Hi

After reading number of threads re steering wander if Borgeson boxes were no properly centered I decided to check mine (as it does wander a bit on crowned roads.)



It turns out to be a fair bit out. (I finally felt the tightness in the box at center - had not felt it before as i was off by about a quarter turn.)

After finding the exact center I hooked up the suspension but the wheels were turned to the right.





With the wheels parallel and fairly straight it is out by about 3/4" at the pitman arm.







There is not enough adjustment in the relay rod extension to compensate and using the tie rods has one fully wound in and one wound out !!!

It did not think it could be the pitman arm on the steering box as it can only go on 4 ways at each 90 degrees so any change would be huge.

Any ideas or help appreciated ??

I thought of getting some new tie rods (one shorter and one longer to compensate)

Also I have the steering column still connected as i did not think it would cause any issues when measuring exact center (as it will spin freely forever in either direction.

(I have had the Borgeson in for a couple of years and before that a stock steering box, with the stock box the tie rods were fairly even in spacing side to side. - so don't think its an out of square frame)

 

Some questions;
Did you change the pitman arm to the manuel one?
Are both tie rod sleeves the same length?
Measure the ball socket assy from where it screws onto the relay rod to the grease zerk.
when I'm on in the shop today I'll measure mine.
Also I'd like to see a pict if tie rod assemblies, both sides.
Count the number of turns to center of gear box, from both sides and then center it by 1/2 the number and see where the alignment is. It might be possible that when steer gear was originally put together it was assembled a bit off and causing the drag not to be in the center. T

 

Both sides tie rods measure out the same, I have re-assembled both to ensure they are the same.

I am thinking the Borgeson box may have had the keys machined incorrectly resulting in it being off a bit when the pitman arm goes on.

 

When I put the Borg steer on the 69 I just bought the gear box and rag joint. I used the relay rod and pitman arm from my manuel steer 6t8. I looked for differences between the 2 and didn't see any but never checked the splines to see if they index differently. All the complete kits you see all have the manuel relay rod, coupler and pitman arm. T

 

When I added the Borgeson to my manual steering car, I centered the box on the bench and market tdc on the shaft and on the steering column. I blocked the wheels and dropped the pitman arm, bolted on the new box, and the old manual pitman arm slid right back up on the shaft with no change. I made sure the marks on the box and column were still tdc and installed the rag joint. It needed no alignment and tracked dead straight. I centered the box on the bench by finding the beginning and end of the tight spot and centering it between those two spots. None of that will help you if there is actually a problem with the box, but the system worked great for me.

 

Checked out the pitman arm and its definately PS version as is the relay rod.

When the Borgeson box is centered the flat part of its input shaft into the rag joint is facing down

I think I can adjust the tierod to get the wheels straight but as i said one is fully in and other fully out - may just get a 10" and 11" tierod sleeve so I have more adjustment if I can't work out why it is this way.

 

My flat spot is up.

 

There seems to be a flat spot top and bottom and steering box input shaft

 

Well I have bolted it all up and given it about 1/16" toe in using string line. Took it out for a spin and it is much better stability in a straight line.

Went to the section of road where there is a heavy crown and lots of truck tram lines and it was so much better. Still a bit of tramline effect but held straight so differently to before.

In the end i have my tierods at very different lengths, probably 3/4" or more difference but it all sits straight.

I noticed that the box actually has more turn that the vette can handle and it now hits the stop on the lower A-Arm on both sides before hitting the stop in the steering box.

Now i need to move on to pulling the column and aligning it again.

 

I had exact the same problem when I installed the box.
Spoke to Borgeson, took pictures and sent it back to them.
They confirmed that the box was out, re-centred it and sent it back to me FOC!!
Great service!!

 

Interesting, I will call the Borgeson reseller in Australia and see what he says.

 

I have both manual and power steering cars 71 / 72 will take pictures..

 

I looked on a few web sites and there is a different Pitman arm for power steering and manual power steering.

I think the offset is different.

first on is the power steering 72, rest are the 71 with old box and Borgeson box, then in for alignment.

Here are some pictures. hope it helps: it's the least I can do as you helped a lot... thanks again..

 

Craig the thread Borgeson Install has a lot of info,

 

Thanks for that, yes the pitman arms seem to have different offsets.

I am also thinking my pitman arm may not be on straight as it did not go on anywhere near as far as it did on the original box. They keyways on the borgeon box are not as pronounced as the factory box.

Will need to do some more validation.

 

Well look what i found.

I am positive the box is now perfectly entered but steering wheel is cocked at 90 degrees.

I pulled out my Borgeson instructions supplied with the kit here in Australia dated 4/14/2009

INSTALLATION CONT.
Reinstall your modified column and be sure to securely fasten all original mounting bolts and hardware. Securely tighten all setscrews and then loc nuts on the rag joint.

However the instructions dated 2/09/11

INSTALLATION CONT.
 Reinstall your modified column and be sure to securely fasten all original mounting bolts and hardware. Securely tighten all setscrews and then loc nuts on the rag joint. The existing flat spot on the steering column shaft is not intended to be used for the set screw. Use of this flat spot can cause the steering wheel to be crooked after installation. It will be necessary to file a small flat for the set screw to seat into when installing.

Well that explains the steering wheel being offset.

Now I just need to correct that and look closer at the pitman arm offset.

One step forward :-)

 

I live in the UK and sent mine directly to the US.

 

If you look at the #8 picture you can see it's not on the column flat, sorry I did not remember that - saw it this morning when I checked the photos.

If I remember I drilled a dimple..

Working on the house is taking a toll ...

thanks again for you're write up..

 

Yes I did not see it in the picture either.

Well that sorts one thing out, I will get that all lined up and move onto the pitman offset.

 

I have progressed with my issues around centring the Borgeson box.

It is now centred, drives great but the pitman arm is clocked a little one way (adjusted through tie rods)

So i followed up a comment made by Paul in this thread

I contacted Jeff at Borgeson and advised him of my problem, told him year of manufacture etc and asked for some advice.

Answer straight back was that a few boxes in 2009 slipped through with incorrect shafts in them and mine was likely one of them.

Even though I am well out of warrantee he offered a new box. Just needed to ship it to Australia.

I then advised AussieJohn who sells the boxes here in Australia and he offered to send me a replacement locally and sort out the warranty box with Jeff.

Amazing customer service and the box turned up today.

Will try and fit it up soon.

Again a big thanks to Borgeson and AussieJohn. Great after sales support.