The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Steering Failure - Check your Rag Joints

I already posted this in the 60-66 Forum, but I should have put it here. Everyone needs to think about this kind of failure. We all drive old trucks. This could have happened to any of us. I got lucky.

I had a scary one happen yesterday. Drove the old '62 to work. When I got ready to leave, I put it in reverse and cranked the wheel to back out of the parking space and heard and felt a major "BANG!", then the steering wheel spun with ease and felt completely disconnected. I got out and looked, sure enough, the Rag Joint had shredded and fallen out. I'm sure glad this happened backing out of a parking space instead of on the freeway at 70+ mph like I was doing the day before.

Please take the time to check the steering coupler (rag joint) on your truck. If it has never been replaced, you may want to consider changing it.

here's a couple of photos from my failure.

Steering Failure

Rag Joint

Do it! Check your joints. I don't have rag joints, but I have 2 universal joints to to keep my steering shaft connected on a '59 3E. I had a little too much play in the wheel and it made me a little uncomfortable. Local shop guy told me not to drive it until I replaced them....Once I did, I can see why he said don't drive it. Be smart. Be safe

That's why I was trying to spread the word!

The new part came in yesterday, but it was raining to hard to work on the truck.

This afternoon, I had both the time and clear weather to work on it. Truck is now officially repaired and back on the road!!

Steering Coupler Repar