Maybe not to the guy who just spent a bunch of money, but it's funny how many times we've heard about someone dumping a lot of dough into their truck to cure a problem only to find out there was a simple solution. When the subject is about how to cure steering slop in a customized classic truck there are a few key points to be covered in the diagnostic process. As a rule, it seems like the first place people look when they're trying to isolate a steering problem is to focus on the front suspension-and then stop there. Ironically, if they had started from the steering-wheel down, it often turns out the problem lies in a worn-out rag-joint or in the steering coupler. That's two good sources of slop before one even gets to the steering box. Once it's established that the steering input transferable to the steering box isn't waylaid by "parasitic loss" (a fancy term for slop), the next step is to move on to checking the steering box right on out the idler arm and tie rods.
The above information applies to any old truck ever made, but that doesn't help a fellow out much if he can't find the parts necessary to make the repairs. The guys with Chevys or Fords are usually in luck, but if a guy drives a Dodge then his fortune just turned to that stuff one emits from their excretory organ. When the time came to dial in the steering response on our '86 Dodge D150-known around the world (or at least around our offices) as the "High-School Custom"-our first thoughts were to look towards the folks at Borgeson Universal in Torrington, Connecticut, and see what they had to offer-after all they've been in steering business since 1914.
Here's the stock Dodge steering...
Here's the stock Dodge steering shaft in comparison to the Borgeson unit designed to upgrade '79-'93 Dodge D100 and D150 trucks (maybe D250 Dodges-call Borgeson on that one).
The black composite rubber...
The black composite rubber disc is called the "rag-joint." This one isn't in bad shape, but the stock Dodge steering coupler exhibits excessive wear.
Since the price of a Borgeson...
Since the price of a Borgeson rag-joint replacement kit is not all that much, and it's always a good idea to install new parts when in doubt, we installed a new Borgeson steering coupler along with the rag-joint.
We soaked the nuts and bolts...
We soaked the nuts and bolts on the rag-joint with Royal Purple Maxifilm and then unbolted the rag-joint.
Notice that it was not necessary...
Notice that it was not necessary to remove all four bolts to disconnect the rag-joint. With it undone we slid the stock Dodge steering shaft sideways out through the inner fenderwell.
With the rag-joint disconnected,...
With the rag-joint disconnected, the next step was to undo the Dodge steering coupler at the steering box. We extracted the red nylon pin with a pair of dikes.
To ease removal of the roll...
To ease removal of the roll pin we soaked the area with Royal Purple Maxifilm-and yes, it does look like Royal Purple's Maxifilm has replaced Wurth's Rostoff as our favorite penetrating oil.
We used a two-pound ball-peen...
We used a two-pound ball-peen hammer to drive a hinge pin removed from one of the doors on my house to knock the roll pin out.
When driving a roll pin out,...
When driving a roll pin out, it's a good idea to ensure that the drift punch chosen doesn't expand the roll pin (notice it is split) and make it difficult to remove.
After soaking with Maxifilm,...
After soaking with Maxifilm, it didn't take a lot of force, but we used a pickle fork to knock the steering coupler away from the steering box.
The first step to installing...
The first step to installing the new Borgeson steering shaft was to place it over the Dodge steering box's splined shaft.
It was very important to verify...
It was very important to verify that the Borgeson steering coupler fully engaged onto the Dodge steering box before locking down the retaining set screw arrangement used by Borgeson.
The last step was to position...
The last step was to position the Borgeson steering shaft fitted with the Borgeson rag-joint into place. After 100 miles we rechecked to see if the bolts were tight, and continued to drive our Dodge with its new tighter feel.