- Hoses leaking from box connection: Have customer insure all P/S hose connections are tight. If this is a part number 800105, 800106 or 800108 power steering conversion box insure customer has installed the brass inserts in the P/S box for the flare hose connection.
- Steering & Wheel Moves Erratically & No Assist. The power steering hose connection at the P/S box is reversed. Have customer check pressure and return hose for proper connection. The input shaft seal should be checked for leaks as it is common to blow out with reversed hose connections.
- No Power Assist. After an initial power steering box is installed this can be caused by two things, excessive air trapped in the P/S system or dirt / contamination has caused the P/S pump pressure by-pass valve to stick in the open position causing a no-assist condition.
- To bleed the P/S system advise customer to bleed P/S system with wheels in air and the car running by slowly turning the steering wheel from full left to right while insuring to keep the P/S reservoir full.
- If the P/S bypass valve is suspected have customer disassemble the connection from the pressure fitting and flush the pump with clean P/S fluid. It may be necessary to remove the flow valve from the P/S pump to insure the bypass valve is able to move freely in and out.
ALL BORGESON STEERING BOXES ARE PRESSURE TESTED FOR LEAKS AND FUNCTION
- Steering Box Arrives Covered in Fluid. All steering boxes are pressure tested for function and leaks before they leave our facility. It is common for the box to arrive to the customer with fluid in the packing bag this is normal and from the above testing.
- Steering Box Leaks from Input Shaft. Insure hose connections are tight. This will appear to be a leak from the input. Make sure customer did not drill into the input shaft this will cause damage and a leak. Make sure customer did not initially hook up hoses backwards as this will cause the input seal to blow out. Additionally insure nothing above the box is leaking down on top of the box and being misdiagnosed.
- Steering Box Leaks From Top Cap. The top cap of the steering box is sealed to the casting with an o-ring. The adjusting screw that protrudes through the cap is sealed with the threads themselves. Sometimes a top cap leak can be fixed by loosening the top cap bolts and wiggling the cap to reseat the o-ring. A leak at the adjuster screw can usually be sealed by tightening the lock nut. If the customer is to try any of these fixes themselves they need to insure the center adjusting screw itself does not move as this will affect the adjustment of the steering box.
- Steering Box Seal Sticking out Bottom. If customer reports a seal sticking out of the bottom of the steering box insure they have an actual fluid leak. This first seal on the bottom is a dust seal that works its way out and can simply be pushed back in.
- Steering Box Leaks from Sector Shaft. Make sure the leak is actually observed to be coming from the sector shaft. This is the low point on the car / steering box and it is very common for any fluid to collect in this area regardless of where the leak originates. If the customer observes a leak in this location it is not reparable by the end user and must come back for warranty.
- Free-Play in box while not driving. Make sure customer is checking this with the vehicle running. No power steering box will be completely tight without the proper fluid pressure running through it. If customer is using a rag joint make sure the play they are feeling is not the small amount it takes for the pins to engage.
- Free-Play while driving. After switching to a Borgeson conversion box on a classic car it is necessary to adjust the caster setting on the front left/right tires to 3-4 degrees positive. This is necessary for straight line stability and adequate return to center. If there is little or no caster in the alignment this will be felt as a wandering condition and can be misinterpreted as free play.
There is nothing inside a steering box or rack that will make it return to center after a turn this is solely a function of the caster setting of the vehicles alignment.
- No Return to Center after Power Conversion Installed. Customers who install our power steering conversion boxes may report a lack of return to center or some wandering on the highway. It is necessary to increase the caster on the left and right front tires to 3-4 degrees positive.
- No Return to Center Steering Feels Stiff. Not likely an alignment issue like above. Have customer lift front end and inspect all steering linkage for binding.
- No Return to Center erratic steering feel. If all components aren’t new it is possible that something has fouled the internal valve of the P/S box causing it to stick open. This would require manual input to stop a turn and to change direction and a very uneasy feel at the wheel. If this is suspected, have customer completely flush and then fill the power steering system with clean fluid and rapidly cycle the wheel left to right to clean out any obstructions.