Does GM still have rag joints for a camaro, If not ,who sells the best ,and do they have the brass ground contact.
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68 SS 4 speed

I don't think GM has the steering coupler, but the aftermarket folks do.
You'll have to guess about which are imported tin and which aren't unless you call and ask. Ricks back-ordered mine when I bought it because they were changing vendors for their steering couplers to a more reputable one.

I never thought of them being made of cheap metal.
That means it could break ,just sitting in your garage.
One just ended on ebay .An original.for $25.00

Try Lee Manufacturing, I bought one from them when converting my 68 to fast ratio. Mine came with wire reinforced rubber.:thumbsup:
Lee Manufacturing Co.
11661 Pendleton St.
Sun Valley, CA 91352
818/768-0371

I,ll gine them a call. Thanks

I bought one from GM a couple of months ago , it came to around $60.00 with taxes . If you need it I will look for the part number .
Mark .

If I could get a part number, I,d be grateful. I don,t like using reproduction parts.
They are only (Good For Nothing ). Good if you have nothing.
Thanks Errol

i got mine here a few years ago.

good quality too!
http://www.borgeson.com/products.htm

They look pretty good. I don,t think any of them come with the copper ground strap. thanks

Dawgs, I forgot to tell you ,your car looks nice.Can,t beat that color.

Saginaw changed the power steering gear input shaft from 13/16 to 3/4 inch diameter in 1977. I have asked my contacts at Saginaw if they supply any service flexible couplings with 13/16 flanges. So far, I haven't found any. This leaves aftermarket flex coupling assemblies or repair kits. There may still be NOS at various restoration suppliers.

Lastly, if you touch the outside edge of the rubber disc on a GM flex coupling and feel sharp wire strands, this is a flexible coupling manufactured after 1971. The electrical grounding path was changed from a wire (or brass strap) to a metal screen molded into the face of the rubber disc. The screen was not added for strength, it is the ground path across the rubber disc. The primary horn circuit ground path is down through the steering column shaft; through the flexible coupling; into the steering gear; then into the frame.

I don't think that there are any aftermarket flex coupling assemblies with the screen (or with a grounding wire or strap). The same goes for the rebuild kits. So if your horn stops working after repairing your flexible coupling assembly, this might be the reason.

JIML82

Working on 1970 RagJoint here, but hope its same as 1st Gen. I want to restore all the metal cosmetically........and zinc plate or phosphate where original. 1) Is there anything wrong with restoring an OLD rag joint, or am i asking for trouble? 2) Has ANYBODY ever taken out the two smooth shafted pieces that go through the rubber and "fasten" (thread???) into the main metal section........(confused yet?? I hope not) PLEASE look at one if you an extra laying around. HOW....do you remove those two smooth POST looking pieces???

Thanks, Chuck

The screen was not added for strength, it is the ground path across the rubber disc. The primary horn circuit ground path is down through the steering column shaft; through the flexible coupling; into the steering gear; then into the frame.

I don't think that there are any aftermarket flex coupling assemblies with the screen (or with a grounding wire or strap).
JIML82

The coupler I bought from Ricks last year definitely has the evil wire screen molded into the rubber disk. I stuck myself with it many time during the installation process! I cut back as many of the wires sticking out as I could before I threw the thing out the window.
;)

Chuck, I think those smooth shafts you're talking about are some type rivit.

IF they are some kind of non removable "rivet" HOW could anybody (noy saying they are) take all the rag joint apart to restore??????

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Misc%20Camaro%20pics/Rag1Joint.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Misc%20Camaro%20pics/Rag2.jpg

Those smooth stop pins were hot riveted in place. You would have to grind off the heads and drive out the pins with a punch. The OEM parts were designed to be very secure.

BTW, if you are looking for OEM type parts; the flange that mounted to the gear was never plated. It was a bare forging or a casting. The pinch bolt was black phosphate coated. The other hardware on the flexible coupling was bright silver zinc plating. None of the parts were ever gold colored. The ground wire in the top picture looks like the ones we used to use in the late 60s.

It appears as if the supplier of the part in the picture took a Saginaw flexible coupling assembly and dipped it in a plating tank to get the gold color on all the parts. It probably didn't do the rubber disc any good - but it probably didn't hurt it either.

JIML82