What is the official Ford name for what we refer to as the rag joint in the steering shaft?

 

Steering Coupler.

What do I win?

 

I believe the “proper” term is steering coupler.

Edit: Tedsters post didn’t show for me until after I posted...guess my phone doesn’t like the forum lol

 

No, that happens with Tedster's posts all the time. The forum doesn't like him answering first. LOL I knew he posted because of e-mail notification and was going to make a joke about what he won.

Regarding these "steering couplers", it appears that you can buy the entire assembly or just the rubber portion and bolts. Do most people replace the entire assembly or just rebuild it with new rubber portion?

 

1981 from production date 2/81, 1982 and later: Lower steering shaft and coupler assy .. basic part number: 3B676

Rag joint refers to the fact that the rubber section of the steering coupler introduced in 1965 F100/250 2WD was made from tire carcass that contained cloth threads, hence the 'rag joint' nickname.

Only 1980 and 1981's before production date 10/81 have a rag joint (M/S different than P/S), basic part number 3A525.

Afterwards, it was only available with the lower steering shaft and coupler assy.

Scroll down to see 3A525 in pic:

 

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

ND, was there ever a plastic rag joint? I bought a 1975 Cougar recently and the rag joint was completely gone. When I took it apart, there were remnants of white plastic around the bolts but I cannot imagine how that would have worked as the thickness of the plastic would seem to prevent any shock-absorbing capabilities.

 

Some cars have a lower steering shaft and coupler (3B676) that includes a white nylon piece.

1974/76 Cougar same as 1973/76 Torino, see 3B676 in pic. Pic is for a floor shift, but the coupler is the same for all.

D4OZ-3B676-A .. Lower Steering Shaft & Coupler Assy / Obsolete

1974/76 Torino/Ranchero; 1974/79 Cougar; 1977/79 LTD II (not an LTD!)/Ranchero/Thunderbird.

 

Thanks, Bill. It's got an old fashioned rubber rag joint in it now. :-)