Alex72cutty

The shaft on my car (Top) is worn out and need to be replace or rebuild. My question is an upgrade shaft available to improve steering.

oldcutlass

How is the shaft worn out?

Alex72cutty

The boot is ripped and I've never touched it since I had the car. Are bearings inside that coupler? I wasn't sure if it affects the feel of steering?

oldcutlass

Do you mean this? Upper or lower?

Alex72cutty

The bottom image sir.

oldcutlass

The seal can be replaced. There is not much inside of that. The clip holds it together.

Magna86

If I'm not mistaken you can buy a new boot for the joint. Its like a CV joint. Remove the clip to remove boot then clean it out and repack with grease. Install new boot and good to go unless there is severe damage found inside.

Alex72cutty

Oh ok, not much to that at all. I'll look for the boot so I can repack and replace. Thanks fuys

oddball

Look at the Chevelle sites for the steering shaft parts - it's the same shaft in that year A bodies. Just clean it up and re-grease it. IIRC, need to press out the cross pin in order to get the boot off. Been a few years since I rebuilt mine.
A new ragjoint will do much more for improving steering feel, but nothing can help a steering gear that is sloppy.

Alex72cutty

I've changed the gear box with the GJC gearbox but it's leaking and I'm going to replace it. I replaced the rag joint as well. I bought the kit from Lee Engineering.

oldcutlass

I think you can take the rag joint bracket off and slide the rubber seal down the shaft.

joe_padavano

I'm curious why you think changing what is essentially a solid metal shaft can "improve" steering.

(Yes, I know it telescopes and has a u-joint at one end)

Alex72cutty

It was just a thought. My car handles good. Maybe my standards are a little too high..lol I blame it on these new cars these days.

oldcutlass

Actually it does not telescope its got shear pins in it in case of an accident to allow it to collapse. Sorry Alex as much as you try it won't feel like rack and pinion.

Allan R

The boot is not that easy to replace as everyone seems to think.

joe_padavano

There are a number of things you can do to an A-body to improve steering response. Changing the steering shaft isn't one of them. ASSUMING all steering parts are in good shape and not worn, the easiest thing to do is to crank in as much positive caster as possible with the stock suspension design. When new, these cars had zero or slightly negative caster. This made steering easy (especially with manual steering) but hurt stability and steering feel. This caster angle is one of the big differences in newer cars. Of course a quick ratio box will also be a big improvement.