Steering gear break in period?

Dale Davies said

I agree with Professor Fate, wear in the pitman arm should just be a new pitman arm. What happened to all the parts they removed? Hosers likely tossed them, and probably nothing wrong. Sounds like a shop not to return to and also make famous or infamous.

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So as an update, it does seem to be getting better. It occasionally wants to return to center, but still needs the help. The feedback to lock is worst when I am backing out of a parking space and trying to turn all the way the opposite direction and I hit the gas. Then the steering wheel wants to jump out of my hand towards opposite lock if I let it. I talked to the mechanic who told me it's the tolerances of the valve that redirects the fluid to the power chambers. That's paraphrasing as I understood it as I don't know exactly how the fluid is redirected.

As stated before, I am reluctant to give them the death penalty just yet because I've seen them working on other A bodies and they always have classic cars in shop. The mechanic also wanted me to keep him updated and seemed wanting to see the issue to the end. I will want to make sure it's on his dime though, not mine, as I feel like I've already paid for the service.

I did state to save all removed parts for my own dissection, and I just try to keep as much as I can. The old federal pump and associated bracketing was saved, but he said there was a core charge on the gearbox and that had to be returned. Specifically, the problem was said to be the bushings inside of the box causing excessive play in pitman arm, so I am not sure why it couldn't be rebuilt.