replacing steering coupler with a borgeson joint

[moparguy01]

Has anybody done this? I'm considering it since my coupler housing is apparently worn out beyond just new shoes and spring. I found a borgeson joint that looks like it is 36 spline on one end and 3/4 inch on the other. Looks like you just have to cut the steering shaft and slip it on and tighten the set screw? Or is there more to it that I am missing?

[HPP]

Unless you have subframe connectors, torque boxes, or other means to significantly reduce chassis flex, I'd recommend against using the  joint over the coupler. The coupler allows some fore/aft movement that comes with chassis flex that the joint does not. I'm not saying it will happen, but it is possible for the joint to bind up with chassis movement that puts significant beaming motion into the chassis, like a drag launch on slicks.

[moparguy01]

yea, my chassis doesn't really flex anymore.  I have subframe connectors, and a 10 point cage. 

[Big Sugar]

yea, my chassis doesn't really flex anymore.  I have subframe connectors, and a 10 point cage. 

You Sure ?.....No Flex .....LOL

[moparguy01]

Compared to the wet noodle it was before, not really. By comparison of course.

[Chatt69chgr]

If the joint can't absorb any fore or aft movement in the shaft, then the plastic pieces that are fused inside the sliding steering shaft (up in the column) will shear.  If they didn't, then the bearing at the upper end of the steering column would be pushed upward and displaced from where it is supposed to be.  I have seen one of these Borgeson u-joints installed and I thought about it myself as they look really neat but the more I looked into it I convinced myself that it was not a good idea in this particular application. 

[1974dodgecharger]

was reading some folks have had their joints for 5 years with no issues.  Whats scarier a coupler breaking apart and the inner column comes off it thus losing steering or a joint that stays on and does not come off?

[charger Downunder]

What about one of these might provide mor flex.
http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/home.php?cat=17

[HPP]

was reading some folks have had their joints for 5 years with no issues.  Whats scarier a coupler breaking apart and the inner column comes off it thus losing steering or a joint that stays on and does not come off?

Thats probably true, but... you need to understand the application its put into, which is why I made my comments about having a structually sound chassis. If all the reading you have done is from guys who have very built cars with significant chassis reinforcement, their results may not be the same as someone who puts it into a partially rusted, flexible flyer, work in process car where the rigidity in the lower colum hammers the bushings through out the column and necessitates a rebuild of a part that was fine previously.