Steering question

[Sick Puppy]

I put this here figuring steering went with suspension...

My driver SVO needs a new "rag joint" and I was hoping someone had the Ford part number. I would rather try to find a NOS one rather then use the generic parts store piece. I don't want to go all the way to a solid shaft (ie: Flaming River) because this is a street car and the added vibration it could add.

Paul

[MikeFleming]

I don't want to go all the way to a solid shaft (ie: Flaming River) because this is a street car and the added vibration it could add. IMHO, there is no added steering harness or vibration.

Soft sidewall 50-series tires and 1 degree of caster make it so.

[Sick Puppy]

Thanks Mike, my concern was due to the fact I've driven (and built) some hot rods with solid shafts and noticed the "undersirable input" in the steering wheel.
Of course none of them had 50 series tires either.

[svopony]

I heard some where that the rag joint from a Boss would work but the holes need to be enlarged

Bar

[TheSVOTrust]

I heard some where that the rag joint from a Boss would work but the holes need to be enlarged

Bar

NPD has upgraded all of the early Mustang to the "boss urethane" style (like an SVO) Personally I rather keep the urethane like stock than the rubber (like in the HELPS offering)

Mark

http://www.npdlink.com/store/products/1969_mustang_insulator_steering_joint_coupler-148815-2812.html?shop_by_year=1969

[brsvo]

That link says rubber?

[Sick Puppy]

It does say rubber???:confused:
I want to thank Mark because that link gave me a backdoor to the Ford part number for the "rag joint". I'm trying to verify it with a picture and I'll post it here in the approriate forum.
I checked out the Flaming River stuff and besides my concern about added harshness and vibration the $price$ convinced me to stay stock.
Meanwhile I'm going to check my inventory for a "gently used" replacement.

[brsvo]

Gently used replacements will be just as old and dried out as fully used ones, they are 25+ years old! Unless you've had a box full hiding in climate control all these years! But then you wouldn't have started this thread. As for the Help parts they seem to last me 7 years.

[TheSVOTrust]

I guess the thing I have an advantage with is I WALK INTO NPD !

THey used to supply rubber in the past and at that time you chose the Boss 302 one. Now all seem to be that style and the price has come down.

They were out of stock a couple of months ago when I needed one. So if you can wait I'll check next visit
Mark

[Sick Puppy]

I finally got time to address this issue and after digging through my parts collection I found this shaft:

707470757076

It's doesn't have the plastic piece that gets hard and falls apart, this one has reinforced rubber and is in good shape.
It looks original and not like it was replaced with an aftermarket piece.
I have no idea what car this came out of but I'm going to clean it up and put it in the 2R.

[MikeFleming]

Looks like it's missing the bottom splined piece. With some luck it will bolt up to your existing one.

[Sick Puppy]

Mike, I usually leave that piece on the rack when I swap them.
This one matches the shaft I took out of my GT Turbo and all the others in my 'collection' of mostly bad ones.
The 2R is a budget build, I have lots of used parts for it.

[svono50]

That looks like an aftermarket layer reinforced one to me, like the one from NPD or in the HELP section, or is it just me. The factory units in all 3 of my Mustangs over the years were translucent urethane pieces and appeared molded with a varying cross section. All the aftermarket replacements are flat, stamped rubber pieces and are also likely more durable than the factory units, IMHO. Glad you found a replacement in your own inventory, though.

[Sick Puppy]

Ted, all the ones I have repaired had the urethane pieces that get brittle and crack and fall apart.
This one still has the factory rivets holding the rubber on and it doesn't look like it was ever taken apart???
I've got it cleaned up and it will be going in the car this week, I plan on driving it to Carlisle.
I still have to swap out the alternator, the one in the car now is putting out ~17.5v! :(
The last thing is the 'sticky' RF caliper and she should be good to go.

[MikeFleming]

I still have to swap out the alternator, the one in the car now is putting out ~17.5v! :( That's not an alternator problem. That's a regulator or wiring problem.

[svono50]

Gotta agree with Mike on that one, better get that fixed before you have other electrical gremlins pop up or fizzle out. As for the rag joint, I am sure the urethane ones were not the only ones used on the production line, but maybe that was a warranty part/assembly. In any case, it should be more durable than one of the urethane versions. Sticky calipers...uugghh, those are not good for a road trip. I would replace with SS piston calipers, as the phenolics are just too prone to that issue. I got my SS piston units from Advance Auto for under $20/side. Good luck.

[MikeFleming]

In my experience with SVO brakes, the number one reason for caliper (piston) sticking is decades old (dirty) brake fluid.

To paraphrase Ford: "Have you driven your brake fluid lately?"

[Sick Puppy]

Started in on both issues today, should be done by the end of the week.
Thanks for the input guys!