shafts will allow the flanges to turn the steering coupler. The emergency steering will be very sloppy, but it will work.

Finally, there is or should be a thin copper connector between the tall shaft bolts and the smaller rag joint bolts. This is an electrical connection, which allows the horn to ground out through the steering column. If you destroy it or remove it, you will have no horn. (But, you can always use a piece of wire to replace it. Ask me how I know!)

Hope this helps!