rag joint vs u-joint

[scott0]

i am going to put a new steering shaft in my 69 gto to go with the new column and steering box. the car will be a cruiser/occasional driver. My question is should i go with a u-joint shaft or a rag joint setup?
i am concerned with potentially having a bunch of vibration felt in the steering wheel. is there a big difference between the two? are the gains of a u-joint worth it? thanks for your help guys!

[ArtosDracon]

I much prefer u-joints for their reliability and robustness, but they do transmit more vibrations. I would definitely recommend a rag joint if it were going to be a DD, otherwise I would say go with the one that doesn't require any maintenance.

[scott0]

is there a noticeable difference in steering feel between the two?

[stealth71]

Steering feels frim and compliant. No extra vibration on my setup.

Here's my post from chevelles.com:


Got all the parts in and finally got time to get the new steering shaft installed. Did a little driving and it feels good. A little more steering/road feedback, but no vibration. Also cleared up a lot of room near the alternator for those doing LS swaps and need more space. I had ground the side of the alternator down and was worried about the alt going bad out on the road (750 miles each way to Chevellabration) and not being able to easily swap it. The shaft needed to be cut down 8.25" to make it 18 3/4".

Parts:
Upper U-Joint: 1-48 x 1 DD (214352) Aluminum
Lower U-Joint for GC box: 1 x 3/4 DD x 3/4-30 (214931) Aluminum
Telescoping Shaft: 1 x 24" Extended Length (450024)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/05/IMG_0904JPG-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/05/IMG_0906JPG-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/05/IMG_0907JPG-1.jpg

I think you can just use a slip coupler on the upper joint, but I put a u-joint there as well. Also note the lower u-joint spline count/size is for a Jeep Grand Cherokee box.

[wmhjr]

There are also vibration reducing u-joints. I have a new one that I was going to use, but it turned out I cannot. It combines the best of both worlds. I'm planning on selling it so let me know if you're interested. It's a 3/4" double D to 13/16-36 spline shaft and would go directly on the splined shaft of the power steering box to the 3/4" double d steering shaft.

At summit it is http://www.summitracing.com/parts/IDT-3000034940/

It has been installed, but never used. Got it for my '66 GTO project, but clearances in my case prevented it from being used. I can make you a deal :) Let me know.

[LowBuckX]

i have a non dampening u joint and vibration is nill.

[a67]

A u-joint steering set up is much better then the rag joint style. Like a night & day difference. What I found with all metal connections is more hydraulic noise transmitted to the steering wheel. This noise is from the P/S system and mostly when turning the wheel.

The Astro van and some of the newer full size vans has a rubber damper built into the system (u-jointed). Very good at eliminating the hydraulic noise. And they use a standard size DD shaft. So custom set ups can be built.

Bob.

[scott0]

thanks for all of your input. i will go with the u-joints. thanks again!

[scott0]

There are also vibration reducing u-joints. I have a new one that I was going to use, but it turned out I cannot. It combines the best of both worlds. I'm planning on selling it so let me know if you're interested. It's a 3/4" double D to 13/16-36 spline shaft and would go directly on the splined shaft of the power steering box to the 3/4" double d steering shaft.

At summit it is http://www.summitracing.com/parts/IDT-3000034940/

It has been installed, but never used. Got it for my '66 GTO project, but clearances in my case prevented it from being used. I can make you a deal :) Let me know.


pm replied.