Steering gear break in period?

I took my 68 318 Barracuda to a local shop for some suspension work, and they ended found excessive play in the pitman arm, so they recommended replacing the steering gear. They then found insufficient output in the factory Federal steering pump, and replaced it with a Saginaw, which they had to do research on and trial and error with mounting brackets and pulleys but they got it mounted. The pump appears to be an late 70s period OEM pump. However, they ended up with the problem that the steering assist was weak and the steering wheel would turn to lock by it's self if you let it. They said it was a bad gear and overnighted another one under warranty, but it's still doing it. They released it to me saying the pump has a break in period and will get better, but it'll still resist turning, it won't return to center on it's own in a low speed high angle turn, and if I let it the steering wheel would turn to lock by it's self.

Saying the gear needs broken in doesn't sound right, and the other's I've talked to about it said it's just a bad gear. Does this sound like something that happens with steering gears? Needing to be broken in?