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Re: Which Firm Feel Box?
[Re: Kern Dog]
#585402
04/23/10 01:23 AM
04/23/10 01:23 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 242
midwest
intragration
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 242
midwest
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Just test drove my stage I today for the first time, I definitely wish I had gone with II or III. There's almost no difference between stock. It was entirely my choice, Stage I sounded like a step beyond the old police firm-feels, I figured two steps up from stock would be fine. Thankfully, this was with the larger wheel, when I bolt my Tuff wheel on, it will hopefully firm up a little bit. Go II or III.
By the way, I had no problems with Firm Feel, they treated me fine and had some hard-to-find things I needed in stock, priced fairly. Regarding R&I labor costs, it states plainly on their site that they don't reimburse for this.
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Re: Which Firm Feel Box?
[Re: beatgoeson]
#585409
04/23/10 11:36 AM
04/23/10 11:36 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,374
Houston,Tx.
Lee446
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,374
Houston,Tx.
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Man, this is an eye-opener. Like others, I wanted a stage 3 and got talked out of it for a 2. 6 months later, I finished my restoration and put it in. To me, it feels like a STOCK box. I mean, one finger, granny loves it , power steering. I was assured the stage two box would be similar in feel to my buddies 06 GTO, and if it were, I would be happy. I have not bothered to call them, as I am not willing to pull the Hemi and spend a couple of weeks of downtime waiting. I can live with it, but I am not happy. Based on this experience, I would recommend trying Steer and Gear, I will, next time.
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Re: Which Firm Feel Box?
[Re: Lee446]
#585410
04/23/10 11:53 AM
04/23/10 11:53 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 936
OLD318
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 936
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I have a Steer and Gear Stage 1 in my 70 Coronet with power steering. Its a huge improvement over stock. However, If I had it to do over I would easily go stage 2 and maybe even stage 3. Best of luck ... One more thing, having rebuilt the upper control arms with offset bushings, I can dial in an alignment of 2.5 degrees of caster. This along with the stage 1 box makes the car feel 100 times better than stock. However, If I had it to do over again, in addition to the stiffer steering box I wouldnt even fool with the stock upper A Arms. Get a pair of the aftermarket arms which can dial up to 7 degrees of caster. The hotchkiss are really nice but very expensive. Firm Feels arms would be great... Granted my car is just for street driving (no racing) so the more caster, the better the car tracks and feels on the highway. Most newer cars have caster at 4 degrees and higher BTW. Also, go with stiffer than stock torsion bars 
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Re: Which Firm Feel Box?
[Re: 500Stroker]
#585412
04/23/10 01:45 PM
04/23/10 01:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,036
Oregon
AndyF
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,036
Oregon
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Quote:
Quote:
I have a stage III and it's great. Nice firm feel at highway speeds and can still turn the wheel with one finger parked. If they had a stage IV I would go with that on my next car!
Same here. Love my stage III. I heard if you ask they do have a Stage IV.
They do have a Stage IV but they don't advertise it because it is pretty stiff. Best bet is to call them and talk to Dick Ross. He has been racing Mopars for years and can help with the choice. Lots of people buy the Stage II and then wish they had the Stage III but sometimes people get the Stage III and wish they had gone lighter.
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Re: Which Firm Feel Box?
[Re: AndyF]
#585413
04/23/10 03:02 PM
04/23/10 03:02 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,918
Calgary, Alberta Canada
a12rag
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,918
Calgary, Alberta Canada
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I got the stage III for my 74 Duster360 and have to admit, I don't notice too much difference than the stock unit. . . .although the response is wayyy better. Effort is about the same ! I had to adjust the valve on top of the box, because it probably got bumped in shipping, and the box wanted to self steer to the left. Easy fix, just loosen the bolts enough to tap the valve up or down, until the wheel is centered. . .no worries.
I have spoken many times with Dick and his staff. Always felt like I was treated well. . . .just my two cents worth . . .
Oh, on the Duster360, I have the solo racing tbars, urethane bushings for the sway bar, rear sway bar and 235/60/14 tires. LOVE the way it handles !!! . . .
Cheers
Mark
A12rag
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Re: Which Firm Feel Box?
[Re: OLD318]
#585414
04/24/10 03:31 PM
04/24/10 03:31 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,131
Thigh-Gap Junction
@#$%&*!
New user name, Same old jerk!
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New user name, Same old jerk!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,131
Thigh-Gap Junction
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Quote:
...One more thing, having rebuilt the upper control arms with offset bushings, I can dial in an alignment of 2.5 degrees of caster. This along with the stage 1 box makes the car feel 100 times better than stock...
Good point. Caster has a big effect on steering effort and how quickly the wheel centers after turning. If you don't have the same alignment settings as before you changed your steering gear it isn't a fair comparison. Also, the factory steering gears aren't all the same when it comes to steering effort tuning. We all know of the police boxes, but there are lots of applications that used stiffer reaction springs than grandmas Newport. If you replace one of the factory boxes that just happened to have a stiffer setup with a Stage II you might not notice much difference.
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Re: Which Firm Feel Box?
[Re: broncobra]
#585415
04/24/10 06:01 PM
04/24/10 06:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,440
So Cal
Sinitro
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,440
So Cal
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Quote:
Wow! that's hard to believe they wouldn't stand behind their stuff like that.
I posted to try and help somebody to avoid the same BS experience I went through...
Everything is fine until you have an issue, clearly their product was defective and they did absolutely nothing to address this...
If I had the time and was located more closely, I would have paid them personal visit..  
Just my $0.01.. 
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Re: Which Firm Feel Box?
[Re: Sinitro]
#585416
04/24/10 06:18 PM
04/24/10 06:18 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 242
midwest
intragration
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 242
midwest
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Quote:
Quote:
Wow! that's hard to believe they wouldn't stand behind their stuff like that.
I posted to try and help somebody to avoid the same BS experience I went through...
Everything is fine until you have an issue, clearly their product was defective and they did absolutely nothing to address this...
If I had the time and was located more closely, I would have paid them personal visit..
Just my $0.01..
This is what I don't understand... They guarantee their steering boxes for a year, did they refuse to fix it under this policy? When you say they did "nothing", what exactly did you ask for which they refused to do? I'm all for clarifying this, so that nobody gets burned.
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Re: Which Firm Feel Box?
[Re: DGS]
#585418
04/24/10 08:30 PM
04/24/10 08:30 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,679
Mansfield,Ohio
moparrulzzz
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,679
Mansfield,Ohio
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Quote:
Steerandgear.com - they also have firm feel boxes and their prices are a bit lower than Firm Feel.
I just talked to Steer and Gear about picking up a stage 3 at the Chrysler Classic in Columbus next month.
I am glad I called because he told me they are out of cores. Just got done boxing mine up to send to them in time to have it rebuilt and P/U in Columbus!!
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Re: Which Firm Feel Box?
[Re: intragration]
#585419
04/25/10 12:11 AM
04/25/10 12:11 AM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,131
Thigh-Gap Junction
@#$%&*!
New user name, Same old jerk!
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New user name, Same old jerk!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,131
Thigh-Gap Junction
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Quote:
... They guarantee their steering boxes for a year, did they refuse to fix it under this policy? When you say they did "nothing", what exactly did you ask for which they refused to do? I'm all for clarifying this, so that nobody gets burned.
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Re: Which Firm Feel Box?
[Re: intragration]
#585420
04/25/10 12:42 AM
04/25/10 12:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,440
So Cal
Sinitro
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,440
So Cal
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Wow! that's hard to believe they wouldn't stand behind their stuff like that.
I posted to try and help somebody to avoid the same BS experience I went through...
Everything is fine until you have an issue, clearly their product was defective and they did absolutely nothing to address this...
If I had the time and was located more closely, I would have paid them personal visit..
Just my $0.01..
This is what I don't understand... They guarantee their steering boxes for a year, did they refuse to fix it under this policy? When you say they did "nothing", what exactly did you ask for which they refused to do? I'm all for clarifying this, so that nobody gets burned.
Check my original post in this thread from January...
Their box leaked and they wanted me to pay the freight back, the real burner was their arrogance...
The box was bad and they supplied zippo support for freight plus they wanted me to eat the labor, without any substantiation the next box was any better. The car would have set for another 2 weeks while they jacked around..
A customer responsive company would have sent down a UPS call tag, and sent down a replacment overnite..
If I had the time I would have made a separate trip back up there to chuck the box through their front window..  
Just my $0.01..
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Whats the deal there? The same thing happened to me about a year ago when I inquired about a chuck for my Duster. I wanted a stage 3 similar to the one in my Charger, and I got the rigamaroll of " Yeah... We CAN do that, but it could be awhile. I can have a stage 2 ready this afternoon though." I don't have a problem with those guys, but it was a little wierd .
