M715 Steering Coupler?

Hi,
I have need for information regarding the parts associated with the steering shaft coupler.

My steering wheel pulls in and out about 2" and I have discovered way too much play at the coupler. The shaft at the coupler moves side to side in the tubular shaft housing. I suppose that the bearings are gone or that the retaining clip, or something else is missing in there.

I have not taken it apart, but I was looking for some insight before I go trying to pull the steering out of my truck. Not been there, not seen that. :)

I have circled the parts on the following parts diagram which seem to be worn or missing.

Could one of you amazing mechs and restorers offer some thoughts and/or info?

Thanks!
Brian


http://imageshack.com/a/img923/7946/Nyevp0.jpg

Working from memory, been a while..
That part is readily available. Same as the old Waggoneer and J trucks. I got one from BJ's https://www.www.bjsoffroad.com
There's not a lot to them. One of the little blocks, part 22, might have fallen out or something like that. Worst case, one of those pins the blocks sit on broke off.
No idea how likely that is to happen.

Mine was just as sloppy after replacement. I'm not fond of the design.

Thanks Von,
I sent email to a FSJ parts place but they didn't answer. I'll try the company you sent.

Thx

Okay, so BJs Offroad sez they don't have those parts (at this time).

I found a NOS one here: (95 Euros). I wonder what shipping will cost?

http://www.army-spareparts.com/shop/...e-parts/misc-5

Quote:

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Originally Posted by plumas.placer.miner

Okay, so BJs Offroad sez they don't have those parts (at this time).

I found a NOS one here: (95 Euros). I wonder what shipping will cost?

http://www.army-spareparts.com/shop/...e-parts/misc-5

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Same coupler as on my '72 IH one-ton. You might check IHpartsamerica.com, roedelbros.com, among others.

I called a FSJ company (https://www.fsjjeepparts.com/) and the guy told me that his 1973 Jeep steering couplers are not the same (not heavy-duty enough he said). Not cross listed with anything before 1973.

So I will check the IH to see if they are the same or cross-listed.

Thanks Nail!

The coupler/u-joint at the bottom of the column must move in and out of it's self to work properly. It's held together by a snap ring + rubber boot.

The steering shaft end play is held by the plastic/nylon bushing at the bottom, and the spring pressing against a ball bearing race at the top.

Check to make sure that the nylon bottom bushing hasn't crumbled.
Bottom bushing is the white one to the right.


https://i.imgur.com/fyvFaIqh.jpg

Oooh...that's what I am talking about right there Dan!

I called all around the US looking for those parts! Memphis Equipment finally had 3 out of the 6 parts. He is still looking for more.

Now I need to tear into it to check and see what exactly I need (as if I don't have enough projects to do on that truck already! But steering is important I figure.

Heck, I am still working on making the truck safe to drive!

This MIGHT work:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...165ce5c9a5.jpg




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A Full Size Jeep technician told me that this assembly (photo that Nail provided) isn't heavy-duty enough. He had them in stock, but he didn't recommend them for my application because they aren't cross listed for any Jeep year below 1973.

So, I broke down (insert happy sobbing here) and bought the one in Greece. The entire assembly NOS (upper shaft plus complete coupler assembly) was $230.68 and that includes shipping. I asked for a tracking # and I used PayPal to pay for it.

I didn't think that was a bad price. It looks just just like the one in Dan's photo...all pretty in black. haha.

They have lotsa hard-to-find parts.

http://www.army-spareparts.com/shop/...re-parts/m-715

Quote:

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Originally Posted by plumas.placer.miner

A Full Size Jeep technician told me that this assembly (photo that Nail provided) isn't heavy-duty enough. He had them in stock, but he didn't recommend them for my application because they aren't cross listed for any Jeep year below 1973.



So, I broke down (insert happy sobbing here) and bought the one in Greece. The entire assembly NOS (upper shaft plus complete coupler assembly) was $230.68 and that includes shipping. I asked for a tracking # and I used PayPal to pay for it.



I didn't think that was a bad price. It looks just just like the one in Dan's photo...all pretty in black. haha.



They have lotsa hard-to-find parts.



http://www.army-spareparts.com/shop/...re-parts/m-715

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It’s heavy enough for an IH 1-ton 4x4, so I’m guessing the difference lies in the PS in the IH vs the Armstrong in the 715.

I’ve seen that Greek site. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen that sells M715 brake drums.


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Hey Nail,
Can you unpack those abbreviations for me please?

"PS in the IH vs the Armstrong in the 715" ??

Thanks!
Brian

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by plumas.placer.miner

Hey Nail,
Can you unpack those abbreviations for me please?

"PS in the IH vs the Armstrong in the 715" ??

Thanks!
Brian

---

Sorry, Brian, that's "power steering", straight out of old-school printed classifieds, as I remember them. I remember ads like " Ford F-250 3/4t PU with AT, PS, PB, PW..." Every letter saved was money saved, so those classifieds could become pretty cryptic. The one above would be advertising a pickup with automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, and power windows, for example.

Right now, I feel older than ever.

Got it, thanks for clarifying!

I am no spring chicken being 60 myself. Don't feel old...it happens to everyone. Gravity wins.

If you want to though, you can come to my classrooms everyday. A great portion of today's community college students don't even know what Gilligan's Island is. Seriously, I have to explain things to them whenever I make a joke or a reference from the past.

McGuyver? They have no clue. Opie Taylor, Barney Fife or Andy Griffith? No idea either. Quadraphonic sound? They're like, "Sounds cool, what it is?"

They come to class wearing pajamas and flip flops and face paint. I had a student tell me that she can't check her email because it gives here anxiety. My response, "That's a tough one, what are you going to do?"

Yeah...it's like that.

I paid $230, and for some reason he refunded me 22 Euros. Okay by me. And...shipped from Greece in 4 days! Wow! I am in Reno and I can't even get something shipped from Sacramento in 4 days.



http://imageshack.com/a/img923/1011/Pz68aM.jpg

You can see the scratches in the floor that my dogs make: German Shorthaired Pointer and German Wire-haired Pointer. Kinda high energy dogs.

http://imageshack.com/a/img924/7967/l1FYvR.jpg

Yep, it's probably a VAT (value added tax) refund since you're in USA. I bought a fan shroud from him last year, but it arrived broken. I was able to repair it with JB Weld though.

Where did you get your parts. Im about to rebuild mine and locking for parts.

Depending upon exactly what you need, I found a couple of places.

First, Memphis Equipment has some steering parts, and they have the parts diagram that's on this site (Maintenance Manuals), which differs slightly from the parts diagram you can find here.

Second, I decided it was taking too long to piece it all together, so I just bought the entire upper shaft and coupler assembly from this place in Greece:

http://www.army-spareparts.com/shop/...re-parts/m-715

Hope that helps!

Does anyone know where to buy the boot?

I don't think you can buy the M715 boot separately, and even if you did find one that is on a steering shaft, it would be dry and crumbly, if not completely unusable. I called all over the US looking for the coupler.

You might try fullsizejeeps.com

Lighter weight couplers with the same design as the M715 are available. They might have a boot, but I can't say for sure.

Thanks, I bought the rebuild kit that was mentioned above and will use that boot. Although the boot is for a double D shaft. It's gonna have to do for now though.