Posted By: 696pack
steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/02/14 05:51 AM
Are these available new or re-buildable? Mine has play at the end closest to the firewall--the rubber around the shaft.
steering shaft 77 w150 4x4
Posted By: Mopar2DBone
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/03/14 12:15 AM
Are you talking about the rag joint? Where the shaft is booked together?
Posted By: 696pack
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/03/14 04:34 AM
Quote:
Are you talking about the rag joint? Where the shaft is booked together?
No, the rag joint is at the bottom of the steering shaft next to the steering gear box. This is on the other end of the shaft closer to the firewall and around the shaft is a collar with rubber in it. It is allowing play in the steering. I have a new steering gear box so the play is not there.
Posted By: buildanother
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/03/14 04:40 AM
Sounds like a different layout than the all too common coupler, by steering box that develops slop on almost all of the older trucks. 
Posted By: Elwenil
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/03/14 04:55 AM
The stock shaft on the older trucks is reversed and uses a joint more common on GM trucks and Jeeps. Take it loose and rotate the square shoes 90°, that is usually enough to tighten the joint up.
Posted By: Mopar2DBone
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/03/14 05:02 AM
Posted By: Mopar2DBone
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/03/14 05:03 AM
Sounds like rag joint to me.. See above link..... ^^^^^^^^^^^
Posted By: mopwrd340
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/03/14 05:26 AM
It sounds like he's talking about the lower column bushing .
Posted By: 696pack
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/03/14 09:39 PM
It is NOT the rag joint. I guess I will have to take a picture of it and post it so everyone knows what I am referring to.
Posted By: Mopar2DBone
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/03/14 10:12 PM
Unless I'm missing something there are only two joints on the shaft.. The rag joint (closest to firewall) and the coupling joint (closest to steering gear).. what am I missing? 
Posted By: hp383
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/03/14 10:25 PM
Quote:
Unless I'm missing something there are only two joints on the shaft.. The rag joint (closest to firewall) and the coupling joint (closest to steering gear).. what am I missing?
Earlier trucks had these reversed, the rag joint was near the steering box, and a different sort of joint was up near the firewall. His may have been factory, or it may have been swapped in.
A lot of guys like the earlier style because they are more forgiving with lifts, or bigger tires.
Posted By: Mopar2DBone
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/03/14 10:39 PM
That makes perfect sense.. Thanks for classifying. My bad..
Posted By: 696pack
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/03/14 11:34 PM
Quote:Quote:
Unless I'm missing something there are only two joints on the shaft.. The rag joint (closest to firewall) and the coupling joint (closest to steering gear).. what am I missing?
Earlier trucks had these reversed, the rag joint was near the steering box, and a different sort of joint was up near the firewall. His may have been factory, or it may have been swapped in.
A lot of guys like the earlier style because they are more forgiving with lifts, or bigger tires.
In your picture at the top end of the shaft (near firewall) you see the corrigated rubber boot this is the area I am speaking of. Mine does not have the boot (may just be gone) but I think you will find under the boot the shaft is surrounded by rubber, which on mine is worn out causing the play.
To back up a ways. My truck is an original 1978 LRET that has been converted to 4x4 by using the frame of a 1977 W150 and there of course are a mixing of parts to make this conversion work so I am not sure (but think so) if the 1977 steering shaft was used.
Posted By: hooziewhatsit
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/04/14 03:38 AM
My truck was just like that, and I found a Borgeson shaft that bolted in place.
I can find the part number later if you want.
Edit: This one http://www.summitracing.com/parts/brg-000940/overview/
In theory, where it says 'steering box shaft diameter 3/4" and 36 spline' should match what you have coming out of the column.
There is a coupler rebuild kit available for ~$20, which did NOT match the coupler I had. My only real option was the borgeson shaft.
I can find the part number later if you want.
Edit: This one http://www.summitracing.com/parts/brg-000940/overview/
In theory, where it says 'steering box shaft diameter 3/4" and 36 spline' should match what you have coming out of the column.
There is a coupler rebuild kit available for ~$20, which did NOT match the coupler I had. My only real option was the borgeson shaft.
Posted By: Elwenil
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/04/14 09:44 PM
Quote:
In your picture at the top end of the shaft (near firewall) you see the corrigated rubber boot this is the area I am speaking of. Mine does not have the boot (may just be gone) but I think you will find under the boot the shaft is surrounded by rubber, which on mine is worn out causing the play.
Incorrect. The old style joint is very similar to the later joint and uses two shoes inside pivoting on a pin to engage the body. If the shoes are worn, it will cause a lot of slack in the shaft. Since the shoes are square, and typically have not been rotated yet, you can usually rotate them 90° and put them on new wear surfaces. If they are worn all around, you can replace them with GM or Jeep parts as those are commonly available.
Posted By: 696pack
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/12/14 09:34 AM
Thank you.
Posted By: 696pack
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/17/14 04:22 AM
Quote:Quote:
In your picture at the top end of the shaft (near firewall) you see the corrigated rubber boot this is the area I am speaking of. Mine does not have the boot (may just be gone) but I think you will find under the boot the shaft is surrounded by rubber, which on mine is worn out causing the play.
Incorrect. The old style joint is very similar to the later joint and uses two shoes inside pivoting on a pin to engage the body. If the shoes are worn, it will cause a lot of slack in the shaft. Since the shoes are square, and typically have not been rotated yet, you can usually rotate them 90° and put them on new wear surfaces. If they are worn all around, you can replace them with GM or Jeep parts as those are commonly available.
I have been trying to find this part by application of my truck and NAPA and O'Reily's don't have it listed. Any help appreciated.
Posted By: NITROUSN
Re: steering shaft 77 w150 4x4 - 05/17/14 05:14 AM
You are out of luck. That was a component shaft as far as I can remember. 72-77 were close to the same. 78 was on its own. 78 is almost a 77 reversed end for end but again as I recall different. 79-93 has the failure prone coupler which Borgeson makes a replacement. Get the 77 part numbers and just maybe some car parts will supersede.