Steering coupler or rag joint - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dec010974 · 03-12-2018, 09:38 PM

Hello my truckin' friends. I hope all is well with your trucks. I have a 1972 c10 short bed truck. it has a manual gear box. I installed a 5.3/700r4 drivetrain and I want to upgrade to power steering. a friend gave me a 1983 C10 power steering gear box so I removed the manual gear box and installed the power steering gear box. I want build it right, with fresh parts. I have a few questions, 1) how do I find the correct Steering coupler (rag Joint)? as I searched rockauto and they have several rag joints to choose from. are there measurements needed to select the right one? 2) I also want to buy tie rods, idler arm, pitman arm, tie rods sleeves, etc, do I stick with the 1972 parts or do I purchase stuff for a 1983 c10? the pitman arm on the power steering gear box is from a the 1983 C10. I appreciate any assistance, thanks in advance, clark.

PanelDeland · 03-12-2018, 09:45 PM

I'm using the later box in mine. I probably cheated but for a rag joint, I used the flange from each of the original steering column and the box I was installing. I put a rebuild kit for a rag joint in and that worked like a charm. IIRC I bought a new Pitman for a 73 up and it worked with the original stuff. I had just replaced everything due to a disc swap. It works great but I do need to get new hoses, the ones from the 78 or so box are a bit long and don't run the way I would like.

dec010974 · 03-13-2018, 07:25 AM

ok, sorry if i seem dumb but can you rephrase your answer? also what is IIRC? i assume that you used a rebuild kit for your rag joint, right. i plan on using the a new rag joint (steering coupler) from rockauto. the listed couplers have different sizes. i am sure someone has done this before.

cornerstone · 03-13-2018, 09:32 AM

IIRC is "if I remember correctly"

**70STOVEBOLT** · 03-13-2018, 01:07 PM

Look at post #5 in the thread below...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=684514

demian5 · 03-15-2018, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

Look at post #5 in the thread below...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=684514

This said nothing of what IIRC means...

dec010974 · 03-15-2018, 10:06 PM

hello to all. thanks for your replies. i bought a rag joint off ebay for a 1983 c10. the size is "13/16" 31 spline input shafts with flat and 3-1/4" OD steering coupling assembly". i hope it works. if not i'll buy the next size. as for the steering arm i buy the for a 1971 C10 truck (K6131).

SeanB242 · 03-14-2018, 09:55 PM

In the back corner of Autozone they have new rag joints. Just spotted them the other day.

indymachinist · 03-15-2018, 03:22 PM

Get rid of the rag joint and use a jeep cherokee steering shaft.

Edit: I believe you want a pitman arm for a power steering box that matches your year truck. It MAY be the same as the newer box uses. Compare part numbers between the years on rockauto.

03-12-2018, 09:38 PM	#1
dec010974 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 906	Steering coupler or rag joint Hello my truckin' friends. I hope all is well with your trucks. I have a 1972 c10 short bed truck. it has a manual gear box. I installed a 5.3/700r4 drivetrain and I want to upgrade to power steering. a friend gave me a 1983 C10 power steering gear box so I removed the manual gear box and installed the power steering gear box. I want build it right, with fresh parts. I have a few questions, 1) how do I find the correct Steering coupler (rag Joint)? as I searched rockauto and they have several rag joints to choose from. are there measurements needed to select the right one? 2) I also want to buy tie rods, idler arm, pitman arm, tie rods sleeves, etc, do I stick with the 1972 parts or do I purchase stuff for a 1983 c10? the pitman arm on the power steering gear box is from a the 1983 C10. I appreciate any assistance, thanks in advance, clark.

03-12-2018, 09:45 PM	#2
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Re: Steering coupler or rag joint I'm using the later box in mine. I probably cheated but for a rag joint, I used the flange from each of the original steering column and the box I was installing. I put a rebuild kit for a rag joint in and that worked like a charm. IIRC I bought a new Pitman for a 73 up and it worked with the original stuff. I had just replaced everything due to a disc swap. It works great but I do need to get new hoses, the ones from the 78 or so box are a bit long and don't run the way I would like. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

03-13-2018, 07:25 AM	#3
dec010974 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 906	Re: Steering coupler or rag joint ok, sorry if i seem dumb but can you rephrase your answer? also what is IIRC? i assume that you used a rebuild kit for your rag joint, right. i plan on using the a new rag joint (steering coupler) from rockauto. the listed couplers have different sizes. i am sure someone has done this before.

03-13-2018, 09:32 AM	#4
cornerstone Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Azle,Texas Posts: 2,249	Re: Steering coupler or rag joint IIRC is "if I remember correctly"

03-15-2018, 10:06 PM	#7
dec010974 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 906	Re: Steering coupler or rag joint hello to all. thanks for your replies. i bought a rag joint off ebay for a 1983 c10. the size is "13/16" 31 spline input shafts with flat and 3-1/4" OD steering coupling assembly". i hope it works. if not i'll buy the next size. as for the steering arm i buy the for a 1971 C10 truck (K6131).

03-13-2018, 01:07 PM	#5
70STOVEBOLT Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Winona Lake, IN Posts: 6,206	Re: Steering coupler or rag joint Look at post #5 in the thread below... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=684514 __________________ 70 C/10 SWB 402/TH400/3.73 "The Needy Beast" 200,000 Mile Club Disc Brake Club Owner installed options: Front Sway Bar Power Steering Power Brakes Cigar Lighter Courtesy Lights Deluxe Side Markers Wiper Delay Power windows Power Locks Coming soon: EFI 2015 Silverado 1500 LS 4.3/6L80/3.23

03-14-2018, 09:55 PM	#8
SeanB242 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Bonne Terre MO Posts: 192	Re: Steering coupler or rag joint In the back corner of Autozone they have new rag joints. Just spotted them the other day.

03-15-2018, 03:22 PM	#9
indymachinist Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Indanapolis, IN Posts: 600	Re: Steering coupler or rag joint Get rid of the rag joint and use a jeep cherokee steering shaft. Edit: I believe you want a pitman arm for a power steering box that matches your year truck. It MAY be the same as the newer box uses. Compare part numbers between the years on rockauto. __________________ -Curt My 1968 Chevy shortbed stepside build

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