How much wear is acceptable for the housing? I didn't feel any slop in the coupler, but the gasket was shot and most of the grease dried up, so I ordered new shoes, gasket, and cover from my local Dodge dealer. Upon disassembly and inspection I find some slight wear in the housing where the shoes ride. Does a slight amount of wear, enough to feel, warrent replacement of the housing itself?

A little wear isn't a problem. If you hold the coupler still how much play is there on the upper shaft?

Very little movement, hardly noticable in fact.

a little movement at the coupler translates to much more movement out at therim of the steering wheel.

I wouldn't worry about it. There is always a little movement because it's not a solid joint. Some cars use a rag joint and it has play with no problems.

used the rebuild kits on both of my '65s. The difference is unbelievable. I thought that the steering boxes were worn out.

Becareful not to put the shoes in side ways or you will have a lot of play like I did... also there is a spring clip to hold every thing together after you finish.. it is a must to get one.. he sells them here on this site.. try to find his email address..

I had the site bookmarked where the guy sold the clip as mentioned above, but I just went to the site and it's apparently gone.

Does anyone know if there is another source for those clamps to hold the seal on the top of the steering joint?

Thanks,
Darren

should be able to get the spring,shoes,rubber,ring at the stealer...I mean dealer

thats where I gots mine

I sold all of my clamps to a guy who was reselling them on Ebay as MainelyMopar or something like that.. (He is from Maine)

I'd be interested in one, if we can track him down here or on eBay.

those clamps are a bandaid. theres a right method to hold the stock clamp/gasket down tight to the coupler housing.

TSB

I use a pair of pliers and crimp 2 tabs on the corners of the pot to hold it on,till all 8 tabs are crimped on the 4 corners

has allways worked for me

oh! that would be an aftermarket spring

i just got done taking mine apart, man that pin in the shaft was in there and almost half of it was dust now and the one block too lol, no wonder my steering was shot, i had to use a press at work to get the pin out, i put a grease nipple in my coupler pot now for the future.