Steering rag joint junk!

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 27, 2009 | 11:35 AM

Ford 67 Ford

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2009

Posts: 160

Likes: 0

Steering rag joint junk!

I seem to wear these out about every 6 months. I get the ones at auto zone, does anyone else have this problem. Thanks.

Mar 27, 2009 | 11:41 AM

wickedinhere

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 310

Likes: 31

Have you checked you column bearings?

Mar 27, 2009 | 11:41 AM

jowilker

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jun 1999

Posts: 24,552

Likes: 74

From: Creedmoor, North Carolina

Sounds like you have a rotted front cab mount, that has allowed the cab to drop and stress the rag joint.

When it is lined up properly there is hardly any stress on it at all.

Check it out and see if you might have a problem there.

John

Mar 27, 2009 | 12:27 PM

Freightrain

Lead Driver

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 9,893

Likes: 12

From: Ohio

Or non-power steering and very tight King pins? I'd check the cab alignment first.

Mar 27, 2009 | 01:39 PM

Danger_Dave

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 1,338

Likes: 6

From: UPSTATE NY

maybe your power steering is old and not as powerful as it should be. therefore if you are in a parking lot the wheels only want to turn if you are moving at a mile per hour or two. and if you are sitting still and idleing and turn the wheel, the wheels wont turn and it stresses the rag joint. this is my situation with my 40 year old truck so maybe yours is the same scenario? i let my dad borrow my truck and when he returned it to me i now have slight play in my steering. not only that he has a habit of getting going in reverse about 5 mph, and then slapping it right into drive without first coming to a stop, putting it in nuetral, then putting it in drive, waiting for the slight jolt, and then getting going.

Mar 27, 2009 | 01:47 PM

Ford 67 Ford

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2009

Posts: 160

Likes: 0

Well column bearing is slightly worn but really not enough to matter that much, got California truck so no rust anywhere so cab alignment is correct, new king pins less than 2 years ago. It is non power steering, could that give enough stress to wear that fast.

Mar 27, 2009 | 02:41 PM

Freightrain

Lead Driver

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 9,893

Likes: 12

From: Ohio

Jack it up, unhook the rag joint and turn the steering box by hand. Is it hard to turn? Could cause undo stress on rag joint. Do you grease the king pins on regular basis? Seen even new ones get tight(especially if they are the good metal bushings).