70 Roadrunner Gear Box SUGGESTIONS?

[dcoland70RR]

Hello ALL!

I love taking my 1970 orange 4 speed roadrunner out as much as possible to cruise. It floats from left to right while cruising as expected for an original 1970 steering gear box. So a trusted mechanic from experienced old Mopar shop near by did my alignment last summer after I put on all new steering parts. He suggested I get a new after market gear box because he has put many rebuilt factory style gear boxes (LIKE A-1 Cardone brands) in old mopars only to have customers say the steering seems no better than the worn out original one. I am very ready for tighter steering feeling than I have now.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR A NEW STEERING GEAR BOX 1970 B BODY?

THANKS
DAVE

 

[493 Mike]

Firm Feel has been tightening up and rebuilding these PS gears for years now. I've read good reviews on their work.
Mike

 

[rlem1977]

Is it power? I like the Borgeson units. It's offered in both 1-1/8" and 1-1/4" Pitman sizes.

 

[dcoland70RR]

Yes it is power steering

 

[rlem1977]

Yes it is power steering

I do like the Borgeson units. I have not used their Mopar unit, but have used them in other makes. Good quality. A lot of folks on the forum like Firm Feel. I have not used them. I would price out each one, read what each product is and does, and go from there. Either way you will probably enjoy the results. Good luck.

 

[FrnkNsteen]

Do you have a lot of play in the wheel? Could be the steering gear, or it could be that someone pulled the coupler apart at some point and didn't put it back together right. I just found that on my '67 Barracuda. The previous owner must have had it apart, because I pulled it apart and the blocks were facing the wrong way, allowing for a lot of play/slop in the wheel.

I just ordered a Firm Feel Stage II power steering box for my Charger, but it is still going through rebuild, so I can't say much about it yet, other than I have heard good things about them. I got my manual box for my Barracuda from Firm Feel and I am happy with that one.

 

[moparedtn]

The factory power boxes are adjustable like the manual ones, correct?

 

[rlem1977]

The factory power boxes are adjustable like the manual ones, correct?

I assume so. Never messed with a Mopar box, only GM.

 

[moparedtn]

I assume so. Never messed with a Mopar box, only GM.

I need to snug up my manual factory box right now; there's some wandering in her but we've already been through the steering system and had it aligned.
She's straight and true, just a little wandery going down the highway.
In the back of my mind, though, is the memory of snugging up a box one time to take the play out of the wheel and, well, let's just say I did too good a job.
Steering locked up on me on the test drive.

 

[WileE]

What were your alignment specs set at ?

 

[SDCoronet]

I really like my Borgeson steering box. I purchased it from Bergman with the kit that allowed me to use original style hoses and NOT cut my steering column shaft. The Borgeson box has a very precise feel to it compared to my worn out box. Unfortunately, the new steering box is forcing me to update the rest of the steering system. I had to dump the original federal power steering pump (at idle, it didn’t seem to make enough pressure to keep up with the steering box) and found, rebuilt and installed an original Saginaw pump from another mopar (with correct brackets). The rebuilt Saginaw pump and new steering box combination seems to heat up the steering fluid pretty high, so I decided that I need to protect my investment with a power steering fluid cooler. Lastly, the improved steering highlights the deficiencies in the original front end geometry (the steering wheel does not self center after making a turn), so I will soon be upgrading to aftermarket upper control arms that will add needed positive caster.

I think you will be extremely happy with either the Borgeson box or firm feel rebuild.

 

[NJRR]

Firm Feel And Steer and Gear both rebuild Mopar boxes with different ratios. I put a Steer and Gear Stage 2 in my 70 RR. It improved the steering tremendously, eliminated the slop and responded much quicker. PST, a vendor on the site sells new steering boxes, with similar characteristics. They are also very affordable with the FBBO discount.

 

[Dennis H]

Firm Feel Stage 2. Not cheap. Worth every penny. Confident control at all speeds.

 

[dcoland70RR]

Thanks everyone