2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Borgeson steering box swap

[buzzman]

The stock steering box on my '98. 5 2wd truck, with about 149K miles on it, had been getting really sloppy over the last couple years. In fact my dear GF refused to drive it when we went on long trips with the truck camper. So a couple weeks ago I crawled under the truck to look at the linkage and steering gear while she sawed back and forth on the steering wheel. The slop in the steering gear was very obvious, about 1/4 turn each way. The tie rod ends looked tight, so the box was the culprit. I decided to spend the money and ordered a Borgeson steering box and Borgeson steering shaft from Geno's. I did the work myself, so saved some money there. After locking the steering wheel in straight ahead position and removing the old steering shaft and gear I flushed the pump and hydro boost until clear fluid came out. About three quarts were used to flush it. The two power steering hose flare nuts on the old steering gear were difficult get at and very tight, but an 18mm flare nut crows foot wrench and long extensions worked well. Installation of the new steering gear and shaft and new pitman arm went smoothly. After bleeding the system I went for a test drive. Wow! What an improvement! It was like driving a new truck. Wish I would have done this upgrade earlier. Now maybe I will have help with the driving chores on long trips.



It cost me about $750 for this upgrade, but the way I look at it, that's about one payment on a new truck.



Buzz

 

[JLandry]

Congratulations on performing a very worthwhile upgrade! Nothing like having better-than-new steering.



John L.

 

[yenga80]

Great info! I'll be doing this in the future. Thanks for the writeup.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Thanks for the report. Although I can't complain about how my current truck handles I've have put some serious consideration and internet snooping into this upgrade. I am especially interested in how you think the steering through corners is markedly improved with the 3. 5 vs. 4. 5 turns stop to stop. This is where I definitely consider my steering could stand improvement. It seems on many highway driving corners I have to shift a hand to smoothly accomplish the turn, whereas I think I should be able to keep both hands in place and simply steer through. Your experience and thoughts?

 

[buzzman]

Ol'TrailDog,

So far, what impresses me most about this Borgeson box is that the truck goes where it's pointed. No wandering. There is an over all better feel to the steering, probably due to a combination of the 3. 5 vs 4. 5 turns lock to lock and the variable assist feature. It's not "sports car" quick, just more like driving a more modern truck. Going around 90 degree corners, for example, there is slightly less turning of the steering wheel and maybe less hand over hand positioning, but I wouldn't say that was real significant.

Since I did most of the driving on our long trips, I was used to the sloppiness of the steering and just lived with it. When Sherri would drive it on occasions. she would complain how bad the steering was with wandering and did not want to drive it. She has not driven it with the new steering box yet.

Pretty soon the improved steering will be the new "normal" for me and I'll forget how bad the old steering was. This is another upgrade that will make me feel better about keeping this truck a lot longer.

 

[GAmes]

I've been considering a Borgeson, but can't justify in my mind a new shaft and I'm not crazy about grinding on the input shaft of a new box. BTW, my original box went nearly 500k and the factory rebuild is just now getting sloppy.

 

[HCannon]

Buzz, I replaced mine with the Burgeson and it is great! Everything you say about yours happen to me, it goes where your point it now. It is also easy to do, I did also change the shaft too. My truck is a 3500 4x4. It is well worth the money if you plain on driving it for a while.

 

[gcorron]

Good info, thanks so much for sharing. I've been thinking of the upgrade myself, as my steering is as sloppy as you describe.

Kind of funny though, it's my son that just HATES to drive my truck! I have driven bucket trucks and line trucks for so long, ny Dodge feels tight to me! I do notice that I am "sawing" my way down the road though, and I already have the Borgeson shaft.

Thanks again.

George

 

[buzzman]

I'm glad to be able to share some information. This forum has been very, very helpful to me with various upgrades and repairs for my truck. I may have traded my truck off by now if it wasn't for the information I got from you all on this forum. As it is now, this truck will last me many more years.

Buzz

 

[gary johnson]

Here's my dime. . . . Borgeson box upgrade and shaft 2 years ago. I had a local mechanic ( also knew him well) do the work, as I was too busy with my remodeling buisness. Got the truck back the same day and really liked the improvement! Well, 3 days later, hauling my 12' work trailer to work at 6:30 a. m. and hauling azz on I 40, I suddenly had no steering. The wheel just turned and turned. I had no wheel at all! VERY fortunate that the truck and trailer braked straight and that there was a left hand curve to the road with a gravel breakdown area. The truck and trailer went straight. I managed to come to a stop safely, pumped with adrenilin! Almost could not walk, but managed to open the hood and discovered the Borgeson shaft had fallen off!!!!!!!!

As the world came back into focus, I concluded that no holes were drilled in the connection to the wheel shaft and that the 2 set screws that mount the Borgeson shaft had loosened, allowing the shaft to fall off. My advice to guys doing the Borgeson upgrade is to take the time and effort to grind the "D" on the new box and use the stock shaft or to make SURE you drill holes for the set screws on the Borg.

Would I do it again? Nope... ... i would check out RedHead steering boxes, they have the D already to accept the stock shaft and I have read they are great boxes!

 

[buzzman]

Gary, that must have been really scary! Good info and a caution for everyone.

I noticed when I installed the new shaft that there was already one hole for a set screw on the steering wheel end of the shaft. I used that hole for one of the set screws, but I did not drill a hole for the second Borgeson set screw. The stock shaft had only one set screw. After reading about your episode, I will pull out that second set screw and drill it so there will be two good set screws on the upper end of the shaft. Then I'll make sure the lock nuts on the set screws are tight. The lower end of the shaft has one set screw that tightens into a continuous groove on the splined steering box stub. Probably a good idea to check all the factory installed set screws on the shaft ends too. Thanks again for the heads up.

Buzz

 

[gary johnson]

yea, Buzz, if the truck had drifted either way I might not be writing this! Glad you have your install under watch, maybe some blue loctite or even red!

 

[JLandry]

FYI: The Borgeson steering shaft installation instructions clearly require drilling (or filing) a seat for the set screws AND retightening them after the first 100 miles of operation.



John L.

 

[buzzman]

John, you are absolutely correct. I have done that now. It was a little difficult to get at the steering wheel shaft, but I found a 12" long, 5/16" drill bit that worked and I used the mark made by the set screw on the shaft to locate the correct place to drill. The other set screw fit in the OEM seat that the stock steering shaft used and did not need to be drilled.

Did you also drill a set screw seat in the steering box splined stub? It already has sort of a grove that is spline free that I thought would be adequate.

Buzz

 

[JLandry]

Did you also drill a set screw seat in the steering box splined stub? It already has sort of a grove that is spline free that I thought would be adequate.

Buzz,



I paid a local shop to install mine and I don't recall exactly what they did (drilled or filed a seat for the set screws).



I did highlight the part about properly seating the set screws on the instruction sheet and warned them that if anything came loose and I survived, they'd very much regret it!



I did recheck the set screw at 100 miles and they were still tight.



John L.

 

[Texis]

SOLD.

Just need to find a spare $750! Maybe after I finish the boat and the jeep project. But sure would be nice to be proud of the way my old rig drives.

 

[Arctic Taco]

Yep, I got the new borgeson box and power steering pump installed at CN Performance Diesel, in Post Falls, Id . I had already installed the new shaft. It steers like a dream best move I made for sure, those guys did a great job.

 

[klaybus]

Great upgrade & worth the coin. Now if they would come up with a fix for the lousy excuse of a power steering pump......

 

[SDalgleish]

I installed both the new steering box and their shaft. I followed the instructions. I have had no issues. The product is solid.

 

[SDalgleish]

They have an upgrade power steering pump as well. I have installed it...works flawlessly.