steering rag joint

[SAndreasen]

does anybody have a part number for the rubber disc that goes between the two steering shafts on a 92 w250 i am replacing the lower part of the shaft with a borgeson shaft and thought it would be a good idea to replace the rag joint as borgeson calls it . i have been to napa auto zone and car quest and none of them had any luck looking up the part . thanks for any help

 

[JGrefenstette]

Geno's has it for $16. 62. Its listed with the Borgeson steering shafts.

 

[JGrefenstette]

just saw it today at napa on the rack for $10

 

[SAndreasen]

my napa store has one for fords and one universal one and he cant come up with anything for a dodge truck

 

[JGrefenstette]

gotcha, then id just order it from Genos

 

[JLEONARD]

rag joint

Properly called an "isolator" as this isolates/prevents vibration and noise eminating from the steering pump and gear from travelling up the steering column. The steering wheel acts like a speaker and the noise can be annoying (not like the sweet rattle of the Cummins).

It also allows for a few degrees of alignment difference from the steering gear shaft to the column.

OEM is rubber with stiffening fibers inside that make it stronger, hence the term rag joint.

A replacement will likely be all rubber as modern polymers are much stronger and stiffer and it will isolate better without the internal fibers.

 

[SAndreasen]

thanks for the replies i found one at auto zone i will post a part number soon

 

[Rudan]

Got alot of play in my steering, wonder if just replacing the rag joint will help eliminate

some of that play. I tighten the 4-coupler bolts at the joint, they were not very loose.

Is there anything else that I can do other than replacing the shaft.

 

[RSchwarzli]

rag joint

Properly called an "isolator" as this isolates/prevents vibration and noise eminating from the steering pump and gear from travelling up the steering column. The steering wheel acts like a speaker and the noise can be annoying (not like the sweet rattle of the Cummins).

It also allows for a few degrees of alignment difference from the steering gear shaft to the column.

OEM is rubber with stiffening fibers inside that make it stronger, hence the term rag joint.

A replacement will likely be all rubber as modern polymers are much stronger and stiffer and it will isolate better without the internal fibers.

So does that mean the Borgeson shafts will vibrate the wheel?

 

[JLEONARD]

So does that mean the Borgeson shafts will vibrate the wheel

You are referrring to the model of shaft that has 2 u joints rather than one u joint and the isolator.

It won't "vibrate the wheel" but you run the risk of allowing noise from road vibration to travel up thru the steering column and eminating as either noise, hand vibration from road shock, or both.

Some drivers are sensitive to those things, some are not.

So I can't say whether or not YOU would notice it. I am stating the risk.

Got alot of play in my steering, wonder if just replacing the rag joint will help eliminate

some of that play

The "play" or what is called "rotational lash" that the isolator adds to the system is negligable. Your play is most likely from the "pot joint" which is the rectangular box looking gizmo where the steering shaft is connected to the steering gear.

I've read that you can rebuild those, but a replacement shaft (Borgeson being the best and most popular) will solve the problem for the rest of the truck's life.

 

[SAndreasen]

help! part number 31000 they call it a steering coupler disc .

 

[WyattEarp]

if you ever get a chance i would replace that shaft with a Borgeson, i did and it made a world of difference. After the accident i had in feb. it shot the shaft right off the spline(don't ask me how) but i have looked at it several times and it seems to be fine i can't say that for the steering box, the pitman arm shaft is bent toward the frame either that or the bracket holding it to the frame is bent, i am going to replace both, By the way anyone know where i can get that bracket to frame at?