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When I had looked into doing this, I came across something saying that the rag joint is safer in a collision.
If I remember correctly, they made the case that in a front end collision you could get impailed by the steering shaft?Perhaps that’s the case, but having disassembled / removed the rag, and installed the U-joint on two of my vehicles, it’s not evident as to why. Do tell.
If I remember correctly, they made the case that in a front end collision you could get impailed by the steering shaft?
I wasn't completely sold on it, but also you are supposed to have a little bit of angle for universal joints, they are not intended to be in a straight line, weather that matters on a steering shaft that only turns back and forth, IDK?
Mine were both terrible when I did them. Had to drill the rivits out and put grade 8 ⅜ bolts and lock nuts in with new kit from Napa. I think it was less than $20 per truck, and both were a night and day difference.
Who knows I might have to do it again in 20 years and yours will still be good?
Where the rag joint is it's pretty straightIs the steering shaft actually in a straight line with the input shaft on the steering gear? IDK.
Your probably right on that. I personally didn't see how the rag joint could prevent it, but I'm not an engineer. Maybe it's supposed to break, but I don't think the rivits would, I doubt the grade 8 bolts would? IDKthought the collapsible shafts were supposed to save us from a steering shaft through the heart.
In 1990, I had a head-on at 55 in my 89 rcsb. Put my left hand up into the windshield with my lower teeth into the back of it. Right hand and chest folded the top of the steering wheel over and my right knee folded the transfer case shifter over while my foot on the brake bent the brake pedal to the left at 45*. Front bumper was a huge frowny face almost touching ground on both sides. The brand new frame mounted smittybuilt grill guard had to have helped. Rear lights blew out the lenses and bulbs, and the speedo was pegged at 55mph. Driver behind me said he saw the entire bottom of my truck straight up in the air. Had to push the door open a crack with my feet to slither out since the back of the engine was almost in the cab with me. No seat belt on, and no injuries except a busted up lower lip and a big round steering wheel shaped bruise for a few weeks. And a profound smell of antifreeze that still conjurs up memories to this day. Found out later that our trucks had scored 5 out of 5 in head on collisions, thank goodness. But I remember no steering shaft issue with the wreckage in the driveway, so I will assume that me not being impaled like a kabob was a design success for GM... bravo GMThe rag joint is to dampen vibration. And the steering shaft is 2 piece so it'll collapse so it don't go through your chest.
Besides that was more of a thing with solid steering shafts like my 51 the steering shaft is part of the gear box. But I'm not concerned about the column going through me. If I'm in a bad enough wreck for that then I'd probably be dead before it got to me.
That says alot for these truck. I had a 52 before this 51 and a kid turned in front of me while texting. And I was doing about 35mph, folded the steering wheel over and had the bruise on my chest, busted nose, and put a dent in the dash with my left kneeIn 1990, I had a head-on at 55 in my 89 rcsb. Put my left hand up into the windshield with my lower teeth into the back of it. Right hand and chest folded the top of the steering wheel over and my right knee folded the transfer case shifter over while my foot on the brake bent the brake pedal to the left at 45*. Front bumper was a huge frowny face almost touching ground on both sides. The brand new frame mounted smittybuilt grill guard had to have helped. Rear lights blew out the lenses and bulbs, and the speedo was pegged at 55mph. Driver behind me said he saw the entire bottom of my truck straight up in the air. Had to push the door open a crack with my feet to slither out since the back of the engine was almost in the cab with me. No seat belt on, and no injuries except a busted up lower lip and a big round steering wheel shaped bruise for a few weeks. And a profound smell of antifreeze that still conjurs up memories to this day. Found out later that our trucks had scored 5 out of 5 in head on collisions, thank goodness. But I remember no steering shaft issue with the wreckage in the driveway, so I will assume that me not being impaled like a kabob was a design success for GM... bravo GM