Looking into making my own steering shaft soon, since my stocker is scary junk. I guess I'm not going to be making the whole shaft, but just replacing the rag joint with a U joint. I've got a few questions for anyone who has made their own (BRUISER, swank, etc).

1. What is the part number or what size U joint do I need to make this work? I would like to be able to pick it up at a local driveline shop, or even summit if I have to. The sooner/more available a part is the better. I've never taken a Dodge steering ragjoint apart, so I don't know what to expect. Is there a certain diameter or number of threads on the U joint that I need? Or will it all just be welded together? I will be making something similar to the setup swank and BRUISER have made.

2. I've always heard that it is a big no-no to weld your own steering parts, so I guess that is why I am so apprehensive about this. I trust my welds (I would TIG weld the shaft). With the recent failure of the borgeson that I read about on here I am more prone to make my own. I just wonder if I will be safer making my own or buying the borgeson? Steering is not a place that I want to skimp on - I'd rather be alive and not kill someone else than have $150 more in my pocket.

Any help is appreciated! I really need part numbers or sizes of u joints, if anyone has them. If I take it apart and don't feel safe, I'll just buy a borgeson.

 

i got my u/joint at an auto wreckers went through there steering colums found one that fit ,should have looked what it came off but after looking at a few hundred shafts i was just happy to go home

 

SO the bad news I had my u-joint from past build ups.. but you can get one like it from any supplier, like borgeson, flaming river, etc..

I took apart the existing rag joint and then used the bottom part and welded it to the u-joint so that way I could use the existing pin holder from stock joint, then I cut drilled a hole threw u joint so that way I could get it from slipping..

if you look at pic you will see how i drilled holes to stop it from spinning

 

good clear pic Bruiser, ...and an AWFULLY clean looking grease nipple! ...lol

 

there's a sticky on this, ...here's the link ... < https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=93363- > ...hope it works (the link and your project)

 

hahaa ya that pic was taken the day I made it, before it got painted black and greased

 

I replaced mine with a u-joint from a 90's frt wheel drive chrysler. Its the lower joint that you can use, the bottom yoke has the same spline as your steering shaft. All you have to do is grind out the master spline in the yoke and it slides right on and will accept the spring pin ment for the original. Take the rest appart and you will see how the rest goes together. There is some welding involved but if you cut the original shaft the right length, it will slide inside the new yoke and plenty of surface to weld to.

 

Do you know what year/model that U joint is from? For the '90s FWD chrysler. If I could source one of those that would be ideal, since it sounds like I only need to weld the steering wheel side U joint onto the shaft and the steering box side will slide right in.

I read BRUISER's sticky and it was helpful. Thats where I got the idea to do it myself in the first place. Anyway, looks like I will have to shop around to find the right size that I need. If I were to get the borgeson U joint used in their $200 shaft, would that be of the correct size to weld onto my stock shaft?

 

Ok I did some calling around and the u-joint I got on mine was from flaming river for a early bronco power steering conversion.. if that helps

go here: http://www.flamingriver.com/
and look around

 

oh and here is the one for our dodge

http://www.flamingriver.com/index.cf...rod/prd218.htm

I would call them and see if you can just get the u-joint they use on this setup

 

look here https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=129527 , I listed the part #`s I used for mine (in gallery). it`s reply #10

 

Thank you! Thats exactly what I'm looking for.

 

Just looked at the pic in your gallery, ChrisLib. It looks like the steering box side will match the stock splines and slide right in and you only have to weld the steering wheel side yoke onto the shaft. Am I seeing it correctly? Thank you guys again. I thought I had seen PNs somewhere but couldn't find it!

 

yes, the steering box end of that yoke is 3/4 by ? (i forget the spline count...duhh), so it splines right on, and there is a tapped hole for a pinch bolt. The only welding is where the stock shaft enters the upper yoke. Actually welding is not necessary as there is a set bolt hole tapped into the upper yoke but the guy that put mine together welded it for obvious safety reasons.

 

Borgeson shaft is what I just put in last weekend. I love it. Why go through all the modding to get the same thing?

Greg