Hello I just installed the borgeston steering box on my 55 customline i got a small problem when i turn to the left it feels a little tight then it lossens up but it dont turn back to straight when i let the wheel go / everything is tight the tierod ends and drag link is tight the idler arm is new can anyone tell me what might be wrong why its a little stiff turning to the left and not straighting back up when i let go of the wheel Thanks Bobby Parrish
The normal reasons for not returning to center would be alignment issues or binding linkage. With the fact that it is a little tight turning left I would suggest something binding. I would take the pitman arm off first and see if it moves free, if it does than you know the problem is not the steering shaft or box, put it back in and take the tie rods loose from the steering arm one at a time, then the idler arm, and see if that frees it up. I'm contemplating the same conversion on my 56, could you post some pictures of the steering column?
I have a GM 605 box in my '55 installed by the previous owner. I don't experience any binding, but it doesn't return to center after a turn. I attribute the non-return to lack of castor and I can't put any more into it. Another odd thing about mine is I can't jack the front wheels off the ground and move the wheels as in turning by hand. I can take the pitman arm loose and they will turn, so it must be a hydraulic lock in the box. It is also nearly impossible to steer with engine not running. I'm not hijacking this thread for answers, just wondering if you experience similar symptoms.
I totally agree that the poor return to center is probably a not enough positive caster issue, I have a borgson steering box I haven't installed yet in my 55 but am looking at the current alignment settings before starting the process so I have a starting point to work from. I did steering and alignment at a dealer starting in 1970 and was still involved (teaching) when I retired in 2016. A very common problem was poor adjustment of the steering box. It seems everybody wants to crank down on the adjustment screw on top of the steering box to "correct" whatever problem they are having. It is refered to as the over center adjustment and there is a correct procedure for adjusting this screw, the steering box has to be EXACTLY on center and if adjusted at any other point it can cause poor centering of the wheel and binding one way or the other. Have seen it screwed up more times than I can count!
I have a friend who has tried Borgenson and CPP boxes and cannot get his car to return to center. It is C—-y and has the tubular control arms that allow more castor. He has had it to a few alignment shops with no success. He has just learned to deal with it.
The Jalopy Journal
