rag joints vs. u-joints
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Tucson USA
rag joints vs. u-joints
hi guys:
i need your help yet again.
i'm in the process of trying to figure out how to connect my steering column to the power steering box. it was previously done with a rag joint, but i've switched the column and the angle in which it approaches the power steering box. the rag joint i have will not work, but i could come with one that would work.
i had decided to go with a u-joint until i had read some where that if you don't use a rag joint the power steering wine will drive you nuts. i'm still have the straight axle on a 56 so the power steering unit is right is just in front of the firewall.
so my question(s) are:
is the above statement about the wine a true statement and if it is how does the rag joint stop it? is there another way of eliminating the wine other that a rag joints?
thanks,
rick
i need your help yet again.
i'm in the process of trying to figure out how to connect my steering column to the power steering box. it was previously done with a rag joint, but i've switched the column and the angle in which it approaches the power steering box. the rag joint i have will not work, but i could come with one that would work.
i had decided to go with a u-joint until i had read some where that if you don't use a rag joint the power steering wine will drive you nuts. i'm still have the straight axle on a 56 so the power steering unit is right is just in front of the firewall.
so my question(s) are:
is the above statement about the wine a true statement and if it is how does the rag joint stop it? is there another way of eliminating the wine other that a rag joints?
thanks,
rick
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 296
Likes: 1
From: Red Bluff U.S.A.
rag joints vs. u-joints
First of all what kind of power steering are you using? I'm using the Toyota power steering on my 54 f100 and i'm using the steering joint and no there isn't any whining sound. No Limit makes these steering joints they're heavy duty and won't wear out You need to do the wrench test, use a standard wrench and see which size will fit around the shaft of the column then count the spline then give that info. to No Limit, if you're using the Toyota steering box then you don't have to measure it they will know but if you aren't then measure and count the one on the box too.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Tucson USA
rag joints vs. u-joints
>First of all what kind of power steering are you using?
i'm using a gm 800. the article i was reading was talking about a gm 605 hissing so badly you had to use a rag joint. i would much perfer using a u-joint for a couple of reasons, but i don't want to make a mistake because it will be like flushing 80 bucks down the toliet.
thanks!
i'm using a gm 800. the article i was reading was talking about a gm 605 hissing so badly you had to use a rag joint. i would much perfer using a u-joint for a couple of reasons, but i don't want to make a mistake because it will be like flushing 80 bucks down the toliet.
thanks!
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 296
Likes: 1
From: Red Bluff U.S.A.
rag joints vs. u-joints
As long as you follow these instructions you won't go wrong, i didn't. Use a standard wrench for both the steering box and the shaft on the column, example= I used an 11/16 but that didn't fit around it so i used the next size a 3/4 that went around it but had a little play so 3/4 was it then i counted the spline, mine was 30,the common splines are 26,30,36 and 48, since i was using the Toyota box, No Limit knew the size and spline count but you will have to measure both and let them know, also tell them about how long of a joint you need. I only had about an inch and a half between the column and steering box so mine is a single joint if yours is 3 inches or more than you will need a double D. You can call and talk to them at 1-888-297-6032.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg, MB
rag joints vs. u-joints
1950 in the stable, several amateur streetrod projects under my belt, but I can't figure out what a "rag joint" is...
Please enlighten me. (I feel like such a newbie)
/Kris
"A day is never wasted if you learned something"
Please enlighten me. (I feel like such a newbie)
/Kris
"A day is never wasted if you learned something"
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 296
Likes: 1
From: Red Bluff U.S.A.
rag joints vs. u-joints
The older model vehicles didn't have rag joints, the steering column was a 1 piece from the steering wheel to the steering box, in the later part of the 60's, around 67 or 68 they started using rag joints that connected the column to the box, i'm guessing so that you could pull the box or column seperatly, the rag joint had splines at each end and rubber in the middle for flexability.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg, MB
rag joints vs. u-joints
OK, I know what you're talking about now, and even understand the question too! I don't think I've ever had to "name that part" before, or I've always just referred to it as the universal joint.
Thanks!
/Kris
Thanks!
/Kris
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Brighton USA
rag joints vs. u-joints
The rag joint definitely helps isolate the column from the gear and, as a result, can help reduce noise and vibration transmission. Keep in mind that the gear is frame mounted and the column is body mounted. Since the body moves on the frame (because of the body mount pads and frame flex), you must allow for some relative movement, either through a rag joint or a slip shaft. As to your question, some new vehicles do not use a rag joint. GM trucks for example. It really depends on the application. If your using a Saginaw box, I'd try to find production pieces at a bone yard that would work before I'd spend lots of money on custom parts, but then again, I'm cheap.
Dan the Ford Man
(Steering Engineer for one of the Big 3)
Dan the Ford Man
(Steering Engineer for one of the Big 3)
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,730
Likes: 13
From: Waynesville, OH
rag joints vs. u-joints
Hey Kris,
I'm glad somebody else didn't know what rag joints were all about. Glad you had the guts to ask - guess I'm too shy. Betcha there are quite a few more in my boat.
George
I'm glad somebody else didn't know what rag joints were all about. Glad you had the guts to ask - guess I'm too shy. Betcha there are quite a few more in my boat.
George
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Tucson USA
rag joints vs. u-joints
>Hey Kris,
>
>I'm glad somebody else didn't know what rag joints were all
>about. Glad you had the guts to ask - guess I'm too shy.
>Betcha there are quite a few more in my boat.
>
>George
For what it is worth, I certainly did not know what a rag joint was before I posed the question. I was just surfin' around for information on steering u-joints and saw what what used on my truck prior to my upgrading it to a column shift, i.e. rag joint. Then I spent mass quanities of time trying to figure out which would be better to use in my application, a rag joint or u-joint.
The problem I have is I spend too much time trying to figure out what to do instead of doing it. And in the mean time my orange crate sits on red jacks.
Thanks for the responses. I'm going with a u-joint, mostly because is it what the space and angle allow.
Rick
>
>I'm glad somebody else didn't know what rag joints were all
>about. Glad you had the guts to ask - guess I'm too shy.
>Betcha there are quite a few more in my boat.
>
>George
For what it is worth, I certainly did not know what a rag joint was before I posed the question. I was just surfin' around for information on steering u-joints and saw what what used on my truck prior to my upgrading it to a column shift, i.e. rag joint. Then I spent mass quanities of time trying to figure out which would be better to use in my application, a rag joint or u-joint.
The problem I have is I spend too much time trying to figure out what to do instead of doing it. And in the mean time my orange crate sits on red jacks.
Thanks for the responses. I'm going with a u-joint, mostly because is it what the space and angle allow.
Rick
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