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Hey guys, real quick, for more tech and thoughts, here's Obey My Bird's thread on the same box. Figured I'd give him credit where it's due, and if YOU are in need of info....I figure the more the better. -although my experience was pretty similar. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...-800130-a.html
-Anyhow, price was about $450 from Summit. Drop shipped from Borgeson directly.
-Came ready for O rings but had reverse flare adapters if needed.
-Needed to remove my 4th gen fan shroud, but other than that it was pretty easy.
-Box is mechanically a direct replacement, but physically the housing fits many same era GM's and I DID need trim one mounting ear off, as I'll show in pics.
-I did NOT need to finesse the frame as Obey My Bird did. Once that ear was cut off, it fit great.
-I too needed shorter bolts for the two lower holes. Purchased (2) 4" 7/16 - 14 Grade 8 bolts from lowes. The box has a slightly different casting, and the bolts hit. Still have about 1/4" showing PASSED the threaded section.
Only other issues I had were that I wasn't able to press the pitman arm on as far as the stock box. Splines are flush with the bottom of the pitman arm and nut is fully threaded and torqued so I called it a day. Stock I had about 1/4 to 3/8 showing between the box housing and pitman arm. (guess based on crud on the shaft after removal. Now I have about 1/2" to 5/8". I researched and have found MANY people with similar issues on various boxes. Consensus seems to be if you have full contact on the splines and the nut is threaded and torqued, let it ride. So I did.
Steering feel is awesome. MUCH more responsive. Can't feel any slop. Shoulda done it sooner. I was probably on my original 200k mile+ box! Here's the theaded mounting point that needs to be cut off. Cut off wheel made EASY work of it! This is after the first trim. I did have to go back and grind it a little, but with a cut off wheel it was easy. Took 10 minutes. Here it is installed. You can see how there's NO WAY it woulda fit. Bottom bolts bottoming out while not snug. You can see the interference. Solution! Easy peasy.
Good write much better then my hack job lol. This is the box everyone should be grabbing if they need one is there better boxes out there yes but for this money i think its top dog. I will be hitting some auto-x next year really hope to make it to UMI's new track and really see what my new setup can do.
Forgive my ignorance, but can you explain how this is a better cost-effectiveness than a quality rebuild of a stock box? Not knocking, just trying to get a more complete understanding. I am in the middle of removing my leaking gearbox from my GTA (once I can get the centerlink/pitman arm to separate).
(once I can get the centerlink/pitman arm to separate)
- I didn't remove the pitman arm from the centerlink. Not sure if I was supposed to, lol
I did a bunch of research, and lots of talking to other guys and from what I've read, most remanufactured units are only soft part rebuild, not gears. Some cores only need soft parts, but some have worn gears, and you're kind of at the mercy of whatever you get. Right or wrong, that drove my decision.
....if this piece was lighter, it wasn't enough for me to notice.
- I didn't remove the pitman arm from the centerlink. Not sure if I was supposed to, lol
I did a bunch of research, and lots of talking to other guys and from what I've read, most remanufactured units are only soft part rebuild, not gears. Some cores only need soft parts, but some have worn gears, and you're kind of at the mercy of whatever you get. Right or wrong, that drove my decision.
....if this piece was lighter, it wasn't enough for me to notice.
This.
For the cardone, or other brand 'rebuilders'..... that you get at the local parts store, its a real crap shoot as to whether the new box will be better, or worse, than the one you are replacing......
I was planning on getting mine rebuilt at http://www.powersteering.com/power-s...rbox-rebuilds/ instead of buying a rebuilt unit off the shelf. I'll get my original box back so I know there won't be any fitment issues.
I took my AGR box apart to get the body gold zink plated.. then sent it to AGR for a reassembly ..and to get a better ratio..there are a few diff makers on the market..
Last edited by articwhiteZ; 11-27-2018 at 12:19 AM.
I bought a box off rockauto from LARES for my 1993 roadmaster wagon, got the performance box and it was a really nice unit, worked perfect and totally changed the car. Highly recomend them.I didnt wasnt a pos mexican reman , these are redone up north in the states .
I bought a box off rockauto from LARES for my 1993 roadmaster wagon, got the performance box and it was a really nice unit, worked perfect and totally changed the car. Highly recomend them.I didnt wasnt a pos mexican reman , these are redone up north in the states .
What does any of that have to do with the product review of the borgeson box???
what does having a stock box coated some ugly *** color and sent to AGR to be rebuilt ave to do with anything ,, nothing either but I didnt down the guy , I was simply stating nother good box option.
what does having a stock box coated some ugly *** color and sent to AGR to be rebuilt ave to do with anything ,, nothing either but I didnt down the guy , I was simply stating nother good box option.
edit to add..I started off with a AGR box.. wanted to see what I was getting/PAYN for..nexed to a stock GM Z box..(then took it apart)
and there is a Difference in the parts used...so with that.
a stock box?? that's Moded inside to take a 2nd set of bearings on pitmen shaft...and then setup for a better ratio...then rust proof for life (in a crapy colore)...but that's OK..if you don't understand what money is put into steering boxes To start with..you should stay away from the aftermarket parts. till you know what your payn for or talking about...just sayn..
Don't Hate The Playa..Hate The Game..
Last edited by articwhiteZ; 12-26-2018 at 04:58 AM.
Very nice write-up and photos. I wish I found this before I ordered this unit. I'm on the phone right now with Jegs, trying to resolve the problem. Cutting that tab off will work, but that kills the warranty.
I agree, this is a very nice unit. Just installed it in my car over the weekend. I appreciate the heads up about the 4th tab needing to be cut off and the shorter bolts. Made this a slam dunk install. My car feels a 100times better now.
I've been trying to find reviews that compare the quality and reliability of the Borgeson 800130 to the equivalent AGR box. Does anyone have an opinion? The Warranty for the Borgeson unit will be void if I cut off that 4th mounting tab, but then I suspect that the box outlasts the warranty anyway.
I guess we'll go ahead and modify the Borgeson so it will fit. That goes against my grain (cutting on a new product), but the only other option is to return it to JEGS. If it doesn't last as long as the 2-year warranty, then I'm one unlucky guy!
Someone said elsewhere that the AGR could not be rebuilt. That doesn't sound logical to me.
John
PS: I bit the bullet and did the deed - I cut off the tab. Like Abubaca, I had to trim it a couple times. An air-powered cutoff wheel and a Dremel Moto_Tool for the fine work got the job done. The parts stores like JEGS and SUMMIT should point out this issue, instead of simply saying "This fits your '89 Iroc Z Camaro", etc.
It killed me to cut this tab off. Goodbye warranty!
Last edited by W3AFC; 04-28-2020 at 08:36 PM.
Reason: Added photo
We still have a standard unit in ours from Autozone, and it doesn't seem to have any problems, knock on wood. Our issue is oversteer in both directions. By that I mean we can turn the wheel too far in either direction, resulting in tire rub against the sway bar. I'm sure it's just an adjustment - I haven't found any info on it. We're using the original Pittman arm.
For the cardone, or other brand 'rebuilders'..... that you get at the local parts store, its a real crap shoot as to whether the new box will be better, or worse, than the one you are replacing......
A few years ago, on my 'other' garage toy, I replaced the stock steering box with a 'Remanufactured' unit from eBay. It was a complete turd, which I have since replaced with a new AGR box. When I removed the "remanufactured" box to replace it, I noticed that of the 4 cover bolts-- there were 3 different bolt heads. Whatever was laying in the pile of bolts at the rebuilder I guess.
I had some noise initially after the Borgerson install which my mechanic said would go away once the air was purged from the system. It did and I've logged about 500 miles with zero issues. I'm running a stock LS1 pump.
11-13-2018, 05:44 PM
). 
A few years ago, on my 'other' garage toy, I replaced the stock steering box with a 'Remanufactured' unit from eBay. It was a complete turd, which I have since replaced with a new AGR box. When I removed the "remanufactured" box to replace it, I noticed that of the 4 cover bolts-- there were 3 different bolt heads. Whatever was laying in the pile of bolts at the rebuilder I guess.
