72 chevelle New Car sloppy steering!

[Gordz32]

Hey everyone. I've been driving the car since may of 08' and it seems that the steering is very sloppy. Like with the car standing still you can move the wheel 3-4" in one direction and it doesn't really move the wheels. I've triple checked to make sure everything is tight. The steering consist of budnik wheel, ididit column, AGR variable ratio box 18:1-12:1, all new stock style linkages, stock spindles. The car ride on ART suspension with stock spindles. My question is : (A) do you think this is the behavior of the stock style steering ( B) do you think the AGR box is to blame, if so what do you recommend? Also the serpentine setup is a Billet Specialties P/S pump. As alway, any help is appreciated.

[Derek69SS]

Is the rag-joint in decent shape?

[Gordz32]

brand new

[Roadbuster]

Hey everyone. I've been driving the car since may of 08' and it seems that the steering is very sloppy. Like with the car standing still you can move the wheel 3-4" in one direction and it doesn't really move the wheels. I've triple checked to make sure everything is tight. The steering consist of budnik wheel, ididit column, AGR variable ratio box 18:1-12:1, all new stock style linkages, stock spindles. The car ride on ART suspension with stock spindles. My question is : (A) do you think this is the behavior of the stock style steering ( B) do you think the AGR box is to blame, if so what do you recommend? Also the serpentine setup is a Billet Specialties P/S pump. As alway, any help is appreciated.

Have someone turn the steering wheel while you watch the steering shaft. if the shaft is rotating at the column and the steering box side of the rag joint is not moving your rag joint has slop. Even brand new they have play in them.

Another possibility is the upper sliding joint between the steering shaft and the column. Here the steering wheel will turn but the steering shaft will not.

Third is the bearing at the base of the column. This would give you side to side play not rotational play at rest, so I don't think this is your problem.

Lastly if this checks out look to see if the input to the steering box is moving and the pitman arm is not. This means your box has slop.

Is the AGR box an 800 series or a 600 series? The 600 series is supposed to be tighter than the 800.

My car has no slop in the steering at all, and I have a Lee 600 series box, and Borgeson steering shaft and u-joints. I had slop in the steering until I replaced the old steering shaft with borgeson and that fixed it.

Hope this helps.

Jon

[Gordz32]

Just figured I'd give and update. I ended up ordering a custom built 670 box from Lee Steering. I was told it would take 2 weeks and they had it ready to ship in less than a week. Installed the box and Hooly Cow what a difference. The steering is 1000 timnes better. You now actually feel like your in control of the car. I did notice that the old rag joint was not holding up. I'm not sure why but I'll keep and eye on the new on ( whick is much beefer). All I can say is thanks to Lee Steering for taking the time to talk with me and build an outsatnding steering box. I like it so much that I'll probably take the old AGR box and have them rebuild it.

[Skip Fix]

My "new" AGR box on my truck needed the adjustor turned in 3 full turns to get the slop out! I don;t thenk they check theor boxes before they go out.