[C2] Borgeson Steering "Ease"
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 37
From: The Woodlands Texas
Borgeson Steering "Ease"
I had the Borgeson box installed 1.5 yrs ago at the same time I had the RideTech suspension and an ididit tilt steering column installed. I've got about 600 miles on it since.
What I'm questioning is the "ease" of steering. It clearly can't be driven with fingers, as it requires a full grip to turn the wheel. It feels like it's somewhere between power steering and no power steering.
Is this how your Borgeson feels?
I'm likely paranoid so it may not be anything. My C3 has a FR rack and it steers almost too easily. So when I go from one to the other, it's a big extreme. I've lost sense of how it should "feel".
What I'm questioning is the "ease" of steering. It clearly can't be driven with fingers, as it requires a full grip to turn the wheel. It feels like it's somewhere between power steering and no power steering.
Is this how your Borgeson feels?
I'm likely paranoid so it may not be anything. My C3 has a FR rack and it steers almost too easily. So when I go from one to the other, it's a big extreme. I've lost sense of how it should "feel".
Pro
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 719
Likes: 81
From: Sun City Az.
I had the Borgeson box installed 1.5 yrs ago at the same time I had the RideTech suspension and an ididit tilt steering column installed. I've got about 600 miles on it since.
What I'm questioning is the "ease" of steering. It clearly can't be driven with fingers, as it requires a full grip to turn the wheel. It feels like it's somewhere between power steering and no power steering.
Is this how your Borgeson feels?
I'm likely paranoid so it may not be anything. My C3 has a FR rack and it steers almost too easily. So when I go from one to the other, it's a big extreme. I've lost sense of how it should "feel".
What I'm questioning is the "ease" of steering. It clearly can't be driven with fingers, as it requires a full grip to turn the wheel. It feels like it's somewhere between power steering and no power steering.
Is this how your Borgeson feels?
I'm likely paranoid so it may not be anything. My C3 has a FR rack and it steers almost too easily. So when I go from one to the other, it's a big extreme. I've lost sense of how it should "feel".
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 15,309
Likes: 2,264
From: NorCal
No issues here..............
I've had the Borgeson kit on my '67 for about 8 or 9 months now, having converted from standard (non power) steering. I absolutely love it!
As to your specific question, in my case it depends on what condition/driving status you are starting from. If the car is at a stop/not moving, no, I can not turn the wheel with just my fingers and need to use a full "palms on fingers wrapped" grip.
If the car is rolling along I can steer it with just my fingers - but don't recommend doing so. That's not a very secure/safe way to control a car........
As to your specific question, in my case it depends on what condition/driving status you are starting from. If the car is at a stop/not moving, no, I can not turn the wheel with just my fingers and need to use a full "palms on fingers wrapped" grip.
If the car is rolling along I can steer it with just my fingers - but don't recommend doing so. That's not a very secure/safe way to control a car........
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,064
Likes: 142
From: Bornem
mine feels about like my modern BMW or my 2003 T-Bird, a bit lighter eventually if anything.
what you describe as 'one finger turning' sounds pretty much vintage american car, Borgeson is more 'modern'
what you describe as 'one finger turning' sounds pretty much vintage american car, Borgeson is more 'modern'
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 28,220
Likes: 2,872
From: Beach & High Desert Southern California
I had the Borgeson box installed 1.5 yrs ago at the same time I had the RideTech suspension and an ididit tilt steering column installed. I've got about 600 miles on it since.
What I'm questioning is the "ease" of steering. It clearly can't be driven with fingers, as it requires a full grip to turn the wheel. It feels like it's somewhere between power steering and no power steering.
Is this how your Borgeson feels?
I'm likely paranoid so it may not be anything. My C3 has a FR rack and it steers almost too easily. So when I go from one to the other, it's a big extreme. I've lost sense of how it should "feel".
What I'm questioning is the "ease" of steering. It clearly can't be driven with fingers, as it requires a full grip to turn the wheel. It feels like it's somewhere between power steering and no power steering.
Is this how your Borgeson feels?
I'm likely paranoid so it may not be anything. My C3 has a FR rack and it steers almost too easily. So when I go from one to the other, it's a big extreme. I've lost sense of how it should "feel".
The box is modern variable (increased) effort and variable (reduced) ratio, steering box design (when pointed close to straight ahead center) as opposed to a similar 60's era Saginaw steering box without these enhancements (since the corvette never enjoyed a similar integrated assist steering box system) .
The feel & effort will change considerably with alignment changes, most notably with Caster changes. If you want less effort, align with less Caster.
Less caster is what made the manual steering box manageable at low speed, coupled with a 20:1 ratio to reduce the darting and wandering at high speed. You can restore some of the good, and enhance the bad, habits of the manual box and worn suspension components with stock alignment settings.
I recommend you find alignment settings that work for your driving style. Maybe you should copy your C3 alignment, or try a setting in between the current C2 alignment, and your C3 alignment.
What do you have to lose?
Pro
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 588
Likes: 41
From: Ohio
There is an adjustment on these boxes with a kit.. there are a set of very thin washers under the pressure side fittiing on the box.Borgeson sells the kits and they are very simple to put more washers or less as needed. the instructions are very clear as to how many to add or take out depending if you want lighter or heavier steering. It is a 15 minute job and they supply everything you need for around $20.00
