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I finally got around to installing a new Borgeson setup on my 74 today.
All went fairly well, and I am soooo glad I decided to do this upgrade while the engine/trans are out!! Made it SO much easier to sit in the engine bay while wrenching on it.
I also pre-lubed the parts with aero-kroil before starting to make everything go smoother.
My only issue (so far) is when I started “tapping” in the steering shaft with a 2# sledge hammer and a block of wood, and the bearing around the shaft bracket broke and little round BB’s fell out of the race. Note the remaining yellow-ish “rings” (which look a lot like plastic) that are still hanging from the shaft.
Do I need to replace the bearing?
Is it crucial? 😬
Also. If it matters, I no longer have the Park lever steering wheel lock (whatever it’s called) hooked up.
Thank you guys for your advice!
Note the white arrow I drew on the column denoting my 1-1/2” mark. I ended up having to collapse the column an additional 1/2”-3/4” beyond that mark…ever so carefully.
Do I need to replace that bearing before installing the new gearbox?
PS: Please don’t tell me I have to remove or replace the steering column
🤪🤪
Thank you all!
Last edited by Jarhead 74 Vette; Oct 23, 2021 at 10:06 PM.
Your bearing completely disintegrated. And you ask if you need to replace it?
A resounding YES! You need to replace that bearing.
O.K. I won't tell you to pull your column. How your going to replace that blown bearing with the column in place is beyond me however.
Your bearing completely disintegrated. And you ask if you need to replace it?
A resounding YES! You need to replace that bearing.
O.K. I won't tell you to pull your column. How your going to replace that blown bearing with the column in place is beyond me however.
How did I know that would be the answer?? 😂😂
Thank you for confirming my suspicions, So it looks like deeeeper down the wabbit hole I go…
Now to research part numbers. My AIM does not show any details.
Welcome to the "One thing leads to another" Club.
The joys of vintage car ownership!
Thanks, brother!
Im in the midst of a resto mod that started out as a bad starter-to-flex plate mesh. Somehow the entire drive train is out, interior is stripped out, new wiring harnesses, and the control arms are being rebuilt by Dub as we speak using DelALum bushings. TA’s & diff are next.
Hmmmm….body on or body off resto? That is the question.
But, we don’t want the steering column to feel left out do we?? 😂😂
Thank you Peterbuilt for the link!
I don’t know if I want to tackle the steering column myself…but this should help me to decide. I will read this thoroughly.
When I did my Borgeson install, I couldn't get the column to collapse until I had it in a bench vise. Replacing the lower bearing was pretty easy, and I did it as a "while I'm in there" item.
I bet I could have done it if I had pulled the engine, but that seemed like overkill in my case.
Last edited by Bikespace; Oct 23, 2021 at 11:32 PM.
I did the Borgenson this spring on my 74. My bearing broke during trying to collapse the steering wheel and exploded when I tried to remove it. Part of the bearing merged with the shaft from corrosion. Your looks pretty corroded and I would be surprised if you can get it to collapse with that bearing on there. Since you have the engine out, you may be able to do everything without taking it out. I had to grind off the old bearing being careful not to damage the shaft. With the most of the bearing out, I was able to pull the shaft out a little bit to grind it off. It moved in and out pretty easily without the bearing. Be careful not to pull it out too far. A new bearing is cheap and easy to install once you clean everything up.
Great move on the a-arm bushings.
Del-a-lums are top notch.
I recently ran some calculations on the compression of rubber a-arm bushings.
They may compress enough to add 3/16" toe-in and 0.5 degree positive camber.
Not at all what you want in a fast corner!
Thank you @JayK47 , @Bikespace , @trainmankjm for your help and for all the pics!
I ordered a new lower bearing kit and will install it as soon as it gets here.
Next….on to rewiring the interior while I wait for my control arms to arrive 🎉🎉
thanks Reno!
I hope the steering slop will be over with after the rebuilt control arms, Borgeson, and upcoming rebuilt T/A’s as well as rebuilding the diff.
Been debating semi-coil overs vs bilsteins for a while now…..🤔
Great move on the a-arm bushings.
Del-a-lums are top notch.
I recently ran some calculations on the compression of rubber a-arm bushings.
They may compress enough to add 3/16" toe-in and 0.5 degree positive camber.
Not at all what you want in a fast corner!
thanks Leigh. I’m really looking forward to the DelALum setup combined with either coil overs or bilsteins.
Maybe I should start a poll. 😬
Installing Borgeson on 74
