Replacement power steering gear

[david hill]

Im having power assist problems w/ my 69 300. Rock Auto has the best prices by far and a variety of rebuilders. Has any members had good or bad experiences with them. Are there better rebuilders out there. My goal is to retain my original style gear application. Your feedback is needed to help me select a supplier. Thanks.

 

[Kristof]

I’ve just finished installing ar reman AC Delco unit in the ‘66 Fury.
Partnr 19321310 (steering gear) & partnr 19146735 (high pressure hose).
Quality & finish are quite good. The necessary seals are also supplied.
Time will tell if the steering box will hold up, but for now i’m quite happy with my purchase.

When installing you’ll need to reuse the current mounting hardware and existing high pressure hose connection as this is not part of the kit.
It’s also easier to remove the box from the bottom of the engine compartment iso the top (as per the FSM).

I hope this helps.

Kristof

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

I just installed the pricey-but-perfect Firm Feel box in my 70 300. When you install it, there's ZERO worry that the person rebuilding it in Thailand took a cig break and left some parts out when he/she returned.

But once you've bought it, had is shipped, and then ship your core back to get your $250 core charge back (cost me $95 FL to OR) you'll be out $500 or so.

For me, it was money very well spent. Others may think I'm crazy. You pays your monies and you makes your choices.

C Body Parts

 

[Kristof]

Hi David, here are the pictures you requested.
I made an error in my original post. You need to reuse the bit where the low pressure hose connects to (silver part on the front), the high pressure hose is just screwed in.

 

[david hill]

Kristof, thank you for your pics and your explanation and updated info. Did the steering gear steer w/ any additional effort. Great photos.

 

[Kristof]

Hi David, the FSM explains quite well what you need to do and disconnect. The most difficult thing was to loosen all the bolts, which took considerable effort, especially the big nut connecting the steering gear to the linkage (pitman arm, i think is the correct therm...), you’ll need a 1 5/16 spanner for this.
You’ll also need to remove the steering linkages in order to remove the box from below.
Removal took me 2 evenings. Cleanup and installation 1 afternoon...

 

[OKDart]

I got my last one through Rock Auto, a rebuilt unit from Lares. Everything was great, core return was easy, just dropped off at a FedEx location. I haven't found negative reviews for Lares, most people seem satisfied.

 

[Gerald Morris]

I did the steering gear box last Turkey Day w a BBB / VISION-OE 5020106 rebuild that I copped on Parts Geek for $129. I installed it easily enough on my 66 Newport pulling it up through the top of the compartment sans much trouble, and have lost not a single mL of power steering fluid after doing the job. Having replaced the rag joint coupler 2 weeks ago, I NOW enjoy once again nice tight steering such as I had in the winter of 2018 after rebuilding the front end suspension.

IFF I could AFFORD a Firm Feel or PST steering gear box, I'd gladly buy one, but I must say, Julio must have been in top form when he worked on my box. BBB/Vision-OE is based in Alabama but uses a maquiladora shop for their rebuilt boxes. I'm completely happy with the bargain I got.

 

[67440NewYorker]

Maybe a little late on this post but i would look into Red Head steering gear boxes. Its around $316 plus $150 core charge right up front. So a little pricey. I just put one of their boxes not on my car but my 85 Dodge W350 last weekend and i have been thru 3 parts store gear boxes. The Red Head is night and day!! The service i had with them was awesome and shipping and returns was as easy as it could get. When i decide to replace the one on my New Yorker i know right where im going

 

[C-440-300]

'Gents of Mopar: Anyone have an opinion between ACDELCO and the A1-Cardone units? The only diff I could see from the printed material is that the ACDELCO is always more expensive and states replacement of

• 100% new rolling steel balls

Thank you.
Cheers!
P.S. Nice looking engine bay, Kristof!

 

[Gerald Morris]

'Gents of Mopar: Anyone have an opinion between ACDELCO and the A1-Cardone units? The only diff I could see from the printed material is that the ACDELCO is always more expensive and states replacement of

• 100% new rolling steel balls

Thank you.
Cheers!
P.S. Nice looking engine bay, Kristof!

I used a BBB/Vision OE rebuild on Turkey Day, 2018. I've not had to add a DROP of fluid to the system since installing it and the initial filling. It steers well also, with little slop. That may be attributable to my pot coupler. I replaced the rag joint coupler with one meant for a Landrover, as several good folk on this forum had recommended. BBB/Vision OE is based in Alabama, though they hire sweat in Mexico for their rebuilds. I've come to prefer "Hecho in Mexico" to "Made in China" big-time.

 

[saforwardlook]

'Gents of Mopar: Anyone have an opinion between ACDELCO and the A1-Cardone units? The only diff I could see from the printed material is that the ACDELCO is always more expensive and states replacement of

• 100% new rolling steel balls

Thank you.
Cheers!
P.S. Nice looking engine bay, Kristof!

My advice after some years doing this kind of work is never, ever buy anything supposedly "rebuilt" by A1 Cardone. Absolute junk every time. There is no vendor I feel more strongly about (negatively) than that crap outfit.

 

[xxcarguy]

Steer and gear.
Best thing I did for my Fury.
Modern feel, no drift and perfect!!!

 

[saforwardlook]

Steer and gear.
Best thing I did for my Fury.
Modern feel, no drift and perfect!!!

Over the years, I have seen significant variations in opinions of Firm Feel vs. Steer and Gear. There was a time maybe 10 years ago now that I had to get 3 different replacement steering gears from Frim Feel just because of real problems such as leaks and sloppiness in feel of the gear on one of my cars, and was never able to get a good one from them. I essentially gave up then in trying to get a decent one from them. I just had wished I could have had my "bad" one back since it was better than the junk I got from them that frustrated me greatly (not fun to change 3 times!). But then, a few years later, a good friend of mine put one of their units in his 1971 Imperial and was very positive about how well done the grear was, on the first try. I didn't believe him, and therefore drove the car myself, and while I don't like the firm feel, the gear did track nicely and didn't leak! I have never ordered a gear from Steer and Gear but have heard good and bad stories about them as well over time.

These days, however, when I need my steering gears rebuilt, I choose to go with a specialist who is a member of one of the older car clubs I am also a member of. He rebuilds these gears doing something no one else does - he replaces the actual gears themselves with NOS ones. No remanufacturer does that - they just do the best they can with the worn gears they have to work with. But the guy I use doesn't need anymore work, so I don't reveal his name. I also decided about 10 years ago when I had all this trouble with Firm Feel, that I would buy up all the NOS steering gears I could find. So I have about 5 of those at least sufficient for a few more restorations too.

In my opinion, it is a crap shoot out there depending on the period in which you order a gear and whether the one they are rebuilding for you is well worn to begin with or not.

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

Over the years, I have seen significant variations in opinions of Firm Feel vs. Steer and Gear. There was a time maybe 10 years ago now that I had to get 3 different replacement steering gears from Frim Feel just because of real problems such as leaks and sloppiness in feel of the gear on one of my cars, and was never able to get a good one from them.

I'm very surprised with your poor results with FF. Pulling that gear three times would have certainly soured me of FF. But my experience was just the opposite, and having talked to them a lot during the ordering process it seemed to me that they're very serious, knowledgeable Mopar people. My only fuss is that it took them 9 weeks to get it to me, but they told me that up front (10 weeks, they said) so I can't really fuss.

 

[saforwardlook]

I'm very surprised with your poor results with FF. Pulling that gear three times would have certainly soured me of FF. But my experience was just the opposite, and having talked to them a lot during the ordering process it seemed to me that they're very serious, knowledgeable Mopar people. My only fuss is that it took them 9 weeks to get it to me, but they told me that up front (10 weeks, they said) so I can't really fuss.

View attachment 304761

My point was simply that as employees change and their supervisors as well over time, so will what goes out the door. At present, I hear mostly positive things about Frim Feel and Steer & Gear.

 

[saforwardlook]

Steer and gear.
Best thing I did for my Fury.
Modern feel, no drift and perfect!!!

Just curious, when did you have your steering grear rebuilt by Steer & Gear? Did you specify you wanted a firmer than stock feel in the assist level? You seem to imply you have results equivalent to a modern car with rack and pinion, but in my experience no Chrysler product in the 60s through the 70s tracked all that well or felt anything like current rack and pinion systems.

The rack & pinion steering in my 1997 Concorde is light years better than any of these old cars - I don't know how it could be any better actually.

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

My point was simply that as employees change and their supervisors as well over time, so will what goes out the door. At present, I hear mostly positive things about Frim Feel and Steer & Gear.

From what I can tell, the company is Dad and his two adult sons....family business.....at some point I spoke to all three during the process. Possibly a few others as employees, dunno.

Mebbe they've gotten better with age and experience.

 

[xxcarguy]

I bought the box from them rebuilt. I specified modern feel and waited three weeks. Car drives great a little more tension in the steering than any other old MoPars have owned. My Fury is a 318 no sway bar car.

 

[C-440-300]

I used a BBB/Vision OE rebuild on Turkey Day, 2018. I've not had to add a DROP of fluid to the system since installing it and the initial filling. It steers well also, with little slop. That may be attributable to my pot coupler. I replaced the rag joint coupler with one meant for a Landrover, as several good folk on this forum had recommended. BBB/Vision OE is based in Alabama, though they hire sweat in Mexico for their rebuilds. I've come to prefer "Hecho in Mexico" to "Made in China" big-time.

Thank you, Guys! You confirmed my A1-Cardone fear. Twice I asked RockAuto to send me their Cardone unit and each time it was a conversion unit. I called Cardone before I sent the second one back ('Thinking was that the first one was a mistake.) to make sure what I had. They said FFF (FormFitFunction). I said the input shaft is one inch of air away from the coupler, plus, the butt end would require me to file off some metal to align the holes... Since then, I noticed that Cardone only does service of your own units.
To: G. Morris. The pics in the RockAuto for the BBB/Vision show one of them that is not the same unit as the rest. Was your unit, in fact, the same as original style, such as what is currently here at RockAuto: More Information for BBB / VISION-OE 5020106
Thank you, again!
(I don't have access to a machine shop or anyone I trust at the moment in Southern California.)