Steering rag joint parts

[Joe L.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

John,
Do you or others know if the 67 plastic covers changed to the assembly spaces in 68? I am in the process of doing my setup currently and curious if 68 had the same covers as 67.

Also, before disassembly of my car, the rim of my steering wheel is about 2 -3 inches from the top of the seat cushion (no telescoping opt). This makes it very challenging to get into the driver seat. Is that typical of 68 or is it an alignment issue I will need to correct?

Thanks,
Pat
68 427 / 400
88

Pat------


If the clearance is actually just 2-3 inches I think something is wrong. However, I have no idea how to correct it. There really isn't any sort of adjustment I know of.

Partially as a result of the factor you described, the steering wheel size for 1969 and later was reduced. Nevertheless, I think you should have about 4-5 inches of clearance with the 68 steering wheel. If you actually have this much, I'd say everything is as it should be.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

John, What is a "NVH thing", I have my 67 steering box apart now and I removed the plastic rivet covers on the rag we are talking about until I put it back together.

I have some play in the lower steering bearing column but I don't understand how to get to the bearing. I don't think anyone has ever been there and this is a early 67 (September 66 build) car.. Can someone post a picture of early 67 column showing lower assembly..

[Michael F.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

It isn't a matter of clocking. It is a matter of aligning the steering column so that it is pointing right at the steering gear input shaft. The stop pins (or rivets) must be central in the cutouts in the lower flange in order for the gear and steering column to be in alignment.

The gear bolts to the frame, there is no adjustment available. The steering column must be central as it passes through the instrument panel cutout. The lower end of the steering column that attaches to the floorpan is the only place where there is any adjustment. With a spacer or boots on the stop pins, this pretty much forces the lower end of the column to be in alignment with the steering gear.

Don't forget that the first generation energy absorbing steering columns (1967) were campaigned because the car assembly plants were not adequately aligning the steering columns to the steering gears. Because of this campaign a Mandatory Steering Column Alignment Procedure was added to the AIMs and also to the Chassis Service Manuals.
Jim

So, if I installed my new steering coupler without these plastic alignment pieces. My column is likely off center?

[John C.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

John,
Do you or others know if the 67 plastic covers changed to the assembly spaces in 68? I am in the process of doing my setup currently and curious if 68 had the same covers as 67.

Also, before disassembly of my car, the rim of my steering wheel is about 2 -3 inches from the top of the seat cushion (no telescoping opt). This makes it very challenging to get into the driver seat. Is that typical of 68 or is it an alignment issue I will need to correct?

Thanks,
Pat
68 427 / 400
88

Pat

Some thing is not right if you only have 2-3 inches. I have 5 inches between the seat cushion and the steering wheel on my 68 with the non-telescopic column. Even with that it can be a tough fit.

John

[Jim S.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

When you tighten the fasteners that hold your column in place in the Corvette body check if the rivets (stop pins) are central in the cutouts in the steering column flange. Then rotate your steering wheel one quarter turn and check if the pins are still central. If they are central in both planes you have the steering column located correctly.

This is what can happen if the column is not correctly aligned.

The plastic alignment spacers helped the car assembly plant to make the steering column installation correctly.

I thought that the 1967 "covers" were rubber. You mentioned that they are plastic? If the covers are hard plastic, I would not think that it was an NVH issue. I would think that it was to help the car assembly plant. If the covers were soft rubber I would think that it was an NVH issue. I also think that the 1967 Camaro had those covers as well.

BTW, here is a drawing showing the early 1967 lower bearing (the one that was campaigned) and the replacement lower bearing package.

Jim

[Stephen L.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

Original 67 rag joint insulators were rubber (or rubber like material) These were also found on passenger cars.

I had some made out of plastic......right photo

[Joe L.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

Original 67 rag joint insulators were rubber (or rubber like material) These were also found on passenger cars.

I had some made out of plastic......right photo

Steve et al------


GM #7800470 was a PRODUCTION-only part, never available in SERVICE. At least, not available in SERVICE as a separate part. It is a Saginaw part number that I would say dates from about 1967, so that "jives" with when it was apparently first used

My 1969 never had these insulators installed from the time it was delivered to me new.

[Jim S.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

Joe,
I will try and contact an engineer at Saginaw on Monday. I will ask him to run an "Engineering Where Used" on the 7800470 part number. That should tell us what years and what models used the spacer.

Jim

[Timothy B.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

Jim,

Any idea how to replace or adjust the lower bearing. My early 67 has approx 1/16" play up/down when the wheel is in straight ahead position. If I turn the wheel 90* the play is much less. I am reluctant to take anything apart because of parts availability. There looks like some plastic parts there and afraid to break something..

I would like to address this while steering box is off the frame.

[Jim S.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

I assume that you have a steering column with the lower end similar to 7803156 in the posting above. I hope that you have an updated steering column because part of the campaign was to replace the entire steering shaft. If you have a big clamp on the lower steering shaft that holds the bearing in place, you should be good to go. (That would mean that your column had been campaigned or that your car was produced after the changes to the steering shaft and lower bearing were in production from Saginaw.)

The following will take you to the Corvette Steering Service website.

http://www.corvettesteering.com/corvette%20parts.htm

They have listed a replacement bearing for the late 1967 production or the campaigned parts.
67- 68 Lower Steering Column Bearing kit: 1967 2nd design all 68s & All 67 & 68 Teles. Kit includes: Repro double chamber ball bearing (Just like original) 2 springs, flat washer & split washer/wedge (Our Exact Repro)

[Timothy B.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

Jim,

It's a early 67 and never had the recall parts installed. Everything is still centered fine and I don't believe there is any damage to the lower steering shaft, just a small play up/down.

I see bearings, spacer etc in LI corvette website but unsure how it comes apart. Looks like if the retaining ring is removed the parts should come out if not rusted in place. I am not sure how to access the ring without damage to anything.

[Jim S.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

Tim,
As long as everything stayed aligned, the original bearing design would work (your car has proven that fact). However, the problems were in the assembly of the steering column into the body and the proper alignment to the steering gear. The original design was deemed inadequate for two reasons:

1). It depended upon a round wire ring seated into a groove in the 1 inch diameter lower steering shaft. The location of the groove was in a set location so a plastic threaded adjuster was needed to take up for the steering shaft length tolerance. The worst part was that the groove in the shaft could become a stress riser if the steering column was not aligned properly. With a constant bending moment in the steering shaft, the shaft could break right in the groove.

2). The original lower bearing could fail if there was a large bending moment. The hardened race(s) could cut into the steering shaft causing it to break.

So a campaign was initiated (not only for Corvettes but a great, great number of GM cars). A replacement 2nd design was developed which included a new steering shaft (completely smooth) with no grooves. Also a new lower bearing package with a double row of bearings was also installed. The lower bearing was preloaded and the steering shaft length tolerance compensated by a clamp, nut, and bolt that was slid up the shaft and tightened in place.

I know of no place that has the smooth replacement Corvette steering shafts. (None are listed at any Corvette supplier that I have researched.)
I also am not aware of any place that has the plastic adjuster or the original lower bearing. As mentioned above, Corvette Steering Service lists replacement bearings for the 2nd design.

Having said the above you might consider this option. As long as your steering column is aligned properly (following the AIM or Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual directions) I would expect that the steering column can serve another 47 years. I would think that you can obtain the replacement 2nd design bearing. There has to be lots of 1 inch diameter clamps, nuts and bolts that have been in used on steering shafts through the years.

Therefore, I would think that you can install the 2nd design package on your steering column. The only thing missing would be the smooth steering shaft (and your car has proven that you can get by as long as things are aligned.) I would carefully inspect your original steering shaft groove to insure that there are no cracks.

Let us know how this turns out.
Good luck,
Jim

[John H.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

John, What is a "NVH thing..

Tim -

"NVH" is GM-speak for "noise, vibration & harshness"; those pin covers (hard rubber, not plastic) may have been added to eliminate the possibility of metal-to-metal contact between the pins on the coupling and the upper flange. Jim may have a better answer when his guy researches the usage for the parts.

[Joe L.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

Tim -

"NVH" is GM-speak for "noise, vibration & harshness"; those pin covers (hard rubber, not plastic) may have been added to eliminate the possibility of metal-to-metal contact between the pins on the coupling and the upper flange. Jim may have a better answer when his guy researches the usage for the parts.

John------


Corvettes through the 60's were the "kings" of NVH. If they lacked those "attributes" we might not even recognize them as Corvettes. Take the NVH away and the cars lose a lot of their "character".

[Kim C.]

Re: Steering rag joint parts

Bill------


If Long Island doesn't have them, they could be difficult or impossible to find.

#18-37e pin bumpers for steering coupler

listed right after the couplers in the online and print catalog.