93 q45 steering wheel rag joint bad.

[pjq45]

Today I went to put in a new rack in my car. I got the old leaking rack old out and the rag joint is seized up. Does anyone know how much a new one is going to cost me. Just looking for a round about price.

[maxnix]

What, pray tell us, is a "rag joint"?

Never saw any rags as part of my rack.

[Q451990]

I have never heard of it before either... but apparently it's a legitimate term!

Rag jointFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search A rag joint refers to certain flexible joints found on automobiles. They are typically found on steering shafts that connect the steering wheel to the steering gear input shaft, usually at the steering gear end. They provide a small amount of flex for a steering shaft within a few degrees of the same plane as the steering gear input shaft. It also provides some damping of vibration coming from the steering system, providing some isolation for the steering wheel.

This type of joint was also used on drive shafts of 1960s race cars, later being replaced by the constant-velocity joint or driveshafts with pairs of universal joint. Rear-wheel drive cars have commonly used a lengthwise propeller shaft with a rubber doughnut joint at the gearbox end (limited movement) and a universal joint at the rear axle (greater movement). This gives articulation where needed, but also stops some of the vibration being transmitted into the body.

The joint consists of a piece of doughnut shaped rubber with reinforcing cords vulcanized in it, similar to a tire. This disc is bolted or riveted to flanges mounted on the ends of the shafts to connect the steering wheel shaft to the steering gear. The ragged cords can be seen on the edge of this piece of rubber, hence the term "rag joint". The bolt holes themselves are often reinforced by steel tubes moulded into the doughnut.

The origins of this form of universal joint are from early vehicles that used a disk of thick leather as a similar flexible joint. These were used into the 1920s. As rubber technology improved (particularly for its resistance to spilled mineral oils), it was possible to replace the leather by something longer-lasting. An older vehicle with loose steering or "play in the steering wheel" is many times because of a worn out rag joint. One can reach inside the cab and wiggle the steering wheel while watching the rag joint move without the input shaft moving, this is unnacceptable and needs to be replaced.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rag_joint"

Apparently it was the predecessor of the modern CV joint.

Looks like $63 from Joe.

http://www.infinitipartsusa.co...gid=0

Heath

[maxnix]

On a rack and pinion? I don't think so.

What I see on ST-12 appears to be a universal joint.

[pjq45]

It's a universal joint. Today I went to the junk yard they had a two q45 and they were both bad. I got one off a 97 maxima it was the same for $20.00 bucks.

[Infinitiguy19]

You know you some what overpaid for a used part right: http://www.infinitipartsusa.co...gid=0.

Hope it had low miles at least.

[Q451990]

How is $20 used for a $60+ (Joe Price) overpaying?

In any case it's interesting that the other cars you checked had bad ones...

Heath

[Infinitiguy19]

Well on parts like that isn't better to go with new, because it will last longer right?