Re: Is Steer & Gear still in business?
[Re: JF_Moparts]
#3089299
10/26/22 09:44 AM
10/26/22 09:44 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,232 Chicago, IL
PLUM_72
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,232
Chicago, IL
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There was always some marketplace division between Steer and Gear and Firm Feel for steering rebuilds. Has the knowledge and quality levels balanced out to the point where both are okay? I recall many saying to avoid steer and gear say 10+ years ago. Thoughts?
1972 Dodge Challenger
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Re: Is Steer & Gear still in business?
[Re: PLUM_72]
#3089489
10/26/22 07:40 PM
10/26/22 07:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,439 So Cal
Sinitro
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,439
So Cal
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There was always some marketplace division between Steer and Gear and Firm Feel for steering rebuilds. Has the knowledge and quality levels balanced out to the point where both are okay? I recall many saying to avoid steer and gear say 10+ years ago. Thoughts? My experience with Steer & Gear was excellent.. Just the opposite with Firm Feel.. Regarding Firm Feel I bought a steering box, paid expensive next day shipping and installed it. It leaked badly, called Firm Feel and got the sunshine treatment, was told to send it back at my expense they would check it and send me a replacement if they found it to be bad, Next I contacted Steer & Gear and got a box shipped overnite installed it all was well. The customer service of Firm Feel was terrible, if I had been local to Firm Feel they would have gotten the box back tossed through their front window... I later rebuilt the Firm Feel box and sold it @ the Spring Fling. Just my $0.02...
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Re: Is Steer & Gear still in business?
[Re: bobby66]
#3089649
10/27/22 01:42 PM
10/27/22 01:42 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
Striving for excellence
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Striving for excellence
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
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18 years and less that 3700 posts. Of course you haven't read of it. He complains about Firm Feel every time someone posts a question comparing them to Steer and Gear. It is like summoning a demon or something....the guy just appears.
Last edited by Kern Dog; 10/27/22 01:42 PM.
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Re: Is Steer & Gear still in business?
[Re: bobby66]
#3089680
10/27/22 03:47 PM
10/27/22 03:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,439 So Cal
Sinitro
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,439
So Cal
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Everyone has read about your story with Firm Feel, man. You complain about it like a jilted lover. First time I've heard it. Bobby.. My experience with Firm Feel does goes back a few years.... But since this charade by Firm Feel cost me $725, I believe it is important to make it known. Our community of Mopar followers should be made aware of the more prominent and loyal supporters of our classics, who are trust-worthy and stand behind their products. Many of our Mopar suppliers are smaller businesses and being one myself, I never would have treated a customer as I was by Firm Feel. If my disclosure prevents another Mopar guy for having to go through the same BS I did, then it has been worth it... Thanx for listening.. Just my $0.02...
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Re: Is Steer & Gear still in business?
[Re: Kern Dog]
#3089770
10/27/22 10:44 PM
10/27/22 10:44 PM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,099 Rogue River, OR
Jeremiah
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Rogue River, OR
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I would go on rockauto and buy a new Lares. Firm Feel is cool however they have long lead times and prices have incresead well beyond a new unit.
The last box I had done was $650, took 4 months and spit the input shaft seal after about 100 miles.
I have been a FF customer for 20+ years however in 2022 there are better options for most of the parts they sell.
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Re: Is Steer & Gear still in business?
[Re: Kern Dog]
#3089782
10/27/22 11:54 PM
10/27/22 11:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,822 Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,822
Kirkland, Washington
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"New" steering box? I Haven't heard of any new Mopar power steering box other than the Borgeson. Lares is known for rebuilding original cores but not to any upgraded state. If it was leaky and sloppy before, it will be dry but sloppy after the rebuild. So you have no experience with Lares but you feel qualified to bash them.
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Re: Is Steer & Gear still in business?
[Re: bobby66]
#3089934
10/28/22 02:47 PM
10/28/22 02:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,442 NW Chicago suburban area
Mopar Mitch
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,442
NW Chicago suburban area
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I commend and compliment Steer & Gear for attending the Mopar meets with displays and a staffing... Mopar Nats, Carlisle, etc.... being geographically close to their business location. I've had talks with them at those shows... good people, family owned. They did tell me that FF came to them many years ago... asking for help and guidance in how-to-rebuild steering boxes... which they kindly gave to them. Steer & Gear has been in business a long time before FF entered the market... and FF can thank SG for their initial support.
Ive bought some items from FF... 1.25" hollow front sway bar had a problem being too large at the press-flattened end-link ends... hitting the LCA... when I informed them about it, simply to let them know that they should reduce the ends in flattened size due to hitting the LCAs, they said they've never heard of it before.... and I sent them pictures of what I had to do to grind that area (both ends) for LCA clearance. I'd mentioned this matter to another Mopar friend who bought sway bars from FF... he had the same problem... having to grind the ends for clearance of the LCA.... not a big deal, but for the $$$ I'd spent, as well as the surprise and time required to make it fit properly... I really expected the front bar to be made better, and so did my friend. I don't know if FF ever made a change to that front sway bar.
I would support either company for my needs. (Also, about 10 years ago, MA magazine made a round-about comment recommending FF over SG... which, coincidently, FF was running advertisements in MA magazine. Perhaps $$$ talks.)
Mopar Mitch
"Road racers and autocrossers go in deeper and come out harder!"... and rain never stops us from having fun with our cars... in fact, it makes us better drivers!
Check out MOPAR ACTION MAGAZINE, August 2006 issue for feature article and specs on my autocross T/A!
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Re: Is Steer & Gear still in business?
[Re: Kern Dog]
#3090046
10/28/22 09:01 PM
10/28/22 09:01 PM
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,240 nowhere
Sniper
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Posts: 6,240
nowhere
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"New" steering box? I Haven't heard of any new Mopar power steering box other than the Borgeson. Lares is known for rebuilding original cores but not to any upgraded state. If it was leaky and sloppy before, it will be dry but sloppy after the rebuild. Might be time to get out of the cave new POWER steering gearbox
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Re: Is Steer & Gear still in business?
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#3090103
10/29/22 02:20 AM
10/29/22 02:20 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
Striving for excellence
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Striving for excellence
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
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"New" steering box? I Haven't heard of any new Mopar power steering box other than the Borgeson. Lares is known for rebuilding original cores but not to any upgraded state. If it was leaky and sloppy before, it will be dry but sloppy after the rebuild. So you have no experience with Lares but you feel qualified to bash them. Read this, Lipshitz....EVERYONE that complains about a Lares rebuild says pretty much the same thing: Their original one was sloppy and leaky while the Lares rebuild is just sloppy. They do not upgrade their rebuilt units. They are cleaned and REgasketed. EVERYONE knows this except for the idiots. There has been no advertising campaign to push any new Lares steering box like there has been for the Borgeson. I doubt you'll find 10% of the classic Mopar crowd that knows about any new Lares steering box. If it does not have the slop or the overboosted feel of an original, it would be a great option.
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Re: Is Steer & Gear still in business?
[Re: Kern Dog]
#3090730
10/31/22 02:38 PM
10/31/22 02:38 PM
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 155 E Tennessee
wmdj5
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member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 155
E Tennessee
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Yes, there is a "new" Lares steering gear. Cardone has one too. They look alike but they don't look like the factory original or like a Borgeson. Where are they made? Will they fit? Your guess is bettor than mine!
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