I bought a 75 f100 truck about 6 months ago or more and the other day I was trying to eliminate the play out of my steering and found it was coming from loose bolts at the rag joint(I guess I've been driving it everyday and wheeling on weekends with those bolts finger tight since I got it).So I tightened the bolts without paying attention that the rag joint had been replaced before.That took care of the play but the steering got harder to turn like it was binding but I ran out of time so I drove it to work anyways by the time I got home the play came back.I figured the bolts came loose but when I checked they where tight but the u-joint by the firewall had alot of play now.I took a closer look and found the rag joint was installed wrong the person bolted the steering shaft straight to the gear box flange with the rag joint in between like a spacer causing the binding at least thats what i was told.I was told the gear box should bolt to two of the four holes in the rag joint with the pin looking studs and the shaft should bolt to the other two holes of the rag joint using bolts.Once I did that the binding went away but the U-joint still has play and I was wondering if I could change that U-joint because I don't see any snap rings and couldn't find a replacment U-joint at autozone.com or do I have to change the whole shaft.I want to stay as cheap as possible I dont want to install a double u-joint set up or any thing just stay stock. I dont have a body lift to mess with the angle of the steering shaft and I have power steering with 35" tires

WHOLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY FROM FIREWALL TO GEARBOX AFTER I CHANGED HOW THE RAG JOINT WAS BOLTED.RAG JOINT ON LEFT U-JOINT ON RIGHT


HERE IS THE U-JOINT NO SNAP RINGS ON THE OUTSIDE MAYBE ON THE INSIDE


HERE'S THE RAG JOINT IS THIS RIGHT

 

I think the rag joint is installed right but, I dont have my 79 here handy to look at because its in storage.

Here you can buy the whole assembly or just the rag joint or U joint. http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/c-110

To buy the whole shaft with rag and U joint is quite expensive. You can also choose to replace the U joint with a better than stock replacement and also buy the rag joint.

For the U joint I would replace it as soon as you can!!! Steering is one thing you shouldnt put off or cobble up.

nick