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Ran into my steering column today and remembered I need a coupler repair kit.

Started by Dino, July 12, 2017, 07:45:58 PM

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Dino

The original steering coupler looks too damn nasty. Are these repair kits any good? The cheap Dorman kit doesn't get very good reviews, citing quality control issues. Some of these kits are $30 or more and look the same as the cheaper ones. Any proven kits out there?
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

69wannabe

I also need to re do my steering coupler, will be glad to hear which is a good kit to use.....


Dino

I like DMT's kit but it's only half of what you need. There's no shoes, spring, or pins with this one.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

VegasCharger

Quote from: Dino on July 13, 2017, 08:26:27 AM
I like DMT's kit but it's only half of what you need. There's no shoes, spring, or pins with this one.

Oh okay gotcha. I only need to do the new seal, retainer and clamp. Plus pack with new grease.

Dino

Quote from: VegasCharger on July 13, 2017, 09:13:53 AM
Quote from: Dino on July 13, 2017, 08:26:27 AM
I like DMT's kit but it's only half of what you need. There's no shoes, spring, or pins with this one.

Oh okay gotcha. I only need to do the new seal, retainer and clamp. Plus pack with new grease.

Then I would go with the DMT kit for sure. I'm getting the clamp as well. I should just open up my coupler. For all I know it's not that bad in there. The seal has been damaged though so I do need that. Something to play with on the weekend...
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Nacho-RT74

Clamp is an extra, not part of the original. Was dealer installed after a service due the dificulty to reinstall the seal bracket.

Usually shoes and pins are hard to beat, not the spring though, but spring only comes with the full kit.

Search on Rockauto by PN.... Mopar 4443436AC... $15.55 ( only two left )

I bet Dorman kit is the same than the Mopar one. It floats on the search too... $6.04
Venezuelan RT 74 400 4bbl, 727, 8.75 3.23 open. Now stroked with 440 crank and 3.55 SG. Here is the History and how is actually: http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,7603.0/all.html
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,25060.0.html

igozumn

The difficulty in getting the top plate attached and have it stay there, means I won't rebuild/install another coupler kit without that external clamp/spring.
A man walks into a psychiatrist's office wearing nothing but underpants made from saran wrap.  The psychiatrist says, "Well....I can clearly see your nuts...."

ODZKing

Still available thru Chrysler Dino. 4443436AC
If your dealer wont order you can get it through Mopar Parts America. Includes way more than the other pictured.
https://www.moparpartsamerica.com/parts/index.cfm?searchText=4443436&make=Dodge&action=oePartSearch&siteid=214583

Nacho-RT74

Quote from: igozumn on July 18, 2017, 10:40:42 AM
The difficulty in getting the top plate attached and have it stay there, means I won't rebuild/install another coupler kit without that external clamp/spring.

I could make it without the spring clamp. And even MOUNTED in car LOL. sure wasn't easy
Venezuelan RT 74 400 4bbl, 727, 8.75 3.23 open. Now stroked with 440 crank and 3.55 SG. Here is the History and how is actually: http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,7603.0/all.html
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,25060.0.html

69bfan

I have a customer who rebuilds steering columns and he told me that the Dorman kit was not of the same quality as the Mopar piece.  He purchases 30 plus bearings from me approximately every six months and he told me that the Dorman roll pin was the wrong size.  Some would be too small and others were too large, no quality control.  So spend the extra dollars and purchase a known quality piece.
Restoration Parts and Materials
Weatherstripping is our specialty, but we stock a wide assortment of restoration needs.
www.restorationpartsandmaterials.com

igozumn

Quote from: ODZKing on July 18, 2017, 11:04:12 AM
Still available thru Chrysler Dino. 4443436AC
If your dealer wont order you can get it through Mopar Parts America. Includes way more than the other pictured.
https://www.moparpartsamerica.com/parts/index.cfm?searchText=4443436&make=Dodge&action=oePartSearch&siteid=214583


Been gathering parts for my buddy's Superbee p/s conversion.  I'm pretty sure I got the kit for him locally (bought mine off ebay, I think) and if I recall it was only 10 or 12 bucks wholesale.  List was around $20???
A man walks into a psychiatrist's office wearing nothing but underpants made from saran wrap.  The psychiatrist says, "Well....I can clearly see your nuts...."

VegasCharger

Quote from: Nacho-RT74 on July 18, 2017, 05:36:55 PM
Quote from: igozumn on July 18, 2017, 10:40:42 AM
The difficulty in getting the top plate attached and have it stay there, means I won't rebuild/install another coupler kit without that external clamp/spring.

I could make it without the spring clamp. And even MOUNTED in car LOL. sure wasn't easy

Me too but with the column removed while restoring it. I don't see what the big deal is about getting the retainer to hold down the seal. :shruggy:

If you just attempt to hammer down the tabs with the retainer just floating and using you hand to keep it still then yes you will have NO success in achieving the task. You'll have the bounce factor.

However if you use bar clamps to secure the retainer down onto the seal while you're bending down the tabs then viola.

:cheers:

Nacho-RT74

For whatever reason I couldn't remove the coupler from steering box splined stud, and since 74s got an extra articulated shaft, didn't need to remove the full steering column. Is hard try to fit any kind of clamps to hold the retainer while coupler is on car, so used couple of cable ties, tightened as much as posible, bent the tabs and got success
Venezuelan RT 74 400 4bbl, 727, 8.75 3.23 open. Now stroked with 440 crank and 3.55 SG. Here is the History and how is actually: http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,7603.0/all.html
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,25060.0.html

bakerhillpins

Quote from: Dino on July 13, 2017, 08:26:27 AM
I like DMT's kit but it's only half of what you need. There's no shoes, spring, or pins with this one.

Personally, I'd be picking up the Chrysler kit but could you simply clean up the shoes/spring/pins and use them with the DMT kit?
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Nacho-RT74

Venezuelan RT 74 400 4bbl, 727, 8.75 3.23 open. Now stroked with 440 crank and 3.55 SG. Here is the History and how is actually: http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,7603.0/all.html
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,25060.0.html

VegasCharger

Quote from: Nacho-RT74 on July 19, 2017, 06:06:00 AM
...used couple of cable ties, tightened as much as posible, bent the tabs and got success

Clever ideal.  :2thumbs: :2thumbs:

That's thinking outside the box.

The reason for failure is the bounce factor, no win battle.

:cheers:

cavemanno1

Mine is out as well but I didn't know there is something wrong with these.Do they need to be rebuilt when restoring the car?

Nacho-RT74

What I have found on this assembly making them to work unpropperly is the shoes spring broken! This piece broken makes spin the shoes on the stud shaft along with no pressure of these shoes against the coupler walls and there begins the play.

With just this spring, seal an seal clamp should be really enough to rebuild it. No need really for shoes, studs etc... unless run totaly out of grease and they really weared bad enough.
Venezuelan RT 74 400 4bbl, 727, 8.75 3.23 open. Now stroked with 440 crank and 3.55 SG. Here is the History and how is actually: http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,7603.0/all.html
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,25060.0.html

VegasCharger

Dino (Dirk) I have one shoe if only one of your shoes needs replaced. No charge.

I agree with what Nacho said, these shoes really don't need replacing unless extreme wear and tear due to no grease (dry). But I was in the same boat when I went to do mine thinking that they needed replaced.

:cheers:


Dino

Oops, lost this thread for a bit. It's been a crazy week.

I'll open the coupler up tomorrow and report back with my findings.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Nacho-RT74

Since the kit includes those there is no reason to no change them, but if was posible just to get the spring allong with seal and seal retainer, that would be enough


If they shoes got extreme wear, coupler should be checked inside too.
Venezuelan RT 74 400 4bbl, 727, 8.75 3.23 open. Now stroked with 440 crank and 3.55 SG. Here is the History and how is actually: http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,7603.0/all.html
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,25060.0.html