Steering Box Replacement: Firm Feel, Steer-n-Gear, or ?????

[bill440rt]

Well, while everything is apart again I decided to bite the bullet & just replace the leaking steering box that's in my '69.
I'm looking at the ones offered by Firm Feel & Steer-n-Gear.

The FF & SnG ones are fairly pricey, but I also see reman units say from NAPA or RockAuto for a little less.
Does anyone here have any experiences with the NAPA reman units, or FF ones??
I'd like to know what everyone else has used, so keep the responses coming.

Thanks!!!  

[Chatt69chgr]

I bought the FF stage 2 and got the later box with the large dia sector shaft.  Allows you to buy the MOOG pitman that's lots cheaper than the samll dia sector pitman from rare parts, inc.  FF guy said that the later boxes made better rebuilds and he let me trade my small dia secter for the large.  He said that rebuilding the boxes is not just a matter of sticking in new seals.  They thoroughly clean the housing and may have to remachine some surfaces.  I don't have any personal experience with the boxes from places like RockAuto or NAPA but some on the net didn't seem to feel like they were not much better than what they took out.  But that may just be a singular bad box.  Who knows.  Note that sending the core back to FF is expensive.  It cost about $50 cheapest way at UPS.  FF needs to have a deal worked out with a shipping company for a better deal than this (maybe they do now).

[PA Dodger]

Bill, I installed a level II Steer and Gear unit in my Challenger a few years ago. I love it. It's about half way between the old wishy-washy steering and newer rack and pinion feel. As far as shipping goes you don't need to worry about it if you know someone going to Carlisle or the Nats.
I don't know what price difference there is between FF,S&G, and NAPA but I'm happy with the product and price of mine.

Dan

[bill440rt]

Thanks for the input Chatt & PA! 

I'm ruling out the parts store counter rebuilds, my research so far tells me that it's a crap shoot whether or not you get a good one. Could leak, maybe not.

Guy at FF said to try to just replace the seal for now & see if it fixes it. I started pulling things apart tonite, & realized there's a lot of play in mine. Also, when you turn the wheel you can see the small column shaft on the box go in & out a little. I'm not playing around now, the box has to go.

The Stage 2 boxes from S&G and FF are looking good. S&G is a little cheaper than FF, plus there is no return shipping for your core. The guy at FF said he cannot give me a large sector shaft box for my small one, they are low on cores. So, it would be an eye for an eye type deal. Oh well. 

I'm going to call both companies again tomorrow to see if either is going to Carlisle & whether or not they will have some there for sale. Either that, or find out from both what their shipping policies are. Both look reputable.

Anyone here have any BAD experiences with those companies?? 

[adauto]

Just did SG level 3 on my Chally. Its a totally different ride! 

[Belgium R/T -68]

Just did SG level 3 on my Chally. Its a totally different ride! 

All problems solved with the PS pump?

Per

[charger2fast4u]

i'm going to upgrade my box going with firm feel i think. what's the difference between the level 2 and level 3 in feeling/driving? how big of a difference is ther between the 2?

[adauto]

Just did SG level 3 on my Chally. Its a totally different ride! 

All problems solved with the PS pump?

Per

Per, Got the Bouchillion pulley in via FEDEX yetserday. It will go on tonite. Made great progress with the dipstick tube last nite! I put up more pics in my post on C-C and will be adding more after tonite's work. 
BIGS

[adauto]

i'm going to upgrade my box going with firm feel i think. what's the difference between the level 2 and level 3 in feeling/driving? how big of a difference is ther between the 2?

I know 2 guys around here that went with #2 and now wished they went with #3. So I just went with #3 right off.

[charger2fast4u]

i'm going to upgrade my box going with firm feel i think. what's the difference between the level 2 and level 3 in feeling/driving? how big of a difference is ther between the 2?

I know 2 guys around here that went with #2 and now wished they went with #3. So I just went with #3 right off.

any idea what the difference is in the two? how much does the feeling change between them?

[PA Dodger]

Bill,
The S&G website says they'll be at Carlisle.

adauto,
I'm running my Chally with a stage II and 245/50-15 on the front of mine. My alignment is set up for handling, not the factory setup. I would be real interested how big a difference there is between yours and mine. I thought about the stage 3 but went conservative.

Dan

[adauto]

PAdodger Im running 245/60/15 on mine. Just had the alignment done. I also did sub-frame connecters last winter. I agree, It be intresting to run them side by side. I just finnished up a bunch of other stuff tonite. And a test drive in the morning, but I liked what I had on the way back from the alignment shop! 

[bricklayer]

I sent my core back to firm feel via.. usps in a {if it fit's it ship's $14.00} i just turned it to one side and taped it up nice and tight. I also have the stage 2 box from firm feel  tom.

[Chatt69chgr]

Ha Ha!! thats funny.  I bet the UPS guys broke their backs picking up that box.  That deal wasn't available when I sent my core back. Could have saved some coin if it had been.  There should be plenty of the large sector boxes in the junkyards in later 70's dodge and plymouth 4-dr cars.  But they are a pain the the rear to take out just to get a core.  As I recall, my 69 charger used socket head cap screws to hold the box to the frame.  I think they changed to hex head bolts in the early to mid 70's.  If you do end up having the small sector box rebuilt then at least you can get the pitman arm for it from Rare Parts, Inc.  I think autozone handles this part.  Note that the pitman arm isn't easy to get off either.  Of course, if you send your box in with it still on then they will take it off when they rebuild the box.  Then, hopefully, the new one will not be so hard to install. 

[charger2fast4u]

how can you tell if you got the large sector shaft or the small one? any way from just looking at them or casting #'s?

[twodko]

Hey Bill,

I put a FF stage 2 in my 69............more betta.

Tom

[Chatt69chgr]

Small sector is 1.125 dia.  Large sector is 1.250 inch dia.  The large sector was used in 73 and later A,B,E bodies.  Different Pitman for each body type.  The sector shaft nut is same for both shafts.  Below is from Firm Feel website:

NOTE : If you own a '62-'72 "B" body or '70-'72 "E" body you can save some money on your pitman arm by using a '73 & later power steering box. In 1973 all A&B&E body cars went to the "large sector" box,( The sector shaft attaches to the pitman arm). The late pitman arm is still readily available at about half the cost! You'll save roughly $75.00 over the cost of the small sector pitman, and there is no problem with installation, clearance or geometry using this large sector set-up on the cars mentioned above.

[bill440rt]

Well, got my Stage 2 box from Steer & Gear this weekend at Carlisle. Looks great. I'm just going to paint it a different color, it is coated now with a cast gray paint. I might go with a brighter silver with some clear.
Stay tuned on the Project '69 thread for installation pics! Can't wait!!