C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

borgeson steering bracket question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 13, 2025 | 03:12 PM
  #1  
mdunlavy's Avatar
mdunlavy
Thread Starter
Advanced
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 63
Likes: 9
Default borgeson steering bracket question

Can you use the OEM bolts with the borgeson steering bracket? will the smooth bolt heads lock into the bracket with the square part? I don't want to have regulator bolt heads in that spot where the wheels may rub...

thanks,

Michael
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2025 | 04:55 PM
  #2  
Bikespace's Avatar
Bikespace
Race Director
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,978
Likes: 4,529
From: Virginia
Default

Can you use them? Sure!

Are you likely to get them out without cutting two of them? The body interfered in my 79, so some got cut. YMMV.

If the stock carriage bolts don't work with the reinforcement brace installed, you can limit the steering extent, and you can grind the bolt heads a bit more smooth.

Reply
Old Jan 13, 2025 | 05:52 PM
  #3  
ctmccloskey's Avatar
ctmccloskey
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Liked
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,761
Likes: 1,648
From: Fairfax Virginia
Default

Back at Corvettes@Carlisle I was able to buy a couple heavy assortment boxes of the various hardware for use in my garage. I have 2 large boxes of just Grade 8 hardware of many sizes from 1/4" up and often when I pull a bolt from something important I replace the bolt with a Grade 8. My suspension and brakes are all using the Grade 8 hardware.

In a situation like the above post I personally would have to swap the bolts to Grade 8 hardware. The older carriage bolts were no longer able to be used when I switched to a Power Rack and Pinion on my C3.
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2025 | 06:16 PM
  #4  
Piersonpie's Avatar
Piersonpie
Melting Slicks
Shutterbug
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 2,193
From: Minnesota
Default

You can always buy a longer carriage bolt too. I definitely would not use a regular hex bolt in that location.

Let us know what you end up doing, I just bought a Borgeson/Jeep/Delphi 600 box myself with the reinforcement bracket myself.
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2025 | 06:45 PM
  #5  
Bikespace's Avatar
Bikespace
Race Director
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,978
Likes: 4,529
From: Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by Piersonpie
You can always buy a longer carriage bolt too. I definitely would not use a regular hex bolt in that location....
Why not? That's what the brace comes with from Ridetech.

The included parts are in the PDF instructions.

https://ridetech.com/product/c2-c3-c...reinforcement/

If you have a source for Grade 8 carriage bolts, please share! And let Ridetech know, too.
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2025 | 07:01 PM
  #6  
Piersonpie's Avatar
Piersonpie
Melting Slicks
Shutterbug
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 2,193
From: Minnesota
Default

Bolt Depot. The factory size is 4 1/2”, but I added half an inch for the bracket.



With 255/50r17s in the front I notice it “polished” the frame at full lock. I could limit the steering, but I’d like to also not have the sharp edge of a hex headed bolt when I could get a smooth carriage one, peace of mind.
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2025 | 07:29 PM
  #7  
Bikespace's Avatar
Bikespace
Race Director
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,978
Likes: 4,529
From: Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by Piersonpie
Bolt Depot. The factory size is 4 1/2”, but I added half an inch for the bracket.

With 255/50r17s in the front I notice it “polished” the frame at full lock. I could limit the steering, but I’d like to also not have the sharp edge of a hex headed bolt when I could get a smooth carriage one, peace of mind.
Thanks!

I see Grade 5 at Bolt Depot, but not Grade 8. Still, that might be all you need. If your car will let you insert the bolts from the wheel side, you're all set.
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2025 | 10:32 PM
  #8  
mdunlavy's Avatar
mdunlavy
Thread Starter
Advanced
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 63
Likes: 9
Default

I appreciate the feedback, but i probably needed to word the question better - do the holes in the borgeson bracket work with the carriage bolts - will the carriage bolts "lock in place in bracket and not spin?

thanks

Michael
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
Old Jan 14, 2025 | 07:11 AM
  #9  
Bikespace's Avatar
Bikespace
Race Director
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,978
Likes: 4,529
From: Virginia
Default

Do you already have the bracket, and the carriage bolts? The Ridetech bracket has slots, not squares, but the carriage bolts should align with the sides of the slots, to capture the carriage bolt as you would expect. Measure it if you can, but @Piersonpie has already indicated that he did this.
Reply
Old Jan 14, 2025 | 09:49 AM
  #10  
gg521's Avatar
gg521
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 295
Likes: 58
From: Arvada Colorado
Default

There are several YouTube videos that show the install. All of them reuse the original bolts with the bracket.
Reply
Old Jan 14, 2025 | 05:23 PM
  #11  
wheresmyhorsepower's Avatar
wheresmyhorsepower
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 179
Likes: 77
From: California
Default

Yes carriage bolts will work with the Ridetech bracket. It's slotted and you'll lose a bit of adjustment range but it worked just fine for me.

+1 for Bolt Depot grade 8 carriage bolts.
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2025 | 09:44 AM
  #12  
big mort's Avatar
big mort
Instructor
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 156
Likes: 43
From: Baltimore MD
Default

I just realized a few months ago that I have to install these carriage bolts. I installed the hex heads and they DO rub at full lock.

Just to say that this is worth it.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2025 | 05:57 PM
  #13  
Crimson Thunder's Avatar
Crimson Thunder
Drifting
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 753
From: Doctors Inlet Florida
Default

I used the factory carriage bolt on the one bolt that can interfere with the tire at full lock. I used the RideTech bolts on the other two.
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2025 | 08:36 AM
  #14  
bschuus's Avatar
bschuus
Instructor
10 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 197
Likes: 27
From: New Jersey
Default

I re used my bolts with no issues
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To borgeson steering bracket question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:54 PM.

story-0
10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: 10 Corvettes to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:31:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

Slideshow: Corvette and Porsche 911, how two icons conquered the last 25 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:18:33


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-4
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-7
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE