Hi Jack, I'm in the middle of rebuilding my steering (gear/pump/coupling) and it sounds like a really good idea to replace the rag joint also. Do you have an address for these replacements? Thanks, Frank 72 coupe (2) The Netherlands ----- Original Message ----- From: "jlindholm " <jlindholm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 6:54 PM Subject: IML: rag joints and steering adventures '73 > Hi All, > not wanting to resurect the rag joint controversy of a few months back, but to relate my recent experience. > 1st, If you haven't replaced the unit on your many many years old very heavy car. Do it > I unbolted the joint, and it fell apart in 5 pieces in my hand and on the street. There was precious little actually joining the steering gear to the wheel! > > As per our old discussion: the factory part is very different than any of the replacements I've seen. it's an approx. inch thick affair, rubber dougnut with 4 metal wedges vucanized in it. nice design. > all of the replacements are thinner rubber/fiber laminates with 4 holes cut in them. > the thing is, the replacements work with an appropriate spacer, > or with 2 of them grouped together. (which I did) > total cost 8 bucks. I spent quite a while searching these things online, and come to find that every car I could find that used a rag joint, used these rubber/fiber ones. > > One thing I can say, is that the improvement is unbelieveble. > I had recently replaced the old and sloppy(even after many adjustments) > steering box with a rebuilt one from FirmFeel. (stage 1 firmness) > wonderful, but all the slop remained until I replaced the joint. > > I've never driven anything like this in my Imperials > it's really wonderful, and tight and precise. > It really transforms the experience of driving the car. > > I think of all the time I've been driving (hearding?) 5500lbs of 31 yr old steel in Manhattan like that.. > > be safe > > > > Jack > > 73 Lebaron (under control) > 81 Imperial (under wraps) > > > ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- > This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please > reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be > shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the > Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm > > ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm