How to achieve tighter steering?

[wlwarnke]

 

[Juggernaut]

Look at the Steering shaft and see how worn the rag joint is. This design allows a lot of slop no matter if new or not. Check out this Jeep steering shaft hack. It replaces the Chevy shaft with a Jeeps shaft which has no rag joint. I am doing this now to my 78 Cheyenne 4x4.

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I was told many years ago by an old man much smarter than I, not to remove the rag joint and install a u-joint. His reason is that the rag joint absorbs vibrations and movement from both the road and from the cab, to protect the bearings and gears in the steering box and in the column. Your cab is mounted on rubber bushings and moves around much more than you might think. Without the rag joint you are relying on the ball joint at the column to take this movement, not just side to side but in and out too. The rag joint also absorbs bump steer and vibrations from the road that can travel up the shaft. I don't know if this is true, and I would like to know if someone has done this mod on a truck that does hard 4-wheeling, and if they have felt any difference or had steering failures

 

[bucket]

I was told many years ago by an old man much smarter than I, not to remove the rag joint and install a u-joint. His reason is that the rag joint absorbs vibrations and movement from both the road and from the cab, to protect the bearings and gears in the steering box and in the column. Your cab is mounted on rubber bushings and moves around much more than you might think. Without the rag joint you are relying on the ball joint at the column to take this movement, not just side to side but in and out too. The rag joint also absorbs bump steer and vibrations from the road that can travel up the shaft. I don't know if this is true, and I would like to know if someone has done this mod on a truck that does hard 4-wheeling, and if they have felt any difference or had steering failures

Ideally, if removing a rubber isolator, you want the shaft to change lengths freely. Then there is no binding as the cab moves.

Removing the rag joint does indeed add in a noticeable amount of road feel, but that is a desired trait for many people.

 

[Memaloose]

How old is "old"?

 

[Kurnacopia]

I was told many years ago by an old man much smarter than I, not to remove the rag joint and install a u-joint. His reason is that the rag joint absorbs vibrations and movement from both the road and from the cab, to protect the bearings and gears in the steering box and in the column. Your cab is mounted on rubber bushings and moves around much more than you might think. Without the rag joint you are relying on the ball joint at the column to take this movement, not just side to side but in and out too. The rag joint also absorbs bump steer and vibrations from the road that can travel up the shaft. I don't know if this is true, and I would like to know if someone has done this mod on a truck that does hard 4-wheeling, and if they have felt any difference or had steering failures

I was actually thinking about that just yesterday....I suppose the steering stabilizers would help but If its "too tight" it may be an issue. Thanks for bringing this up. Its an excellent point. MK

 

[Juggernaut]

How old is "old"?

I was probably in my early 20's, and he was probably late 60's. Now I'm 50 years old and that doesn't seem all that old! He was a sharp cookie though, helped me to rebuild my first steering gearbox. It's still in the truck today, works like a champ and doesn't leak a drop

 

[Bruce Wingate]

I dont love the idea of grinding anything on my steering assembly, im wondering if a different bolt with a longer shoulder might work. I know Borgson makes replacement shafts but their like $350 or something insane. How much better is the cross over steering, is it work the money? Ive got a V2500 on 33's, super mellow and i like it that way, do lots of highway miles and the play in the steering wheel is exhausting and dangerous.

I am going to Borgeson route - its not quite $300. Its cheaper (I think) and less work than crossover steering. The Jeep intermediate shaft is probably cheaper but I don't have a pick and pull or any good yards near me.

Check out this video for the shaft and steering bearing replacement:

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[Scott91370]

I just did the Jeep intermediate shaft. Got it at Summit for something like $130.
Problem with my steering seems to be in the box, I still have play.

Wish someone had an inexpensive rack and pinion setup for these! But if I am going to replace the box for $600-$700 I might as well pay the extra $200-$300 for R&P and be happy.

 

[1990suburban2500]

Yeah its likely not 300$ for my American friends, but the Canabuck sucks! Thanks for the video.

 

[74Blaze]

I have the Frame support and Crossover Steering with 4" lift and 33s. the ORD Crossover Steering fixed my looseness issues. Might have been going to the 2WD Steering Box which is required for Crossover Steering. I considered using the Jeep XJ Steeering Shaft as well. But once the Crossover upfit was complete the looseness went away.