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Drag link unlevel.

rhamson

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I have installed a Borgeson quick ratio steering box in my 72 Challenger. I bought new Pitman and idler arms. My question is why does the drag link ( center link) look unlevel to the ground and k frame? Are there different length Pitman and Idler arms that could cause this?
 

Xcudame

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Not being condescending any anyway, but have you checked with a level, the ground and center link? Eyes are good at detecting different angles, but can be deceived.
 

pschlosser

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I have installed a Borgeson quick ratio steering box in my 72 Challenger. I bought new Pitman and idler arms. My question is why does the drag link ( center link) look unlevel to the ground and k frame? Are there different length Pitman and Idler arms that could cause this?

Maybe take a quick photo (front the front?) and post it. So we can see how severe this unevenness is.
 

Joseph Adamek

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I have installed a Borgeson quick ratio steering box in my 72 Challenger. I bought new Pitman and idler arms. My question is why does the drag link ( center link) look unlevel to the ground and k frame? Are there different length Pitman and Idler arms that could cause this?
I learned the hard way, It can be put on backwards. They really is only one way to install it. Try flipping it over and see if that helps. Just want to make sure there is clearance between the link and the oil pan.
 

cuda joe

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they do make different size Pitman and idler arms longer ones to make it a guicker steering ratio you might have gotten one of them by mistake measure your old ones
 

PLUM_72

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Download the 70 Challenger factory service manual found over at MyMopar.com. Go over the direction of the centerlink and how all the steering parts connect from a factory standpoint. Then look over the Borgeson box and how it mounts. You may need some help from Borgeson on shimming the box.
 

rhamson

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Maybe take a quick photo (front the front?) and post it. So we can see how severe this unevenness is.
I have the K frame and components off right now, but the idler arm is either higher or the pitman arm is lower. I used a new pitman arm that was for the old stock power steering box.
 

rhamson

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Not being condescending any anyway, but have you checked with a level, the ground and center link? Eyes are good at detecting different angles, but can be deceived.
No offense taken. I just got done a front passenger frame replacement on a jig for accuracy and the drag link was unlevel before I did that. I though the bent frame gave that look to it but everything is kosher measurement wise with it. I have heard of different length drops to the pitman arm for oil pans and was wondering if I got one of those instead of the stock one or the Borgesson modification requires a different pitman arm for stock applications.
 

rhamson

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I learned the hard way, It can be put on backwards. They really is only one way to install it. Try flipping it over and see if that helps. Just want to make sure there is clearance between the link and the oil pan.
There is no oil pan in there now to know if that is the case. The Borggeson steering box is what is different to the stock setup.
 

rhamson

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Download the 70 Challenger factory service manual found over at MyMopar.com. Go over the direction of the centerlink and how all the steering parts connect from a factory standpoint. Then look over the Borgeson box and how it mounts. You may need some help from Borgeson on shimming the box.
I put everything back according to the factory manual (I have a hard copy of the manual) but I have heard of deeper dropped pitman and idler arms that are used to gain clearance to the oil pan. I don't know which is which.
 

pschlosser

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The Borgeson box (presuming you're using the correct Mopar E-body variant) is supposed to be a drop-in replacement. So, unless something was already wrong to start with, if things now seem out of whack, and you're sure you're using the right parts, maybe it's an assembly issue.
 

Katfish

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I also have the Borg box, I noticed the same pitman arm I took off my factory box did not seat as high on the Borg. I've read others complain they weren't happy with the engagement.
How much lower are we talking?
 

HPP

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Uneven drag links is such a common occurrence that the Mopar Chassis manual has directions for leveling it. You can shim the steering box or you can file fit and weld a washer to the idler arm mount.

I haven't heard of "drop" pitman and idlers to correct this for classic mopars and even if they did exist decades ago, they probably are no longer available these days. As far as I know, there are only small or large sector and standard (short) or fast (long). Now for lifted 4x4s, yes, things like this exist.
 

rhamson

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The Borgeson box (presuming you're using the correct Mopar E-body variant) is supposed to be a drop-in replacement. So, unless something was already wrong to start with, if things now seem out of whack, and you're sure you're using the right parts, maybe it's an assembly issue.
I'll have to wait until I get the engine compartment painted to re-install the Kframe and steering to see what the difference is.
 

rhamson

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I also have the Borg box, I noticed the same pitman arm I took off my factory box did not seat as high on the Borg. I've read others complain they weren't happy with the engagement.
How much lower are we talking?
Maybe about a 1/2". I will have to wait until I get the Kframe and steering re-installed to measure it properly. Thanks. At least I don't feel as if I am going crazy with all the comments about how I probably installed it wrongly.
 

rhamson

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Uneven drag links is such a common occurrence that the Mopar Chassis manual has directions for leveling it. You can shim the steering box or you can file fit and weld a washer to the idler arm mount.

I haven't heard of "drop" pitman and idlers to correct this for classic mopars and even if they did exist decades ago, they probably are no longer available these days. As far as I know, there are only small or large sector and standard (short) or fast (long). Now for lifted 4x4s, yes, things like this exist.
I remember hearing about a dropped arm but I can't remember where. When I get it re-installed I will know more. Thanks!
 

rhamson

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