Rag joint question

[jmiedzinski]

Hi,

This is the second rockauto rag joint I installed in my truck and after literally 150 miles it looks like this

Did I screw the installation or this is just quality issue ? Can you point me to the place that sells online better quality one ? I'm kinda limited to the online buy because I live overseas.
Rgds,
Jerry

 

[SenorNoob]

Maybe just me, but it looks like the 2 halves of that shaft are too close together.

 

[Curious Hound]

Maybe just me, but it looks like the 2 halves of that shaft are too close together.

Good question. Is there room for the 2 halves of the shaft to telescope together? Or is it all jammed up tight?

What else can you tell us about the truck? Any body mount changes? Is it all stock? Or have modifications been done to suspension, steering, body work?

(I moved this thread to the steering forum, which seemed more appropriate.)

 

[jmiedzinski]

Sorry for posting in the wrong section, and thanks for moving the thread!

To clarify: the truck is lowered with a DJM kit, but the body mounts are stock. The previous owner had installed both a suspension and a body lift, but I’ve since removed all of those mods. I don't see any aftermarket parts or obvious modifications to the steering column itself.

The original lift was a total hack job—the previous guy actually cut a slot in the firewall to make room for the steering column as it angled down. As it stands, the components are definitely jammed together more than I’d like.

Picture of the truck

 

[Curious Hound]

Sorry for posting in the wrong section, and thanks for moving the thread!

To clarify: the truck is lowered with a DJM kit, but the body mounts are stock. The previous owner had installed both a suspension and a body lift, but I’ve since removed all of those mods. I don't see any aftermarket parts or obvious modifications to the steering column itself.

The original lift was a total hack job—the previous guy actually cut a slot in the firewall to make room for the steering column as it angled down. As it stands, the components are definitely jammed together more than I’d like.

Picture of the truck

When the PO did the body lift, he probably installed a longer intermediate steering shaft. That is why things are jammed up and wrecking rag joints. You need an OEM length intermediate shaft or figure out how to shorten what you have.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Personally, I’d look into getting a U-joint shaft. Those usually need cut down but there’s been a few people who have done it. The U-joint shaft eliminates that rag joint as a failure point. I only have one truck with a rag joint (my 88) and the truck has been torn apart for the past 10 years because I haven’t been able to get back to putting it together and haven’t addressed the steering yet so someone else will have to help you with getting the right part

 

[19Walt93]

I used a Borgeson lower shaft and u joint to replace the rag joint when I put the 351 into my Ranger because the rag joint was too close to the exhaust manifold. It took some fabrication, but it wasn't difficult. My 77 Mustang still has the original rag joint and it's still in good shape.