Rag joint elimination

So as not to clutter up Big Blue's thread -where I first asked the question- I'm submitting this for your perusal.

I don't want to change that blasted piece of rubber again.
I know it is there to make a resilient joint that absorbs some road 'feedback' that would otherwise be annoying.

After looking for a factory solution and without investing in an expensive Borgenson steering shaft I've ordered the lower shaft from an '07-14 F150.

This has a U-joint on each end for $20.
I have welders and plenty of cutoff discs.

Wish me luck!  

I think steering shafts are a bit of a funny story with a lot of internet dogma attached...

I'm a firm believer in getting out the  zip-cut disks and welder, for the record...lol.

You may remember that I installed an '87-'91 steering shaft in my '84 F150, and to remove the slop from it, I welded two nuts on the shaft so that I could tighten it up with set-screws, and it worked like a charm! I love it.

I read one account where the guy just leaned under the hood with his mig welder, and welding the slip joint solid to remove the slop. But what about the safety you might ask???>...It was an old F250 Plow truck with a cab that was already collapsing on the frame, so...

Anyway, I've read about a lot of guys installing that Borgeson shafts (the double jointed ones, with NO rag joint) and many of them reported not even noticing that the rag joint wasn't there...

Well, Cory that's good to hear.

Depending on delivery you may or may not be following the adventure this weekend.  

I wish you luck!  Take lots of pics, please.

As for not noticing the difference with a Borgeson, the one I just put on Big Blue is the one that was on him when I got him.  And I honestly never realized that there was no rubber biscuit in the steering linkage.  So I don't think you'll be bothered by it either.

As far as not noticing the lack of the rag joint, I have the 1992-96/7 steering column and shaft in Darth. The only difference I noticed after installing it was a much more "precise" feeling to the steering. Road shock, really can't tell any difference at all.