Steering box upgrade, or OEM?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
From: Clarksville
Steering box upgrade, or OEM?
My steering box is shot and I intend to replace it. Is it worth upgrading it to something like a Borgeson ($400 from Summit) (or an even better unit), or just use a Lares recondition unit ($200, $300 new)? I drive her a few times a week to work, Church on Sunday and have some fun around the backroads - nothing ridiculously sporty or demanding. I figure it's gonna take a lot more investment that just a new steering box to give it sports-like handling, which I'm not at the point of doing yet.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,453
Likes: 976
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Do what I did 15 years ago and have your OEM C3 steering box rebuilt/Blue printed by forum member GTR1999, aka Gary Ramadei. You can find him on this forum.
You can send the box to him and he will disassembly your OEM Recirculating ball box, replace everything that is worn, add a custom olite bushing to eliminate the OEM slop from the factory AND hand adjust/set the box for proper operation with zero play. He will also send you LOTS of pictures of the whole process as well.
You can send the box to him and he will disassembly your OEM Recirculating ball box, replace everything that is worn, add a custom olite bushing to eliminate the OEM slop from the factory AND hand adjust/set the box for proper operation with zero play. He will also send you LOTS of pictures of the whole process as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,453
Likes: 976
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
The pimary advantage of the Borgeson box for a C3 is the elimination of the PS control valve and PS cylinder with a quicker ratio but make no mistake, it is NOT R&P steering........
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 1,727
From: Summerville SC
my mistake, it was a STEEROIDS R and P, not a Borgeson. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nd-pinion.html
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
Do you already have manual steering? If so, send it to @GTR1999 to rebuild.
The Borgeson MANUAL steering boxes that are readily available on eBay are NOT the same thing a the awesome Borgeson POWER steering boxes that are on long backorder.
I'd go ahead and backorder the Borgeson power steering box, though, even if you need to add a power steering pump. It's worth it.
The Borgeson MANUAL steering boxes that are readily available on eBay are NOT the same thing a the awesome Borgeson POWER steering boxes that are on long backorder.
I'd go ahead and backorder the Borgeson power steering box, though, even if you need to add a power steering pump. It's worth it.
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 936
From: Arizona
Do you already have manual steering? If so, send it to @GTR1999 to rebuild.
The Borgeson MANUAL steering boxes that are readily available on eBay are NOT the same thing a the awesome Borgeson POWER steering boxes that are on long backorder.
I'd go ahead and backorder the Borgeson power steering box, though, even if you need to add a power steering pump. It's worth it.
The Borgeson MANUAL steering boxes that are readily available on eBay are NOT the same thing a the awesome Borgeson POWER steering boxes that are on long backorder.
I'd go ahead and backorder the Borgeson power steering box, though, even if you need to add a power steering pump. It's worth it.
I called Borgeson a few weeks ago and had my kit in 3 days... installed it Sunday, for some reason these kits are more available than the upgrade kit 999032.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,453
Likes: 976
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Pretty simple. If you want the quicker steering ratio 12.7:1, go borgeson for significantly more money than having your OEM steering box custom/blueprinted rebuilt. My GTR1999 OEM box is superb with zero, no play/sloppiness in the steering and no on center dead spot..........
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 25
Likes: 37
From: Fresno, CA
My steering box is shot and I intend to replace it. Is it worth upgrading it to something like a Borgeson ($400 from Summit) (or an even better unit), or just use a Lares recondition unit ($200, $300 new)? I drive her a few times a week to work, Church on Sunday and have some fun around the backroads - nothing ridiculously sporty or demanding. I figure it's gonna take a lot more investment that just a new steering box to give it sports-like handling, which I'm not at the point of doing yet.
I bought a new Lares box from Summit for $263. The old box was in very rough shape. Corrosion, gouges in the case, bearings would seize, I just didn't want to mess with rebuilding it.
Summit shipped the new box the day I ordered it. Easy install, bolts-out /bolts-in, no other mods. It also came with a new rag joint. The new box feels feels great. Perfect for the driving style that you are describing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 57
I was recently told that while the Borgeson has a quicker steering ratio, it gives the car a wider minimum turning radius.
For example, if a stock steering box allows the car to turn a 18' radius at full lock, the Borgerson turning radius will be wider at full lock, perhaps 20' (these are arbitrary numbers for this example).
Can anyone comment on this?
Thanks
For example, if a stock steering box allows the car to turn a 18' radius at full lock, the Borgerson turning radius will be wider at full lock, perhaps 20' (these are arbitrary numbers for this example).
Can anyone comment on this?
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
I was recently told that while the Borgeson has a quicker steering ratio, it gives the car a wider minimum turning radius.
For example, if a stock steering box allows the car to turn a 18' radius at full lock, the Borgerson turning radius will be wider at full lock, perhaps 20' (these are arbitrary numbers for this example).
Can anyone comment on this?
Thanks
For example, if a stock steering box allows the car to turn a 18' radius at full lock, the Borgerson turning radius will be wider at full lock, perhaps 20' (these are arbitrary numbers for this example).
Can anyone comment on this?
Thanks
My 79 has 255/60R15 tires (from the factory). On a tight left turn, the driver side tire rubs on the frame rail right where the carriage bolts go for the steering box.. Since the addition of the Borgeson, and the RideTech brace, the added thickness of the brace and the bolt heads (no longer carriage bolts), means I can't make as tight of a left turn as before.
But so what? None of my Corvettes are for hanging out in parking lots. It hasn't been a problem driving.
This is not really a limitation of the Borgeson steering box itself, at least I haven't encountered that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 385
From: Leland , North Carolina
The Borgeson C3 Steering box is basically a recirculating ball steering box (delphi 600 series) with a much quicker steering ratio of 12.7:1 than the C3 box at 16:1. It is not rack and pinion steering. The Big advantage and improved feel is mostly from the quicker ratio. If the OEM C3 steering was 12.7:1 you would not notice such a big improvement going to a borgeson box. As noted on another post as well, the Borgeson box will still have a dead on center feel like all Recirculating boxes have except custom blueprinted/rebuilt C3 boxes like from our forum member who rebuilds them...
The pimary advantage of the Borgeson box for a C3 is the elimination of the PS control valve and PS cylinder with a quicker ratio but make no mistake, it is NOT R&P steering........
The pimary advantage of the Borgeson box for a C3 is the elimination of the PS control valve and PS cylinder with a quicker ratio but make no mistake, it is NOT R&P steering........
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 57
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
A "dead" center is when there's a bit of looseness at the center point. Allegedly, this is a problem for the Borgeson (power) steering boxes. I haven't encountered it, but mine was still pretty new when I took that car off the road. Think of a dead spot in a gaming controller, if that's your thing. A lot of worn out stock steering boxes have this "feature".
The biggest advantage of the Borgeson power steering is not the faster ratio (though that's nice for autocrossing). It's that it does away with the power steering cylinder, and the two moving power steering hoses. It only leave two stationary power steering hoses, so there are a lot fewer moving parts, and less chances for leaking.
If you want manual steering, absolutely send a box to @GTR1999. If you want power steering, Borgeson power steering is a great option. I haven't tried a rack, yet, that's next on the list.