I recently ordered a rebuild kit for the rag joint on my 68 coupe from NPD... Trouble is I can't tell what goes where. Has anyone put one of these together before?

If that's the one with the solid rubber disc (same as the kits you find in the "Help" section at the auto parts store), I wouldn't recommend it; they're not safe. :(

I read that same warning here a year ago and it prompted me to buy a complete joint from Ricks instead.

Chip, I bought one from Rick's that I don't want. I put it on, then took it off because it is from Taiwan. GM still makes them. It is for non-tilt car. If you want it it is yours for $3.85 freight. Email me.

Gary L,
I am curious. Was it a rebuild kit or was it a complete flexible coupling assembly that came from Taiwan?

I thought that Saginaw was the only source for the complete flex coupling assembly.

The real safety objection that I have with some rebuild kits is that they include plain bolts and nuts to assemble the rubber disc to the steering column flange. From an engineering standpoint; you NEVER use a bolted connection to assemble parts made of rubber. You must have bushings or shoulder bolts so that you have a metal to metal connection. That is the only way to generate proper bolt tension in the joint.

Double nuts, locktite, torque prevailing nuts, lock washers, etc are not adequate to make a secure joint if it is only squeezing rubber.

JIML82

Chip,


I have to agree, toss the rebuild kit and get a complete rag joint. I bought the same kit from NPD, got it on and had the same concerns about it as Jim just mentioned in the previous post. So I ordered a new GM rag joint from GM Parts Direct. If I remember correctly it was around $60 even with their high S&H fee.


Victor

67 vert
W 2LG 3L 4P

Fwiw, my r/j kit had a stiff steel screen wire reinforced rubber washer!!

I had to grind the little, needle-like screen wire tips off b/c they will "GIT-YOU" in a heartbeat!!

Some say it is window screen wire but to me more like tire belt steel wire!! Stiff as all get-out!!

pdq67

Gary L,
I am curious. Was it a rebuild kit or was it a complete flexible coupling assembly that came from Taiwan?

I thought that Saginaw was the only source for the complete flex coupling assembly.

The real safety objection that I have with some rebuild kits is that they include plain bolts and nuts to assemble the rubber disc to the steering column flange. From an engineering standpoint; you NEVER use a bolted connection to assemble parts made of rubber. You must have bushings or shoulder bolts so that you have a metal to metal connection. That is the only way to generate proper bolt tension in the joint.

Double nuts, locktite, torque prevailing nuts, lock washers, etc are not adequate to make a secure joint if it is only squeezing rubber.

JIML82

It is complete and what Rick's sells now. It has shoulder bolts. This is one of my beefs with them because they advertise GM and ship something else. I always try to buy GM parts when they are available. That is why I took it off.