Steering Shaft replacemeant?
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 533
Likes: 7
From: Texas
Steering Shaft replacemeant?
I have a 1979 F-150 2wd and I need a new steering shaft, has any one ever replaced one before how hard is it and will the ones from Jegs or summit work?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 533
Likes: 7
From: Texas
Sorry guys I wasn't clear.
My rag joint is bad and also the Ujoint on my steering shaft is bad.
My steering has allot of slop and I want to fix the steering for good.
This is what I want to do so can some body please tell me if I can do this or not.
Ok! I want to get a new steering shaft that's long enough to run from the steer wheel to the power box and delete my rag joint.
What I would like to know is what does the rag joint do? will it hurt any thing getting rid of it?
My rag joint is bad and also the Ujoint on my steering shaft is bad.
My steering has allot of slop and I want to fix the steering for good.
This is what I want to do so can some body please tell me if I can do this or not.
Ok! I want to get a new steering shaft that's long enough to run from the steer wheel to the power box and delete my rag joint.
What I would like to know is what does the rag joint do? will it hurt any thing getting rid of it?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
I guess the question that is not real clear is the u-joint that you speak of. The 2wd strring box rests right up against the steering box, and the splines on the steering column engage the rag joint and the rag joint indexes the splines on the box itself.
There is not u-joint here and this is confusing the issue a little.
Anyway, the rag joint is a flexable link that isolates the steering box from the column. Since the column is mounted to the body and the box to the frame, they have to have some sort of movement, and without this ability to move, (tne body is still rubber mounted and it does move) much pressure will be placed on the box and the steering column. This means that it could cause some damage.
Many shafts have slip joint in them to proivde this movement.
This play or movement becomes very important, for not just vibration isolation, but also for the ability to install or remove the joint. Without any movement, the splines will never engage properly.
Remove the rag joint and you will see exactly what I mean.
DO you have any pics? That should take care of this confusion.
There is not u-joint here and this is confusing the issue a little.
Anyway, the rag joint is a flexable link that isolates the steering box from the column. Since the column is mounted to the body and the box to the frame, they have to have some sort of movement, and without this ability to move, (tne body is still rubber mounted and it does move) much pressure will be placed on the box and the steering column. This means that it could cause some damage.
Many shafts have slip joint in them to proivde this movement.
This play or movement becomes very important, for not just vibration isolation, but also for the ability to install or remove the joint. Without any movement, the splines will never engage properly.
Remove the rag joint and you will see exactly what I mean.
DO you have any pics? That should take care of this confusion.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 533
Likes: 7
From: Texas
OK here is the rag join 
And here is a pic of the column in side the cab
If the rag joint acts as a buffer, could I use a steering stabilizer to act as a buffer for the system?
And here is a pic of the column in side the cab
If the rag joint acts as a buffer, could I use a steering stabilizer to act as a buffer for the system?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
The rag joint is not for torsional loads. It is there as an isolator from both vibration, and the different movements between the frame and the body. Remeber the body is rubber mounted and the box is bolted directly to the frame.
The next thing is that you cant eliminate the rag joint in this application because you will never get the fixed non moveable device back in. See there are male splines on both the steering column and the box. The rag joint has to compress to go in there. You wont fit anything else like a u-joint in there.
Replacing the rag joint is a decent solution.
Is there anything else wrong there? Rag joint replacement will freshen up that steering if that is where it is loose.
The next thing is that you cant eliminate the rag joint in this application because you will never get the fixed non moveable device back in. See there are male splines on both the steering column and the box. The rag joint has to compress to go in there. You wont fit anything else like a u-joint in there.
Replacing the rag joint is a decent solution.
Is there anything else wrong there? Rag joint replacement will freshen up that steering if that is where it is loose.
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 533
Likes: 7
From: Texas
My steering is horrid I have to fight the truck to stay in a straight line, I have about 4" to the right and left on the steering wheel before my tires ever start to move and all that play is not in the steering box, it starts at the rag joint and goes up from there I can hold the rag joint hard and had some body turn the wheel in the cab and there is tons of movement..
I replaced the steering box about a month ago thinking all the slop came from the box but I was wrong..
I replaced the steering box about a month ago thinking all the slop came from the box but I was wrong..
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
Do you have a tilt wheel? That looks like a straight non tilt type column. This solid shaft should be fine.
Start by removing the rag joint. and work up the shaft from there.
These replacement parts are counter items at your local auto parts.
Are you saying that the shaft in the column has movement fromt left to right without the rag joint moving?
Start by removing the rag joint. and work up the shaft from there.
These replacement parts are counter items at your local auto parts.
Are you saying that the shaft in the column has movement fromt left to right without the rag joint moving?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,052
Likes: 2
From: Alvarado, TX
Are you sure the steering wheel is tight? It seems unlikely but maybe the nut is loose allowing the splines at the top of the shaft to wear and make the wheel hub itself slip. Other than that its just a solid shaft down to the rag so I can't see where the movement would come from when holding the rag still.
