89 V1500 rag joint R&R Help needed...

[Mav2u]

Okay, I thought, lets change this joker out as it is looking loose after I inspected it.

Seemed easy, but then I got it out and can't seem to figure out how to seperate the plates held together with the two big looking rivet things.

Do these things twist off? Do I cut them? I got a HELP! kit from Autozone and it has just the bolts and rummer replacement.

My GM manual is damn fague and chiltons and haynes plain bite. So who here has done this.

Can post pics if needed to see what I'm talking about.

Yes, I know about the xj swap but I'm keeping her nice an stock at this moment. Bad designs and all.

thanks,
jeremy

 

[mnstrburbon]

I did the auto zone one and it failed YES failed a month and a half later so i went xj cheaper easier and more reliable.
If you want to r&r it get a new one from the dealer and return the autozone one. I can't remember off hand how it came apart but post a pic and i can walk you through it.

 

[Jason4x4]

they need to be ground off, they are rivets, then the new one bolts in place

 

[K5er4Life]

I did the auto zone one and it failed YES failed a month and a half later so i went xj cheaper easier and more reliable.
If you want to r&r it get a new one from the dealer and return the autozone one. I can't remember off hand how it came apart but post a pic and i can walk you through it.

I have heard of the xj one, but where and how do I aquire this part? (year, model)

 

[Big Ray]

linky

 

[mnstrburbon]

The square body jeep wagon the 4 door ones. I had an early column so mind was splined not DD at the column so i cut the xj bottom and the stock one and slid them together working for 2 years now. On the later ones it is easier as the link describes. Mine was a 78 they changed a year or so after mine IIRC.

 

[Mav2u]

Okay, I'll grind them bizzatchs off then... None of manuals had any indication of what to do. Totally sucks biscuit!

Starting to get back into repairing the Jimmy. Steering is the first r&r area to deal with.

I need to look at the XJ swap or Borgeson makes a nice looking setup to replace everything.

Thanks guys.

 

[mnstrburbon]

so does flaming river but super pricey, the xj is 10 bucks at pick and pull.

 

[Mav2u]

I'm curious once you swap to the universal joint style if the steering wheel then feels and bounces to every jolt not that the rag joint isn't their to soften the vibrations?

 

[kgblazerfive]

yes, but you drive a truck not a caddy so its no big deal

 

[Mav2u]

Yeah, but I like to rest my drink on the steering wheel. LOL.... Truck still steers good. Can't believe I never changed this thing out until now.

 

[cdoggwsu]

Yes, I know about the xj swap but I'm keeping her nice an stock at this moment. Bad designs and all.

It's an 89 chevy truck, not like you're restoring a 'cuda or something.

You'll be disappointed in the rag joint replacement and the borgeson is $$$.

Just do the XJ swap and be done with it.

 

[imiceman44]

Yeah, but I like to rest my drink on the steering wheel. LOL.... Truck still steers good. Can't believe I never changed this thing out until now.

If you did the rag joint replacement, you will be doing it soon again.
The ones on the marke now are just rubber with very little if any reinforcement, and they are not very tolerant of oil leaks, mine lasted me a couple of weeks because it got oil soaked and fell appart, I ened up finding a good one at PNP and replaced it which worked until I parted the truck a few years later.
I got the XJ shaft when I was going to fix the truck but then parted it and sold those XJ shafts.