Rag joint help

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2000Lincolns

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I finally got my steering rack in place and was getting to the rag joint but can't figure which way it goes in. On the rack its a D shape but I can't find any flat side on the rag joint. Anyone have a picture or remember how theirs is?
 
Finally got it all back together woooo! Finally will get it back on the road. I'm not familiar with the steering parts though. The steering wheel is straight but the rack isn't equal on both sides. Its further to the right. When its even the steering wheel is upside down. Is this okay?
 
With wheels steering straight, the key way on the rack is on the right, the bolt for the rag joint should be at the bottom, that should put your steering wheel straight

or
look under dash, there's another cv joint there if it's easier to get to for ya
 
better yet get a solid joint without the slop by buying a mechincal joint do a search and find the address to pick one up not that much for the improvment in sterring.jd
 
I'll get a solid joint in the future I just need a daily driver right now. The rubber and joint seem to be in good condition anyway. But I still need some help with the orientation.
When on the ground looking at the joint, The key way is to the right on the rack and the head of the bolt is on the other side of the rag joint both are straight. But they don't go into eachother because the D shape of the parts. I'll see if I can take pictures tomorrow.
 
Are the wheels both pointing straight forward, have you rolled the steering wheel to "center stroke" ?, if yes to both then just guide the joint onto the rack, if you have to roll it a tad left or right to align the key, that's fine, just go for alignment
 
i was gonna say, you will need an alignment after replacing the rack anyway.

the only thing you gotta watch is the clock spring. if the wheel is installed onto the rack say one turn past center, when you make a hard turn in one direction or the other you will snap the ribbon cable in the clock spring. dont worry cuz you will know when it happens, the horn/cruise wont work and the airbag light will come on
 
I don't know why but when the rack is centered, the only way for the shaft to go on is when the steering wheel is upside down. I have a 98 LSC and was putting a new 96 in for the quicker ratio. Were the rag joint orientation different in these years? I can only get it together with steering wheel straight is if the rack is a half turn to the left or right. Anyone in MD want to help? :D
 
Im about to just drive around with the steering wheel upside down until I can figure it out. If I were to put the rag joint together with steering wheel upside down is there another way that I can unbolt something and turn the wheel around so its rightside up?
 
So its ok to have the rack at center and mount it with the steering wheel upside down? What will they do to fix it that I haven't tried. I'm so confused.
 
So then the rack will be justified to the left or right and the tie rod ends will compensate for this? Wouldn't that mean i cant turn as far left or right depending on which way its done?
 
chicken said:
....................a alignment will fix this :shifty:
Click to expand...
X eleventybillion


OP, you put one side tie rod on too far and the other side not far enough. This will happen with a new rack. The alignment shop will correct this.
 
ah ok it just didn't seem right to me and i've never replaced a rack before. I was scared and thought I messed up the steering wheel orientation. Thanks guys
 
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