Rag joints..

[Gsmblue]

As I am installing my new steering column I realized the rag joint by the steering box has a ton of play in it.

When I pulled what I think is called the “intermediate shaft” out, I can’t see how the rag joint comes apart.. can some one help me understand how to tackle this please!

[Gary Lewis]

Are you asking how you take the coupling (rag joint) apart?  Or how to take it off?  I put up a close-up illustration here that may help: Suspension & Steering/Steering/Coupling - Rag Joint.  Does that help?

[Gsmblue]

Hmmm, the coupling has a ton of play in it and I am trying to work out how to disassemble it and refurbish...

[Rembrant]

Gsmblue wrote

Hmmm, the coupling has a ton of play in it and I am trying to work out how to disassemble it and refurbish...

There's nothing to refurbish in the rag joint, only replace. Toss the old one in the garbage, and install a new one. There are two studs/nuts on the back of the rag joint that attach it to the steering shaft. I'm going to buy a new one myself soon for when I reassemble (and reattach) my steering column. I think they're only about $20...or at least I thought they were. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

Edit: I just checked Rockauto, and it looks like you can buy just the rubber element and four bolts, but you'd have to drill the old rivets out, and that might be a pain. It's the same cost as a complete joint listed below it.

[Gary Lewis]

I agree - replace it.  Those are a known slop issue and an easy fix.

[Gsmblue]

Here is my problem. I am looking at the joint and I have no idea how to take it apart... do I have to cut the heads off the studs and bang them out?

[Gary Lewis]

I got lost.  I thought you replaced the rag joint with a Borgeson one.  Doesn't it have the rag joint?  What am I missing?

[Gsmblue]

Ah, sorry. I caused confusion. The rag joint is also shot in the F150.

For the Bronco I put the borgeson in, but for my truck I was hoping to replace the rag joint as it is way cheaper!

[Gary Lewis]

Sorry, I missed this.  Let me take a look at one of my rag joints and get back with you later today.

[85lebaront2]

Will one from a 1968 Mustang help anyone? I ended up with it left over after I had to essentially make a column from two for the Chevstang.

[Gary Lewis]

I looks that for all 1980 models and 1981 models until a 2/81 build date that the rag joint was a separate part and could be replaced.  But, as of 2/81 it became part of the lower steering shaft - 3B676.





So, since yours is an '82 it should not have a replaceable rag joint.  Here's a pic of the one on Dad's lower steering shaft:

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

I looks that for all 1980 models and 1981 models until a 2/81 build date that the rag joint was a separate part and could be replaced.  But, as of 2/81 it became part of the lower steering shaft - 3B676.

Hey Gary, my '84 F150 (built in Dec '83) has the replaceable style rag joint. The steering shaft could have been changed I suppose, but everything else on the truck is original, so I assume the steering shaft is too?

[Gary Lewis]

This is a very confusing area/subject.  You saw where the parts catalog shows that the replaceable rag joint went away as of 2/81.  Here's a clip from the catalog showing that the lower shaft supposedly changed on 12/81:



So, which was it?  Did someone drop the "1" from "12", making it 2/81?  But, even so, that wouldn't account for a 12/83 build having a replaceable one.

Can you post of pic of your rag joint and shaft?  Maybe we can figure it out.  (But I'm not going to hold my breath.)

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

Can you post of pic of your rag joint and shaft?  Maybe we can figure it out.  (But I'm not going to hold my breath.)

Mine could have been changed at some point, but unless it was under some recall 30 years ago, I'm guessing that it was not. The truck only has 35k miles on it, and everything on it seems to be original except for the water pump, fuel pump, spark plugs, and muffler. My truck doesn't appear to have had any parts changed unless they outright failed...lol.

[Rembrant]

The more I thought about this, I thought maybe mine was changed. Perhaps somebody did cut the old rivets off or drilled them out and installed a new joint.

[Gary Lewis]

I don't know.  Would they have put an earlier style on?  Yours looks exactly like Dad's.  Here's another shot of his, turned upside down to match yours, and they look identical.  Right?

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

I don't know.  Would they have put an earlier style on?  Yours looks exactly like Dad's.  Here's another shot of his, turned upside down to match yours, and they look identical.  Right?

Earlier style, or aftermarket replacement, either way, they're bolt on. Mine looks identical to yours, same lock nuts and all.

[Rembrant]

I know Rock Auto shows a replacement for my 1984. Either the whole joint, or just the rubber element.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/ford,1984,f-150,5.0l+302cid+v8,1121443,steering,steering+coupling+assembly,7418

[Gary Lewis]

This is a strange, confusing area.  I know Big Blue has a lower shaft w/o a rag joint.  But it may be a replacement.

[85lebaront2]

I know the later trucks, 1992 up with the stub column have universals, one at each end of the intermediate shaft.