Steering Play - Worn Rag Joint Pin

[Mskitt]

Im in the process of finding and replacing a blown power steering hose from an eventfull trip up to tatton park a few weeks ago.

During my engine bay diving, I was looking at the other steering parts and saw the rag joint, And a centreing pin which looks incredibly worn.
Question 1: could this explain the excessive 4 inch play when the wheel is centred going down the road.
Question 2: Where is the best/ quickest place to get one of these, and a new power steering hose?
Question 3: What is the easiest method to replace this? loosed the steering box or the steering column?

 

[Daniel B]

It doesn't look good does it.
What I did was get someone to sit in the drivers seat and wiggle the wheel and look for the play, probably worth doing that just to confirm it.

 

[antijam]

With that amount of wear on the pin the rag joint is definitely shot. With the rag joint in good condition there is no contact between the metal parts - the pins are there to provide emergency steering in the event of rag joint failure.
Quickest source of replacement parts is probably Corvette Kingdom - next day turn around. Note:- the rag joint's called a steering coupler on their site.
I removed the column to replace my rag joint; a bit tedious. shifting the box may be easier.

 

[Roscobbc]

I've never seen a steering coupler where there has been such significant metal to metal contact and major wear - normally the cloth part of the joint is very rigid and effectively unmovable.

 

[Daniel B]

My worry would be if the rag joint is that worn it might not be the only thing.

 

[Mskitt]

My worry would be if the rag joint is that worn it might not be the only thing.

The car currently has no power steering due to the pressure hose splitting. So that might have contributed to the wear on the rods, but everything else seems to be ok. All the play is in this joint which does indeed look shot as it has so much flex it's just using the stops to turn the car.
Got a new one on order from the states

 

[Daniel B]

Do you have the stock power steering with the hydraulic ram? If you do you will get slop in the valve as well as it needs pressure to firm up.

 

[Mskitt]

Yes it's the stock system. So I think it must have all taken it's toll on an already fading joint.
Was planning to take it to get the AC recharged this weekend. Not so confident to drive it now with this

 

[Daniel B]

Yeah I don't think I would. I'm not even sure how well the valve body stands up to being loaded without hydraulic pressure for extended periods, maybe someone on here knows but looking at the design it looks like potentially it could be an issue.

 

[Oneball]

You’ll probably start wearing the valve sleeve without pressure in it but to be honest it’s probably not going to be significant compared to the 50 years of wear it’s already experienced. There’s a heavy spring and stop to limit excessive movement

 

[teamzr1]

Looks like way too much wear and need to replace the whole section ?

 

[teamzr1]

 

[Mskitt]

Thanks all, new top and bottom piece RAG joint arrived today from Corvette Central and a $140 express shipping bill to get it ready for Outlon park this weekend. Fingers crossed I see you there with better steering

 

[Daniel B]

Good luck with the fitting!

 

[Mad4slalom]

I fitted a nice red polyurethane one to my beach buggy a few years ago, until several folk on the forum pointed out that they had a reputation for splitting in two and leaving you steeringless and had earned the name the Red circle of death !

 

[Daniel B]

I don't think that could happen with the Corvette design though right? Unless I'm misunderstanding something, even if the coupling material completely disintegrates the backup pins will still maintain steering coupling, albeit with a lot of play as we've seen.

 

[Mskitt]

My current cloth one has done exactly that anyway, and the safety pins have done their job. I expect they would do the same on this one too if that ever happened