Rag joint question

A new question I haven't found a clear answer to: Do I really see significant gain by going with a u-joint coupler versus a rag joint?

Every post I read talks about a huge improvement, BUT, tied to those statements are that the old rag joint was failing, so even a new, cheap rag joint would result in improvement.

Thus my question. And I am even more interested in knowing how much of an improvement I'd see using a double U-joint coupler over a rag joint because I am going to be going over the entire front end (shocks, ball joints, idler. pitman, tie rod ends, all bushing, and a new Redhed gearbox.

Dejure said:

A new question I haven't found a clear answer to: Do I really see significant grain by going with a u-joint coupler versus a rag joint.

Every post I read talks about a huge improvement, BUT, tied to those statements are that the old rag joint was failing, so even a new, cheap rag joint would result in improvement.

Thus my question. And I am even more interested in knowing how much of an improvement I'd see using a double U-joint coupler over a rag joint because I am going to be going over the entire front end (shocks, ball joints, idler. pitman, tie rod ends, all bushing, and a new Redhed gearbox.

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i havent done the swap but the thing i hear from a lot of peoples replies about it is that the rag joints wear quickly, and if you have heavier steering because of bigger tires (Even if the pump is matching the need, its still more input force from your steering column) and wear on your ball joints or kingpins, steering joints wear, and maybe need grease, your pump is getting old and tired, the fluid is old, the column bearings wearing, etc, that the ragjoint even when new will have flex (as designed) but enough so that its noticably not feeling 1:1 in input to the gear

Another thing is quality of replacement parts like that, can vary a lot. i heard borgeson rag joint is nicer than most of the replacements out there

AuroraGirl said:

i havent done the swap but the thing i hear from a lot of peoples replies about it is that the rag joints wear quickly, and if you have heavier steering because of bigger tires (Even if the pump is matching the need, its still more input force from your steering column) and wear on your ball joints or kingpins, steering joints wear, and maybe need grease, your pump is getting old and tired, the fluid is old, the column bearings wearing, etc, that the ragjoint even when new will have flex (as designed) but enough so that its noticably not feeling 1:1 in input to the gear

Another thing is quality of replacement parts like that, can vary a lot. i heard borgeson rag joint is nicer than most of the replacements out there

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But GM made 4 ply and 7 ply rag joints for different applications,the 7 ply being stiffer and tougher. 7 ply was manual steering,close ratio boxes and Corvettes.

I outgrew the tire thing years back. I put really nice looking deep dish rims for G60 tires on my 69 step side, forty or so years ago. They looked nice, but they ate wheel bearing about every six months (daily driver).

One day, I was visiting family in Eastern Washington (I lived in Western Washington then) and I stopped for lunch at the small town I grew up in (since 59 and until Uncle Sam "hired" around 70).

My truck stood out like a sore thumb. All the windows were glass etched and the interior was especially trick. Nice looking tires and rims too.

A kid I'd hung out with years earlier (good egg) asked if it was my truck, and commented on how much he liked the tires and rims. He went on to mention he was driving an old 56 step side, which had ugly white spokes and recaps.

I looked at him and said "Robert, I'm ordering a sandwich, if you can get your tires on my truck by the time I'm done, they're yours." He was like a rocket, going out that door.

When I got back out, my truck was about 4" higher, and I quit burning up wheel bearings. New tires in and, eventually, paint on the rims, all was well in Bremerton, again. Oh, and my mileage improved, significantly.

Ricko1966 said:

Buy GM made 4 ply andv7 ply rag joints for different applications,the 7 ply being stiffer and tougher. 7 ply was manual steering,close ratio boxes and Corvettes.

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good to know, i was actually thinking about how that would have worked with a manual steering because that has ALL the force applied to a mechanically advantaged box , no assist lol. makes sense