Steering coupler needed

Frank Brooks

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My rag joint has torn somewhat, and I'd like to replace it. I see that there are solid steering couplers that do not even use a flexible rubber joint.

Is there a good source for these parts? Or even better, the OEM style.

Thanks
 
Try Bouchillion Performance, ( I think that's how you spell it.) They carry an improved oem style rag joint.
 
There are NOS Mopar ones on Ebay for 200.00. I bought one before I seen Bouchillon had them. Although the one I got was a very nice NOS piece. Just look for NOS, what ever year and make of your car.
 
I'm going to go with the solid aluminum one. Ordered it yesterday.

Saforwardlook had a Bouchillon Coupler for Sale back in January. If the company hasn't shipped yours yet maybe you can cancel it and pick up Saforwardlook's at a good price.

For Sale - Bouchillon Steering coupler

I replaced mine about a month ago and got a NOS OEM Rubber Rag Joint off ebay for $65.

Due to the angle at which the coupler mates to the steering shaft, the solid aluminum joint would not have worked well. Because both mating pieces are not completely parallel to each other the connection between them needs the flexibility of the rubber for mating the two surfaces. It's not apparent just looking at the old rag joint because it flexes. A sign that it needed to flex are the cracks you see in the old rag joint. Also, the rubber acts as a vibration dampner. With the solid rag joint vibrations will most likely be felt.

Let us know how it comes out -
 
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That's the one I bought. I did not find a correct flexible joint anywhere, and I looked hard. I would prefer to replace it with a correct part.

Various places say the hard coupler is just fine, and many cars don't use a flexible coupler but use a u-joint instead.

I'll try this and see how it works.

Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.
 
Have a look at these and see if this could set you off in the right direction.

Volkswagen Restoration Parts | New VW Parts | Volkswagon: Steering Coupler, Rubber,OE Mexico Dealer

84950 - Steering Coupler - Ingalls Engineering Co., Inc.

1968-1969 Nova Steering Coupler Rag Joint For Manual Steering Fine Thread

More Information for LARES 201

Finding the right unit shouldn't be hard, just a matter of knowing the diameter of your steering shaft, even for F150's use this coupler.

More Information for DORMAN 31004
 
It's more about the solid rubber composite of the rag joint. Anything else would be inferior IMO.

The diameter of the OEM is 3" and the thickness is approximately 1"

A seller on eBay has 7 left @ $200 each - supply and demand. Pricey, but he appears to be the only source for these.

1973 Satellite Road Runner Charger Coronet NOS MoPar RAG JOINT COUPLER Chryco

NOS MoPar #3575303 sheering shaft insulator for just above the steering box on 1973 Satellite, Charger, Road Runner, Coronet, B Body cars and all 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 full size Plymouth, Dodge, Chrysler, and Imperial models. This may be offered in aftermarket catalogs, but ONLY the part Mopar sold actually works. Fury, Sport Fury, I, II, III, GT, S-23, Polara, Monaco, 500, Newport, New Yorker, 300.

MADE IN USA!
 
It's more about the solid rubber composite of the rag joint. Anything else would be inferior IMO.

The diameter of the OEM is 3" and the thickness is approximately 1"

A seller on eBay has 7 left @ $200 each - supply and demand. Pricey, but he appears to be the only source for these.

1973 Satellite Road Runner Charger Coronet NOS MoPar RAG JOINT COUPLER Chryco

NOS MoPar #3575303 sheering shaft insulator for just above the steering box on 1973 Satellite, Charger, Road Runner, Coronet, B Body cars and all 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 full size Plymouth, Dodge, Chrysler, and Imperial models. This may be offered in aftermarket catalogs, but ONLY the part Mopar sold actually works. Fury, Sport Fury, I, II, III, GT, S-23, Polara, Monaco, 500, Newport, New Yorker, 300.

MADE IN USA!
This not the same as used in the 66 model cars, the one listed is for cars that have rubber isolated K-frames. Also this coupler does not connect to the steering box but is an intermediary between the steering shaft and the steering box coupler. Not a rag joint at all. The ones I listed are correct and were replaced on Mopars in 1967 with the metal housing "rectangular" coupling we see on our steering boxes.
 
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This not the same as used in the 66 model cars, the one listed is for cars that have rubber isolated K-frames. Also this coupler does not connect to the steering box but is an intermediary between the steering shaft and the steering box coupler. Not a rag joint at all. The ones I listed are correct and were replaced on Mopars in 1967 with the metal housing "rectangular" coupling we see on our steering boxes.

I believe Frank has a '66 Fury as that's what his profile is showing and he did mention his rag joint was torn...

Not sure about '67 on, but I know 65-66 c-body used the rubber rag joint. The seller lists '67 on so I stand corrected if that is not correct. Here's a photo of my rag joint in my '66TC

2016-03-19%2012.59.17.jpg
 
Here is what mine looks like...almost the same as yours, I think. Although my steering shaft is on the other side of the rag joint. Does anyone have a pic of their Fury to post?

 
Here is what mine looks like...almost the same as yours, I think. Although my steering shaft is on the other side of the rag joint. Does anyone have a pic of their Fury to post?

Is this normal? Column loose? Steering gear loose?

I have never seen a Mopar steering column not in alignment on a single axis.


Alan
 
The car drives great. It is in the shop (a good shop) now, and we're working through it. They say everything looks like it should from column to steering box; no signs of accident or modification. I though it could be aligned by loosening the column at the firewall, but it's not obvious how.

We are a little perplexed at the moment. Removing the cover showed the cracked biscuit, but that's all we have done to it.

I bought it that way.

Can it be adjusted somehow? I know it's not right.

As I said, it drives very well at all turning angles.
 
That's the one I bought. I did not find a correct flexible joint anywhere, and I looked hard. I would prefer to replace it with a correct part.

Various places say the hard coupler is just fine, and many cars don't use a flexible coupler but use a u-joint instead.

I'll try this and see how it works.

Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.
L found one but they wanted 500 us...about 650 can....got the alum one mentioned above
 
Here is what mine looks like...almost the same as yours, I think. Although my steering shaft is on the other side of the rag joint. Does anyone have a pic of their Fury to post?

64EF190A-B822-4C44-A3A4-6281D98572B0_zps7o1ajmnt.jpg

Frank, yours is the same as mine just a different orientation of the photo. Flip your photo 180 degrees and it would be the same. Strange how the angle of your coupler arm is so much further over than mine. Now that I'm on my home computer screen looking at it, it could very possibly be due to the rag joint "torn" as you mentioned that it is not holding the coupler in its proper alignment. But, if that's the way Fury's are then I don't think an aluminum joint will work simply due to the angle of the couplers rod. Mine was off by 1/4" but luckily the joint is rubber and was able to flex to mate to the two surfaces together.
 
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I had the same issue with my coupler. Tried the the solid couple. It didn't work well. Ended up getting 2 Dorman 31000 or 31005 one of them is the same size bolt pattern. Cut some 3/8 tubing about an inch long, got longer socket head bolts and double nutted the bolts. Cost less than $ 20.00 works great.
 
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