Borgeson Intermediate Shaft and Gearbox

[mpaulson]

Rcatalo-



I just received my Borgeson steering shaft and after reading this post I am thinking about replacing my stock steering box with the Borgeson box... . sounds like it might be easier to do both. Note: I am on my third factory steering box and after 25k miles I am getting the "road wondering" again!!! Curious you mentioned the fact that you have to adjust the link on the Pitman arm... ... and was wondering if you could explain that a little more? Are you talking about moving the Pitman arm on the box-shaft? Note: I have upgraded to the 08 steering tie-rods, drag-link, and pitman arm... not sure if that changes anything??



Thanks in advance for your time,



Southbound

After having just done mine, I parked the truck with the front wheels and the steering wheel centered. Then tore everything out and put the new stuff in. Getting the pitman arm on the box in the correct orientation is a bit of a chore since it can go on any spline. I put a vise grip on the input shaft and started at one side and counted the turns and found centre, it was 1 3/4 turns each way from centre and you can feel a stiffness when you get to centre, then put the pitman arm on pointing straight in line with the box. Then put it on the truck, and then adjusted the sleeve of the drag link that is just before the pitman arm connection till the steering wheel was centred. I have to go under and tweak it a tiny bit yet since my steering wheel is off by about 1/2" from centre on the average road. I have the 08 and up steering components also.

If you don't have the proper tools for getting the tierod out of the original pitman arm, all I did was put the floor jack under it and put force up on the bolt for the tie rod and give the pitman arm a few good wacks with a hammer and it popped. I raised the truck up about 2" in this process, not off the ground, but within the suspension. See my other post from this morning for more info.

 

[RBellah]

Question for you guys that have replaced the box... . Did you have BD steering box stabilizer? The reason I ask is the nut on pitman arm is replaced with a bearing collar style nut and I want to make sure the size and threads are the same.

 

[mpaulson]

Mine were the same. Both Borgeson and stock box have the same threads. I had to modify the BD stabilier as mentioned above. I'm about 3000k into it now and it is perfect other than the bumb steer. I replaces the steering stablizer shock and that helped, but I still have the bump steer. I think it has to do with the quicker turning ratio, so it responds at the wheel quicker also. And I don't have the 3" of wheel play to hide the bump steer either. I may need new front shocks, but it doesn't seem that I do for any reasons other than this.

 

[RBellah]

Mpaulson, Have you tried removing the BD stabilzer and see if the bump steer is still there? The modifications you mentioned to the bar is something out of the norm.

 

[mpaulson]

No, I haven't. I don't see how it could effect anything anyway unless the frame used to flex to absorb the "bump" which I doubt.