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  •  » Steering box replacement

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    8/30/2020 11:05 PM  #1

    Evan
    FYI FORD Member

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    From: San Diego
    Registered: 4/14/2013
    Posts: 72

    Steering box replacement

    Hello Everyone,  I have a 66 mustang with.a 302 and mustang Steve cable clutch kit. It has a collapsible steering column that was swapped from a 69 mustang. When the swap was done on the steering column. I purchased a Borgeson steering box. I hadn’t really driven the car. Since I installed it but I have noticed it’s leaking really really bad from the sector shaft on the steering box. It kinda stinks it definitely got less than 500 miles on it. And it was purchased 5 or so years back.  So I’m debating what I should do. I spoke with Borgeson and they said I can mail it and they can fix it and send it back to me. However I’m not sure I want to waste my time with Borgeson if this is the type of thing I can expect from it.

    Has anyone had any good results with a Borgeson box. Or is there a better one that I can bolt in instead.?

    Thanks.

     

    8/30/2020 11:30 PM  #2

    50vert
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: QLD Australia
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,427

    Re: Steering box replacement

    I've heard of quite a few problems with the sector shaft seal, nothing about a repeat of the problem after Borgeson repairs it.

    "Those telephone poles were like a picket fence"
     

    8/30/2020 11:41 PM  #3

    Ron68
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Mukilteo, Washington
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,583

    Re: Steering box replacement

    I installed my Borgeson power steering mod 10 years ago, and have never had a leakage problem. (knock wood..) Perhaps they had a quality control issue with their seals at the time you bought the mod. I would send it back and let them repair it. Cheaper than buying another company's mod.

    68 coupe - 351W, 4R70W, 9" 3.25 -- 65 convertible - 289 4v, C4, 8" 3.00
     

    8/31/2020 5:28 AM  #4

    TKOPerformance
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 7,504

    Re: Steering box replacement

    Its been at least 5 years for mine and not a single issue.  I think the issue with yours is that it sat.  Seals don't like that.

     

    8/31/2020 6:10 AM  #5

    Bullet Bob
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    From: Montrose, Colorado
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 4,887

    Re: Steering box replacement

    I installed mine in '15 and it was leaking pretty bad when we got home from the FWB bash in '17.  Borgeson sent the new seals but I chickened out about disassembling the box without proper tools or experience...sent it back to them.  They charged me $75 but so far it's doing just fine but I think the problem may have been the fluid.  When I installed it Borg said that ATF would be fine.  Later they said to use "power steering fluid" which I've been using since the rebuild by Borgeson. 
    In spite of this problem, I think it's a good product and, as far as I know, is the only integral PS box available for the early Mustang.  Mine drives fine and though the "return to center" could be better, I'm very happy with it. Also, they have stopped using modified Trooper boxes and are now making their own forgings for the Mustang.  Maybe that will produce a more reliable result.
    About the only other option for improved power steering is to go to an R&P and that involves a whole pile of other issues.

    BB1
     

    "you get what you pay for, good work isn't cheap, and there are NO free lunches...PERIOD!"
     

    8/31/2020 6:55 AM  #6

    BobC
    I FYI 24-7

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    From: Clinton, MI
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 442

    Re: Steering box replacement

    I installed my Borgeson box 4 years ago.  No issues so far. Much better than the original manual box.  I did use "power steering fluid" as they recommended.

    Bash Host MSBB XVI.       BobC    1966 Mustang Coupe
     

    9/01/2020 4:54 AM  #7

    TKOPerformance
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 7,504

    Re: Steering box replacement

    Bullet Bob wrote:

    I installed mine in '15 and it was leaking pretty bad when we got home from the FWB bash in '17.  Borgeson sent the new seals but I chickened out about disassembling the box without proper tools or experience...sent it back to them.  They charged me $75 but so far it's doing just fine but I think the problem may have been the fluid.  When I installed it Borg said that ATF would be fine.  Later they said to use "power steering fluid" which I've been using since the rebuild by Borgeson. 
    In spite of this problem, I think it's a good product and, as far as I know, is the only integral PS box available for the early Mustang.  Mine drives fine and though the "return to center" could be better, I'm very happy with it. Also, they have stopped using modified Trooper boxes and are now making their own forgings for the Mustang.  Maybe that will produce a more reliable result.
    About the only other option for improved power steering is to go to an R&P and that involves a whole pile of other issues.

    BB1
     

    BB how much caster are you running?
     

     

    9/01/2020 6:15 AM  #8

    Bullet Bob
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    From: Montrose, Colorado
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 4,887

    Re: Steering box replacement

    Right now I have 3.75 positive.  At some point down the road I'll do a bunch of changing/re-designing/replacing and get it up to 5 degrees...maybe.  On the last alignment...with my "solid shims"...I set camber at zero and and that makes any more caster than what I have now impossible with the stock length UCA bolts. 
    It drives great but I still have to help it come back to center for the last 1/4 turn of the steering whee.
    I had a guy align it (don't ax why) just before the FWB trip and he set it at .5 degree neg camber and got 5 degrees of caster.  Butt, that was with stock shims and the pinch angle on the shims was just too much and, as many of you know, they fell out.  But before it fell apart it drove beautifully with full and positive return to center.

    BB1
     

    "you get what you pay for, good work isn't cheap, and there are NO free lunches...PERIOD!"
     

    9/01/2020 4:39 PM  #9

    Evan
    FYI FORD Member

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    From: San Diego
    Registered: 4/14/2013
    Posts: 72

    Re: Steering box replacement

    Awesome thanks for the info. I spoke with Borgeson today and got their address and opened a return ticket for repair.

       •Thread Starter
     

     

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