Anyone use these "redesigned" coupler kits by Steer and Gear?

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DA69RT GT

DA69RT GT

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Anyone use these "redesigned" coupler kits by Steer and Gear?

Said to be an all-in-one seal boot that replaces the old inner seal and shaft retainer...


http://www.steerandgear.com/Chrysler_Catalog.html#TXTOBJ7DB1219F302938E3
 

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I put one on my restored '69 Charger steering column. I have monkeyed with the original style a few times on different cars and was looking for an alternative. I cant say how well it holds up because the steering column is sitting on the shelf. I can say it's a nice snug fit. It goes on the column before the pin that locates the shoes for the coupler goes in.
 
Looks like it would save some hassle and grief. Getting the two piece seal and retainer installed properly can be a female dog. Don't think I would trust it without a light coat of silicone sealer to seal the boot to the coupler....
 
I wonder how well it would hold up to a car with headers. The heat it tough on the original style. This style with the exposed thin rubber may be a issue.
 
autoxcuda said:
I wonder how well it would hold up to a car with headers. The heat it tough on the original style. This style with the exposed thin rubber may be a issue.
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That was one of my concerns...
Really like the concept but thats alot of exposed rubber close to my TTI's
 
I have one installed and TTi headers, been driving it for awhile now with no obvious problems.
I don't think they're rubber though, they feel like some kind of flexible urethane, though I could be mistaken.
Either way they sure easier to live with than the original setup.
 

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I don't think I would be comfortable with the u-joint style coupler posted. Without any method allowing for the coupler to slide up and down it looks like it would cause binding everytime the the u-joint rotated. I would like to see a company make a coupler similar to what modern cars use for their steering intermediate shafts. Here is a link to a picture of what I mean.

And for those that have problems with factory style coupler seals, there was a factory designed bail clamp that was introduced that would clamp the coupler seal down tight and prevent it from coming off.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...UHUZi_OOXkygGBw4DADw&ved=0CDsQ9QEwAw&dur=8861
 
Years ago a guy designed a tempered steel wire retainer that snapped onto the OEM box coupling effortlessly. I dont know if he put a patent on it or how many he sold. It was sweet though. He and it disappeared form the market before I could buy one. At best I might find a old pic of it.
I saw a hose clamp used there once also. It was a steel crimp band with a ( shaped profile sort of like what is used on some cv boots. It also had to be placed during assembly. The ability to toss the steel wire retainer on without tools or labor is what made it so sweet.
I suppose that rubber cap works just as well as anything else.

In the dealers service department the trick was to do as little distorting to the original cap as possible when removing so it could be reused. Once in a while a customer might suggest the coupling hadn't been serviced because they didn't see a new cap installed.
 
the flaming river piece is nice if you dont care about it not looking stock. its not cheap but worth it.
 
I'd be interrested in finding out how the original post's option lasts / works out. OEM set-up is a pain in the nuts!
 
Borgeson makes a u-joint piece just like the flaming river one for a lot less $$ FYI .i've had the F/R one on my Dart now for five years plus no issues and still looks brand new. It's stainless steel unlike the borgeson ones.
 
I used Steer n Gear’s new seal for a while on the 67 Dart. As you know one is to fill coupler with grease during reassembly, unfortunately that redesigned rubber seal won’t keep the grease in the housing. Over time it slowly worked out around the shaft making a nice mess. I have replaced it with original design steal & rubber seal; no more greasy mess on steering shaft and coupling.

On the flip side Steer N Gear did a great job rebuilding my PS gear into a stage two firm feel box that has made this car a real pleasure to drive. They did the job in about a three week turnaround from when I sent my box to them.
 
wjajr said:
I used Steer n Gear’s new seal for a while on the 67 Dart. As you know one is to fill coupler with grease during reassembly, unfortunately that redesigned rubber seal won’t keep the grease in the housing. Over time it slowly worked out around the shaft making a nice mess. I have replaced it with original design steal & rubber seal; no more greasy mess on steering shaft and coupling.

On the flip side Steer N Gear did a great job rebuilding my PS gear into a stage two firm feel box that has made this car a real pleasure to drive. They did the job in about a three week turnaround from when I sent my box to them.
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cost of rebuild?
 
The wire bail is an update piece from Chrysler. I too have been looking for these.

The U-joints are poorly designed. The coupler exists to accommodate chassis flex. The U-joints are good at busting the collapsible steering column pieces.
 
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