Borgeson steering upgrade install - doable?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
Borgeson steering upgrade install - doable?
After watching the various discussions about this I am going to make the leap for the Borgeson over the rack & pinion. My question is: is this something I can do in my garage, or, are there specialty tools or knowledge that a shop would be better doing? Thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 4
From: Celeste Texas
I did mine during a body off rebuild. The only difficult part I thought was getting the pitman arm off the old gear box. Do that before you get the old gear box off the car. The hoses and brake lines were fiddly so I had to adjust everything a couple of times. The only part of it that I think really should go to a proffesional is the alignment afterwards.
Bill
Bill
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Some advice.
Oldguy,
My two best bits of advice are these:-
Get the car as high as possible, preferably on a hoist, even if it costs you. It's a real PITA doing this job with the car on ramps. (especially for us older gents.)
Before disassembly, measure the gap between the end of the steering shaft and the input of the stock steering box, difficult as this is in the middle of the rag joint. Collapse your factory shaft a bit less than 2.5" and test fit the Borgeson box. Check the gap between the two shafts and adjust as necessary. Fit the new Borgeson rag joint to the steering shaft before fitting the steering box.
Of course make sure that the steering wheel is centred and has not moved and that the steering box is in the straight ahead position before the "marriage" of shaft and box.
An easy job for a keen amateur mechanic, especially if a hoist is used.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Last edited by aussiejohn; Apr 30, 2013 at 12:46 AM. Reason: spelling
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 20
From: Central Michigan
Installed mine in my garage with front end on jack stands...I can see where a lift would be easier
oldC3guy, does your car have headers? If so you'll likely have to remove the driver side header..
oldC3guy, does your car have headers? If so you'll likely have to remove the driver side header..
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski