2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission New PSC or Borgeson Steering Box? Opinions wanted...

[GrantP]

... . and I know the TDR has em



I replaced my steering box a couple of years ago with a reman PSC box. It was not any tighter than the OEM unit I replaced with well over 100k on it. The main source of play in my steering is still from the box. Here are the two options I'm considering:



1. The all new box from PSC that I know will work with my existing PSC steering stabilizer bracket for $459.



2. The borgeson steering box plus the borgeson shaft for $665 that may or may not work with my existing steering stabilizer. Some people have said they've had no problems using the existing brackets, others have had to modify them.



The PSC box is the clear winner on price, but my big concern is removing as much play as possible from the steering, if that costs an extra 200 bucks for the Borgeson then so be it...



Fire away fellas.

 

[BEmmert]

Readhead steering in Seattle WA. They have a very good product and great customer service.

 

[GrantP]

Readhead steering in Seattle WA. They have a very good product and great customer service.

New or reman?

 

[24V-DSL]

Rip Rook, Source Automotive just installed the Borgeson shaft and box. I have 223K and honestly, my truck steers and handles better than when it was new.

 

[BEmmert]

I believe remans, but they build them up with much better bearings and guts. I had one on my 98 and it drove better than it ever had before after going though about 3 gear boxes.

 

[budnate]

second on Red head, he corrects a few factory problems inside as well on his rebuild, great local shop that has been around forever. I have one in my truck now.



B.

 

[DIESELWRKS]

Rip Rook, Source Automotive just installed the Borgeson shaft and box. I have 223K and honestly, my truck steers and handles better than when it was new.

DITTO on the Borg/and shaft they installed mine and was night and day made everything nice and tight. great product.



2002 HO 6-SPD LB 4X4 QC HTT 62/14 SB-DD3600 TST PM3/*REVO-BETA*SMARTY MACH 4'S, RINGED AND STUDS, AFE/2 " FTE 6" STACK D/PRICOL GAUGES, FASS 150, VULCAN 1/2 DRAW-STRAW, 3/8 FUEL LINE, DSS-BOX DT PRO-FAB TRAC BAR, CONV-T STYLE STEERING,BORGENSON BOX AND SHAFT,DUNKS TRACTION BARS, AIR BAGS,17'' KMC BLACK HOSS, 37" TOYO MT'S 6" RCD LONG ARM LIFT. :-laf... THANKS RIP www.sourceautomotive.biz

 

[GrantP]

Well, fast forward 9 months and I've got a Borgeson box and shaft installed on the truck as of last weekend. The play in the steering is completely gone and there is no more wandering. I bought this truck with 55k on it, it steers so much better now with 168k than it did when I picked it up in 2003. I'm happy to kick the old PSC box to the curb.

Only a couple things I would point out to anyone else thinking of this swap. First, don't be afraid to grind the flat in the steering column adapter to use your stock shaft. My existing shaft had zero slop in it and could've easily been reused and saved a good chunk of money.

Second, I'm not sure how many people who've done the inverted T (98-99HD) steering swaps have also added a Borgeson box but it added a little more difficulty for me. There was not enough room in the adjustment sleeve to shorten the draglink the required 3/8", the two ends were butted against each other with a lot of adjustment left to do. I had to remove the pitman arm side and cut off 3/8" of the threads and then reassemble.

Add me to the list of happy Borgeson customers.

 

[Tomscreek]

I installed a PSC box with supposedly fewer turns, figured it would tighten things up. Went through 3 boxes before I got one that didn't leak. PSC did warranty them but of course I got hosed on labor. The last one hasn't leaked and has held up well but I noticed no improvement in steering.

Will the Borgeson work with a DSS stabilizer?

 

[mpaulson]

I'd also like to know if the BD steering stablizer will work with the borg box on an 07. 5? I have the box on order and a stablizer on hold for when it comes in.

 

[toms73novass]

I just did the Borg box and shaft on my 98 WOW what a difference... The only change I had to make in my bd stablizer is to slot the bearing holes a bit towards the passenger side so the bearing did not have side preload. Not sure on a 07. 5. .

 

[jleons]

Replaced my stock box @ 275,000 on my 96 Ram 2500, with the Borg unit. Had to modify the steering Stab; ground out 1/2 with my grinder, no problem.

Steering in tight and love Borg.

JL

 

[JMcCoy]

I believe PSC no longer sells boxes for our truck. Must have had too many problems.

 

[GrantP]

I believe PSC no longer sells boxes for our truck. Must have had too many problems.

They still do, but only the "new" boxes are listed on their website. To their credit they explain the problems they (and presumably everyone else) had with these boxes and the lack of replacement parts in the product description. Unfortunately they didn't provide that description when they were selling rebuilt boxes to those of us with functional boxes that just had too much slop.



I don't want to come across as a PSC hater, I do have their steering gear and pump on my Jeep CJ that works very well... but the results were not good for my Dodge. The "new" boxes may be great, I don't know. I do know the PSC rebuilds weren't the answer to my steering issues.



When I installed the PSC steering box years ago I also installed their stabilizer bracket. After replacing the PSC box with the Borgeson box, I can say the PSC bracket does not directly bolt up. It probably wouldn't take a lot of modification to make it work but at this point I'm happy with the steering and modifying the bracket to make it work is on the back burner.

 

[LVJUNIOR]

I was very unhappy with the install of the Borgeson box. It did fit with the BD stabilizer but the box housing tabs were in a slightly different spot than the stock box. I called tech support at Borgeson and they told me it was impossible and that I must be wrong even though I provided him with measurements. I ended up putting flat washers behind 2 of the 3 tabs to square the box with the frame rail contours.

 

[Hammer]

When looking for a steering box for your truck I am ingreement with some of the others in this thread. There is only one place to look and shop.....



RedHead Steering Gears... PERIOD!..... All the rest are second place in my book.



We had terrible trouble with my gals 01. 5 6spd truck after she lifted it the other year. It was very unsettled on the road and she blamed the lift/tire combo(its had a 6" BDS Long Arm Kit installed on it). The first thing I did for her was the Solid Steel DSS Brace which helped tremendously but didn't fix it completely. We tried adjusting her original steering gear and found it needed replaced so the local shop did that for us with a "lifetime" warranty one from NAPA. What a complete POS that box was and that then sent me searching the lifted truck boards for a better solution. it was there where I was pointed to RedHead and after a call and chat we ordered one and had it installed. That was some of the best money we spent on her truck. The truck steers better than it ever had since she owned it and I would say her truck is almost as quick steering wise as my 3rd genner. We are very happy customers of RedHead and would use them again... ... . Andy



Red-Head Steering Gears, Seattle WA - Red-Head Steering Gears Home

 

[klaybus]

I too got mine from Rip at Source Automotive. The Borgeson box & shaft work awesome & Rip also sells the DSS which I installed at the same time. Not familiar with the other so can't comment. My 99 now drives better than ever though.