Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
petersonj
TDR MEMBER
Last winter I did some steering and suspension maintenance to give my 2002 truck (then at 215,000 miles) a second life. I upgraded to a Borgeson steering box and a Borgeson steering shaft. At the time Borgeson advertised that model 800120 steering box would reduce steering wheel turns from stop to stop to about 3 1/2 turns. My original steering box that I removed from my truck took 4 1/4 turns from stop to stop, so I was looking forward to a significant improvement.
After installing the pitman arm on the new Borgeson steering box I noticed that it took exactly four turns from stop to stop. I thought that was rather odd, so I contacted my supplier who confirmed that only one model was made by Borgeson to fit '94-'02 Dodge trucks. So, I installed it on the truck and gave it a test drive thinking that it would feel much the same as my other one. Actually, it steered much better straight ahead and definitely had a faster ratio when turning sharp which didn't make sense to me because the ratio was only slightly faster than the one I replaced.
I contacted Borgeson and explained that although I was happy with the overall results, I was really expecting significantly less turns of the steering wheel - as was advertised. The representative said that the 800120 is the only steering box available for '94-'02 Dodge trucks. I asked if there was someone I could talk to who could explain why the steering box that I purchased takes four full turns from stop to stop. I was transferred to an engineer and during our discussion the engineer noticed that there were two slightly different steering boxes that were being packaged and sold under the same part number (800120). She said that one was a 14:1 ratio (3 1/2 turns from stop to stop) and the other was a variable ratio with a higher ratio in the centered position. Now things began to make sense to me as to why the steering box installed on my truck felt so responsive, but did not meet my expected 3 1/2 turns from stop to stop. The engineer also said that the customer could not choose which one to purchase; either one could be shipped. I thanked her for the information she provided and I offered a recommendation that Borgeson might consider re-wording how the steering box is marketed (specifically the 3 1/2 turns statement).
Even though my initial expectation was for a faster ratio steering box, I am still very satisfied with what I received. I just wanted to let other Dodge truck owners who are considering upgrading to a Borgeson 800120 steering box that I believe it is a very good upgrade, but one may receive a steering box different from their expectations.
- John
After installing the pitman arm on the new Borgeson steering box I noticed that it took exactly four turns from stop to stop. I thought that was rather odd, so I contacted my supplier who confirmed that only one model was made by Borgeson to fit '94-'02 Dodge trucks. So, I installed it on the truck and gave it a test drive thinking that it would feel much the same as my other one. Actually, it steered much better straight ahead and definitely had a faster ratio when turning sharp which didn't make sense to me because the ratio was only slightly faster than the one I replaced.
I contacted Borgeson and explained that although I was happy with the overall results, I was really expecting significantly less turns of the steering wheel - as was advertised. The representative said that the 800120 is the only steering box available for '94-'02 Dodge trucks. I asked if there was someone I could talk to who could explain why the steering box that I purchased takes four full turns from stop to stop. I was transferred to an engineer and during our discussion the engineer noticed that there were two slightly different steering boxes that were being packaged and sold under the same part number (800120). She said that one was a 14:1 ratio (3 1/2 turns from stop to stop) and the other was a variable ratio with a higher ratio in the centered position. Now things began to make sense to me as to why the steering box installed on my truck felt so responsive, but did not meet my expected 3 1/2 turns from stop to stop. The engineer also said that the customer could not choose which one to purchase; either one could be shipped. I thanked her for the information she provided and I offered a recommendation that Borgeson might consider re-wording how the steering box is marketed (specifically the 3 1/2 turns statement).
Even though my initial expectation was for a faster ratio steering box, I am still very satisfied with what I received. I just wanted to let other Dodge truck owners who are considering upgrading to a Borgeson 800120 steering box that I believe it is a very good upgrade, but one may receive a steering box different from their expectations.
- John
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