In this video I show you how to replace the ‘rag joint’ or, steering coupler, on a 1990 GMT400 pick up truck. Honestly this information will apply to SEVERAL GM vehicles of a similar vintage, not just trucks.
So if your vehicle has loose steering and is equipped with this type of coupler, this video will show you how to replace it.
This is (Episode 34) in the #ETCGDadsTruck series.
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Links
Steering Coupler I Used: https://www.ebay.com/itm/253414545622
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#ETCGDadsTruck Starts For the First Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5bDArrWvnI
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Great Video, well done, lighting was superior.
Lots of great information! Great video !
Thank you, very helpful
I dug all the rubber out. then Collapsed it so i could cut the studs out. Now im looking at my new bolts like wtf do they go
what is the part number and will it fit a 1992 k1500 blazer
Master-Spline=Keyway….and not just because the liberals say it’s racist 🤣😂
fun tip for OBS owners. you can use a jeep XJ steering shaft to replace the rag joint and it helps improve slop a lot
righton my lower shaft slids up in to a flat on 2 sides tube/tube wallers around like a hog in the pen
Need help GMC Sierra pickup . when I go fast on a Left turn . and straighten out afterwards staring kind of slips almost going to on coming traffic .it feels like I have no control of my front wheel s ? Thanks
That s why you are men I have 94 chevy and this video save me a lot Grasias amigo larga vida a ti .
you can eat off that motor
I've changed to steering shaft on my 96 Tahoe and the gear box with the pitman arm. Still I have that play. Can you email me on other causes of this issue. Byker195@gmail.com. thanks
Fyi that is the same rag used on 2000 s10… Thanks for the video eric
Holy crap! Sorry for the language, I’ve been trying to figure out why my 93 Subaru wrx has loose steering and I couldn’t find information anywhere, found your video, even tho it ain’t the same vehicle I still know what’s up now, thank you!
You can also buy just the rubber piece for about 10 bucks Dorman help kit 31002. also has a couple bolt to replace the rivets and some of the shield things, not sure why you need them. I found out this weekend it's lot of work because you have to cut all four rivets and I didn't have a die grinder. And I'd suggest using a straight one like you did but with a burr or stone rather than a wheel to get into the recessed area the head is in. That would have made short working of it. Drilling was not fun!
BEARD!!! 😎
Only goes on juan direction 🤣
How the hell am I not subscribed to your channel !?
Jesus christ dad has a nice truck 🙂
rt. 42, right up the street from my place! you have a shop in the area?
1:15 just above the bolt you are removing, what is the part with the c-clip called with the spring in it? Mine keeps popping out. I haven't been able to find what it is in any diagram.
The steering on my 91 1500 is loose. I wasn't thinking rag joint because I thought I had replaced it not too many miles ago, but I certainly don't remember pulling it out and grinding off the rivets, so maybe I haven't. I have a friend who has a 92, and maybe I was there when he replaced his, and that's why I'm thinking I had replaced mine. Anywho…I guess I'll be replacing mine.
video about the new dash cluster ????????
Please help. I have a CPP 50004 steering box and it has a 3/4 30 spline rag joint. It's a correct rag joint size but it will not fit on to the steering box shaft. It's very tight. Any advice please.
Nice cluster …
Thanks for jogging my memory. Many many years ago, "I'm an old guy " I heard about this problem and the fix but I didn't remember exactly how. Now I'm restoring A 57 Chevy and this helps tremendously. Thanks again.
ERIC READ THIS…
Problem is front shaft X-joints are 1/2 rusted.
The fix is to pull the spindle and replace both chafts X-joints that get rusted after enough salty winters.
This is common to all 4×4 "trucks" ie. front wheels chafts PARTLY stop flexing and HUGH THE STEERING OFF CENTER! (Search your fav youtube truck wizard channels)
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you are very dirty
Alright fine, aside from replacing the springs and bushings on my 91 Diesel Suburban, this is the only other thing I've not done as well. I'll at least check it. 😛 The steering isn't just loose on mine though, it has a weird phase delay when driving. It's hard to describe, but that's about as close as I can come. I have to turn the wheel further to get it to start turning, then back off a little bit… It's really frustrating to drive. My 85 is loose, but nowhere near as bad.
ETCG is so dependable. Every video is a winner.
Many GM guys will replace the silly shaft with a jeep shaft. For example: I have an 86 Monte Carlo SS and I used a Jeep Cherokee shaft, retracts for easy install and no movement. Jeep and GM used same Saginaw box…not having a rag joint is best! Guys do the mod for your truck also
Hello Eric
I have a 2020 Kia Forte just bought brand new, it has only 2K miles. I started to hear and feel a knocking under my foot while turning the steering wheel. Is it normal?
Just started a79chev that has this problem. Thanks Eric
And 15 isn't a weird size? 😛
I'm about to do a front end rebuild and I'll be doing a U-joint instead of a rag joint. I'm using a custom made one from Derek's Steering Shafts on FB instead of the Jeep shaft but either will do.
Word of warning to anyone, 97-98 trucks cannot do the Cherokee mod. There's a "blob" joint behind the firewall where the upper shaft goes in. It could in theory make the steering shaft bind up. Make sure you are careful if you do delete the rag joint.
Oh BTW apparently there were 2 sizes GM used randomly and I got the 3.25" OD first so of course i needed the 2,75" OD &^%^%#@
Best video out there, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I see the power steering tubing into the rack is still holding up well with all it's strange bends haha. Nice to see the improvement in steering reaction!
Sup Eric… Thanks for all your videos as they have helped us with our 97 Tahoe improvement project.. this one in particular. We replaced all the front end parts such as gear box, power steering, pit man arms, upper and lower control arms, shocks, etc. and still where having loose steering wheel issues. We will change out the entire coupling steering shaft and hope fully this fixes the issue. Anyways, thank you for your good and cool videos. Stay safe and stay healthy.
I have this problem!
My 94 k1500 has the same steering problem, I didn't know that part was even there. Thanks for the video Eric, looks like a simple fix, I'll try it.
GUESS MY 95 SUBURBAN HAS A SIMILAR SHAFT,I WILL CHECK,STEERING PRETTY SKETCHY AS WELL,LOTS OF PLAY
Great work on that truck 🤘
Nice repair good demonstration
That rag joint is toast
@6:54 is that bit in the vice cracked?
Oh Eric you have changed..now your a celebrity and not a mechanic. lol no gloves? Tut tut tut.
I saw you in Carlisle PA last year, and the car I drove there from WI (‘77 Lincoln Mk V) had upon further inspection once I returned home was a total absence of a rag joint. I only had the upper and lower brackets which meshed after at least 1†of turn on wheel. Sloppy to say the least….
About 10 years ago, I purchased an 91 Ford F-150 4×4 from a small dealer. I think i paid $1200 for it. The steering was scary sloppy. I went to the junkyard and found a rag joint from another Ford, it was maybe $15. It went from 3-5" of slop in center, to about 1/2". Best $15 that I ever spent.
Great to know. I would have suspected slack within the gearbox or rack.