Heavy Duty Power Steering?

[Gary Lewis]

Good point.  While I agree with Steve that removing the pitman arm with the box on the truck is the best because the box is captive, that wasn't going to work for me today.  The freshly powder-coated front swing arm was too close and it was a given that I was going to scratch it.  So I pulled the box and worked it on the bench.

The KD puller might have fit on a 4wd truck, but I doubt the Snap-on one would.  However, either would probably work on a 2wd truck.

[Steve83]

Rembrant wrote

...he'd sell me one of the shafts for $30 bucks. ...it's just a matter of waiting for him to remove the stuff I guess.

I'd sell that one for $20+sh (actual price, your choice), and I took that pic yesterday, so I can actually FIND it (unlike the interval wipers!!!).  E-mail me if you want it.

Rembrant wrote

Is the rag joint a replaceable item on the 87-91 shafts?

Anything is, I guess, if you can find a replacement.  But I've never seen a molded rag joint go bad, unless it was burned or wrecked.  That's why I like them so much.  I think it's the same molding that's used on '92-96/7 intermediate shafts.

[Gary Lewis]

I just checked and the rag joint on the one I removed from Huck, the '90, is fine.  And that truck was used and abused.  So maybe they don't go bad?

[Ford F834]

Gary Lewis wrote

I just checked and the rag joint on the one I removed from Huck, the '90, is fine.  And that truck was used and abused.  So maybe they don't go bad?

Trent told me the bricknose rag joints DO go bad, and when they fail the steering wheel slop is really horrible... worse than the old school rag joints. I don’t think it will stop me from using one on account of the high price of the Borgeson shafts, but if money were no object that’s what I would probably buy instead.

[Gary Lewis]

Big Blue has the Borgeson.  I'll have to see which is the prettiest, and that one will go on Dad's truck.

[Rembrant]

Steve83 wrote

Anything is, I guess, if you can find a replacement.  But I've never seen a molded rag joint go bad, unless it was burned or wrecked.  That's why I like them so much.  I think it's the same molding that's used on '92-96/7 intermediate shafts.

Steve,

Is the upper joint on this shaft molded rubber also?...I thought they had a sealed U-Joint style, no?

[Steve83]

Rembrant wrote

Is the upper joint on this shaft molded rubber also?...I thought they had a sealed U-Joint style, no?

The'92-up upper U-joint is between that shaft & the column, and it can be unbolted as easily from one as from the other.  But it's above the firewall boot, so to get that shaft out, I always separate it as shown, and leave the U-joint on the column.

On the '87-91 intermediate shaft, the upper U-joint is below the firewall, and its yoke is welded to the intermediate shaft, so it only separates from the column.

[Rembrant]

Oh...the picture you posted is of a 1992-up shaft then?....That makes sense. I thought it was an 87-91 shaft and I was wondering where the upper joint was.

[Steve83]

Rembrant wrote

the picture you posted is of a 1992-up shaft then?

That last one you quoted on March 19 with the text "...'92-96/7" is the '92-97 shaft.  The pic you quoted from 12PM March 16 is the '87-91 shaft.