Current thoughts on steering upgrades
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 215
Likes: 6
From: Mebane, NC
Current thoughts on steering upgrades
Took the car on a road trip today. Wife started complaining about the play in the steering wheel. Front suspension was rebuilt a few years ago, so should not be the cause, stock box was rebuilt, new rag, no leaks in the PS, but still have about 2-3" play in the wheel. I have read many of the steering upgrade threads, most are 3-5 years old. What is the current thought. Steeroids, another R&P, Borgeson? I don't think I want to go the jeep or grand am way, trying to keep the install as straight forward as possible.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 109
Likes: 21
From: Dripping Springs Texas
Took the car on a road trip today. Wife started complaining about the play in the steering wheel. Front suspension was rebuilt a few years ago, so should not be the cause, stock box was rebuilt, new rag, no leaks in the PS, but still have about 2-3" play in the wheel. I have read many of the steering upgrade threads, most are 3-5 years old. What is the current thought. Steeroids, another R&P, Borgeson? I don't think I want to go the jeep or grand am way, trying to keep the install as straight forward as possible.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,442
Likes: 967
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
I agree...Something is not right. Who rebuilt your box...Was it done correctly. I had my OEM box custom blueprinted rebuilt by Gary Ramadei and the difference was night and day....There is zero play in my custom rebuilt oem box...none.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 73
Likes: 5
From: AR
Took the car on a road trip today. Wife started complaining about the play in the steering wheel. Front suspension was rebuilt a few years ago, so should not be the cause, stock box was rebuilt, new rag, no leaks in the PS, but still have about 2-3" play in the wheel. I have read many of the steering upgrade threads, most are 3-5 years old. What is the current thought. Steeroids, another R&P, Borgeson? I don't think I want to go the jeep or grand am way, trying to keep the install as straight forward as possible.
Steeroids was one of my best upgrades. Highly recommend. My suspension is in bad need of new bushings, etc. Even with the need for a suspension refresh, steeroids makes it drive almost like a modern day car. 80 on the hwy no problem. Prior, 60 was hazardous.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
If they rebuilt the steering box without fine tuning the "Lash Adjuster Shims" so there is very little clearance (I think I ended up with .002"), then you will have slop in the factory steering even if the gearbox is adjusted. I'm still using the factory setup and routinely go up to 120mph on a road course with absolutely no concerns about the steering.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,305
Likes: 8,110
From: Napa Valley California
Seriously look at the suggestion about checking for a crack in the frame around the steering box mount. I just restored an 83 GMC 4X4 short bed. I had play in my steering and someone suggested this and I thought they were nuts. I ended up pulling the box and found a small crack in the frame. It was about an inch long. It turns out this is such a common issue most 4X4 shops sell a frame reinforcement kit. Welded the reinforcement in and it tightened up the steering. The guys at the 4X4 shop told me that he sees some where the frames are cracked almost clean through.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 54
From: Fayetteville NC
My wife didn't like driving the 72 because of the steering play and Hugh steering wheel. Since she has a say so when paying for upgrades, I thought this would be a good time for an upgrade that she wouldn't mind. We went with the steroids R/P and installed a smaller steering wheel. We both love the mod! 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 215
Likes: 6
From: Mebane, NC
more info
I didn't see any cracks with the current steering box in place. I don't know who rebuilt the box, it did come back better than before, but I still think it has too much play. No play through the rag, engine off some play in the box, assuming also some play in the steering ram, it is wet, but no signs of leakage. ball joints and suspension bushings still look new.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 493
Likes: 65
I second this. I'm very happy with my steeroids, and I haven't even been to the alignment shop yet