How to remove the rag joint...Help!

[Diesel JD]

I'm replacing the steering column on my truck. We simply cannot get the steering column shaft and the shaft from the steering box to go together. I was going to pull the rag joint and try to work it together that way...but I don't even know how to pull the rag joint. Any help would be appreciated. I really need to know how to pull that rag joint,
JD

 

[fsr7]

You can't get that kinda oval-shaped connection up by the firewall to slide together? Mine slid right in when I swapped my column a couple of months ago. If I remember right, its easier to place that connection together when the column is still loose or disconnected - once its lined up and has started to come together, you can use a hammer to tap on the opposite sides of the oval towards the firewall, alternating from side to side and it should slide all the way in. I think the rag joint just has two bolts on opposite sides holding it together, but I've never had any luck swapping a rag joint without pulling the column or box anyway.

 

[Diesel JD]

Hey yeah it just will not seem to slide together. Part of the problem is that when you start to put any real pressure on it, the shaft wants to slide partially back up into the column itself. I really need to get this thing back on the road and I'm beginning to think it just won't fit at all!

 

[fsr7]

Maybe try filing down the edges on the female end and putting some grease on there? I think there is a Cclip in the column that will keep the male end from actually falling into the column.

 

[fsr7]

Another thought - I don't know if you have access to the truck the column came from, but you might have better luck if you swapped that intermediate shaft out of the donor as well?

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

To answer your question about rag-joint removal, the rag-joint is down next to the steering-box, I would just remove the bolt that clamps the shaft to the gear-box and pull shaft, rag, and all = much easier than trying to dis-assemble the rag-joint where it is at.

When you get that mess loose and out, replace it with a Borgeson or Flaming River shaft.

 

[Diesel JD]

Why would I do that? Would it help the steering? I just am too poor to drop another $100-200 now and just need to get back on the road. I got some good help from towcat on how to approach this situation so I'm going to try that tomorrow and hopefully report back with good news. Thanks,
JD

 

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

JD, did the replacement column come out of the same body style truck?
If not, the 2 will not work together, I found out the hard way and sound like you're in the same pickle I was in this summer.

The steering shaft to column connectors are slightly different and won't intechange if ya have a mixed combo. Now if you have the shaft from the donor truck that the column came from, it will mate up to the gear box.

 

[towcat]

guys-
what he's dealing with is the same. His "rag" joint isn't the issue. His setup is just like everyone else's it's the trunion setup by the column and the rag joint down by the gearbox. what's happened is that he collasped the intermeadiate shaft and needs to extend it back out some. Also, on the column, the part that goes into the trunion on the intermeadiate shaft is crawling back into the column without much provocation. It happens when things loosen up with age in the column. all he needs to do is make sure it stays out with a needlenose vise grips. He's got some 2.7k pics he sent me via email yesterday, I just don't have time to resize them until later on today.

 

[Diesel JD]

Well it turns out that they do work together BUT the steering shaft on the column end was slightly larger than the one I had before. I had to work but my uncle and my dad worked on it for me. Uncle Rudy figured out the shaft was too big by trying to slip the old column back in and it slipped in perfectly, so he pulled the telescoping steering shaft out of the column and ground a hair off of it, then it fit perfectly. They then left the bolting things together and adjusting things like I liked them to me which was the easier job by far. Uts great, I have to really give my dad and Uncle mad props for hanging in there with it. Also thanks to towcat for answering my questions and giving us good advice about what we had. I have it back on the road now, and I'm very pleased. This column is much less worn out than my old one and the steering seems a bit tighter, not only that but the blinker detentes both still work on this column..that's nice. So thanks everyone and just thought I'd check in to let you all know how it went down.

 

[RLDSL]

Good deal! Glad everything went back together OK.
To answer your other question, would a Borgeson stering shaft help the steering, the answer is a resounding yes, but would it help your wallet, the answer is a resounding no. Over $200 for a stock # if they have one for your truck, and if like mine, they dont, and you have to have it custome made, it's well over $300 ( which for my '92 isn't all that out of line considering that there is no aftermarket rag joint available for the '92 and the dealer only sells it in a complete shaft and they wanted over $200 just for that

Why ford ever put the steering dependant on a rubber disk that would go soft from diesel and power steering fluid leeking right onto it is beyond me, That Borgeson makes for nice tight steering

 

[hotford]

Or just get the u-joint from Borgeson and weld or bolt it on. Lots cheaper and the same effect.

 

[RLDSL]

Or just get the u-joint from Borgeson and weld or bolt it on. Lots cheaper and the same effect.

THat may not be too hard an option on the earlier trucks, but on my '92 , once I started cutting into the shaft and tried to figure out what I had there to work with to match up there to what Borgeson had, it was a whole lot easier to just buy their setup. That 92 up factory setup is just plain flimsy.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

That 92 up factory setup is just plain flimsy.

It surely isn't any more flimsy that the 80-85 set-up.


When I got my factory shaft/joint loose and out in the day-light where I could see it, it was plumb scary looking; I have night-mares just thinking about all the thousands of miles I had trusted my life to that mess.

The rag had been oil-soaked and saturated for years and the rest was not trustworthy looking at all, more like something one would expect to find on a cheap riding mower.

I splurged and got the deluxe Borgeson; and, when I layed them side by side, there was no question which was the safer.