Correct Rag Joint

[Patrick O.]

Can anyone give the specifics on the correct rag joint for a 1967 for the steering column for a non power steering car?

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

Patrick-----


Well, it's not the same as the one used for 1963-66. It's the same as the one used for 1968-69, though. It's GM #7806391 and it's still available from GM for about 110 bucks, GM list.

[Patrick O.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

Thanks Joe. I would like a description of what the correct one looks like. I bought one some time ago. I'm not sure where I bought it from. It did come from a Corvette parts company just not sure which one.Any help would be appreciated. Patrick

[Jim S.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

Go to: www.zip-products.com
click on the 68-82 tab
click on 68-82 Steering Systems
Click on 68-82 Steering Columns
Click on Steering Column Couplers
Click on 67-69 Column Coupler - Lower w/rag joint

That is a good photo of an OEM 67-69 Flexible Coupling.

The orange spacers were for the assembly plant to align the steering column to the flex coupling that was already attached to the gear. The spacers were then pulled off and thrown away.

Note that the attaching bolts had extensions on their heads. This was before the metal "capturing strap" was introduced on the Saginaw flex coupling. Also this has a flange that has full round serrations to match the input (worm) shaft on the gear.

There was only one flexible coupling in that time frame. Both power and manual steering used the same flex coupling.

Jim

[Patrick O.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

Thanks Jim that helped answer the questions I had. I can copy the picture and compare it to my rag joint. Patrick

[Jim S.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

The picture that is on the Zip Products websight is definately the correct flexible coupling for the 1967-early 69 timeframe. (I am quite sure that the flat was added to the Corvette gear input (wormshaft) during the 1969 model year.)

It would be good to know if the picture is still correct for the product that Zip is selling.

Jim

[Greg L.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

The ZIP one may be the best out there but the originals didn't have a metal reinforced rag joint. They were cloth reinforced and had a copper grounding strip for the horn. I agree that the rest of it looks correct.

[Joel F.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

What is the group concensus on this rag joint? I found this on a very original car, but it appears different than the ZIP rag joint.

[Greg L.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

From what I can tell it looks correct.

It's interesting to see those black rubber boots on the coupler's "studs" that protrude through the flange of the steering column. I have heard that they shouldn't be there but in this case they would appear to have been there from day 1.

[Jim S.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

I was the product engineering supervisor of the flexible coupling, hydraulic seals, and power steering hose group (common denominator was rubber). This was back in the early 1970s at Saginaw Steering Gear Division, GMC. The metal mesh in the flexible coupling disc was introduced around 1971-72 as I recall. The mesh represented a quality as well as a cost savings in order to provide electrical continuity. (Contrary to popular opinion, the mesh did not increase the strength or improve the long term durability of the rubber disc.)

As soon as the metal mesh disc was successfully launched, we immediately converted all of the service coupling assemblies that had brass or wire grounding straps to the metal mesh disc. So it will be necessary to find NOS in order to obtain a flexible coupling with a grounding wire or strap.

Jim

[John H.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

From what I can tell it looks correct.

It's interesting to see those black rubber boots on the coupler's "studs" that protrude through the flange of the steering column. I have heard that they shouldn't be there but in this case they would appear to have been there from day 1.

They're correct for a '67; in later years there were two larger plastic spacers on the pins that served as an alignment device - they had ears with holes in them so they could be removed and thrown in the trash after the steering column was correctly secured.

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

The picture that is on the Zip Products websight is definately the correct flexible coupling for the 1967-early 69 timeframe. (I am quite sure that the flat was added to the Corvette gear input (wormshaft) during the 1969 model year.)

It would be good to know if the picture is still correct for the product that Zip is selling.

Jim

Jim-----


I think the flat was added VERY late in the 1969 model year. In fact, well after what would have been the 1970 model year if the 1970 model year had started in 1969 for Corvettes. My mid-September, 1969-built car had the style without the flat. So, I'd say it must have happened between then and December 31, 1969.

[Bert L.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

black boots definitely there on my orginal 67 joint.

[Jim S.]

Re: Correct Rag Joint

I have seen those black boots on 1967 Camaro flex couplings as well. They would have been several years before I joined the product engineering flex coupling group.

If you look closely at the bolts in the Zip Products picture you will note that they have extensions on their heads. The bolt at 12 o'clock in the picture that Joel Falk posted does not have an extension on the head.

There were several "surprises" that surfaced when all of GM converted to energy absorbing steering columns in 1967. One was that the steering column shaft could be made to collapse and actually pull the flex coupling apart. This could have been caused by dynamic motion of the body to the frame, such as a minor front end collision. The extended head bolts could have been added sometime after SOP. Eventually the stamped "capturing" strap was added.

Jim