rags
Senior Member
i can usually take 'em with a bare hand. pop it off. unbolt the box from the frame and gravity will do the rest. heck let the gravity pop it.
Steer Gear Replace
- Thread starter 66furys
- Start date
Yes gravity. But at my older extinguished age, I am going to add a winch....a small one to lower and raise, so I do not have to do what I have done all my life...fight it. I am going to remove the shaft with two bolts....one out now, and not have to fight. I just hope the new one will fit. Old age changes a lot of things....as you will find...and it aint the golden years, except the docs want your gold.
Also found the rubber rag joint pretty bad....so will take the advise of others here, and try the Dorman 31002...may need 2, but they do not list the bolt spacing anywhere, including Summit. So ordered one, and if fits will get another. So far, so bad, but gettin it dun.
Wrong piece to buy. This is what you want. That rubber is just... well rubber and nothing like the original part.
Steering coupler found
And here: 1973 Newport Steering Coupler/Rag Joint
rags
Senior Member
man, i hear you. but i stopped fighting 30 years ago. i found that i don't get paid enough to actually labor. i let the pneumatics do the work. in this case i'd use one of these with a blunt chisel to get that coupler off the box. braaaap, and it's off.
I have been dealing with Jerry at Lares.....and sent him a note on this because I thought they may have the part.......so I will look at the 220. Problem I have is that many of these do not even give you the bolt spacing....some do. So, will pursue for best replace. thanks....again John.
Sorry to drag this out so long, but both my work and finding parts is taking time. But, a couple lessons learned so far, include that I should have removed the four socket head capscrews from the rag joint first, need to turn the wheel a bit, and easier with pitman off. Mark the shafts to realign. With the capscrews out, you can simply slide the rubber joint out. I just removed the two lower ones, and had little room to remove the short shaft with lower coupler, even with column as loose as I have gotten it. Also, in this process, allow as much oil to drain when turning the gearbox as possible.....otherwise you will have some drain on you when dropping the beast. I did not go to the trouble to fully seal the in and out, which would also help.....Just taped mine to keep dirt out, but oil can still find a way out. Lastly for now, I am looking for any spacers or washers behind the box to the frame for alignment. I will make a pattern of the bolt holes on my box to compare to the new one before I wrestle it into place.
So, let us talk about gravity. This stinkin gear is heavy. I am pretty good shape, but would NOT want to just pull it out by hand. I added a small strap puller over the engine, and lowered the thing.....would not have wanted it otherwise, once I hefted it out from under the car....sorry to those that say just haul it out...not for me. Am draining fluid now, and waiting for new gear, with hopes it will fit. Mine had NO spacers behind the two bolts and one stud....the odd man out is a stud with nut. I will likely just put on the strap and pull the new one back into place....TBD. Another note on rag joint.....the boys at Lares are out. They sent me to a small guy who did not call back for hours, so I went to RockAuto and they say they have sent me one.....for this car, the 220. Looks the same, and Lares says it is direct replace. Time again will tell the tale.
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