Opinions on FirmFeel???

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daves66valiant

daves66valiant

68 Dart 340/727:66 Signet Vert 340/5spd: 68 D100
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Another "while I'm at it"....a never ending moparism

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I was thinking of replacing my power steering gear box. It is leaking and I wouldn't mind having a tighter feel. Are the Firm Feel poser steering gear boxes worth the $350 bones? or should I just rebuild mine. They have remans from Rockauto.com for $170 after core charge returned.

Opinions. thanks.
 
I'm running a Firmfeel Stage 2 - it's definitely "heavier" feel than stock (I picked it up cheap during the resto process so figured I'd install) Can't say it would be worth it unless your plan a G-machine and are gonna drive it like you stole it.
 
They say the stage 1 is slightly stiffer than the cop steering. I could go with that I guess.
 
Dave
I had one of thier stage two boxes before we put the rack in. Only about 500 miles on it but worked well and no leaks like some people have complained. I don't think stage one is the way to go. I felt the stage 2 was nice but wasn't as tight as I would like it and kind of wished I put the stage 3 in. There is another company I think they are called steer and gear..They make a reman box that has a tighter feel as well but I don't know much about them. Good luck.
 
the firm feel power steering is available as a rebuild kit for your existing bad box and is worth every penny just have your local guy { or do it yourself if your able } install they're seal kit when you have your box rebuilt no more excess end play no more vague feel your gonna be impressed by how tight it makes your front end feel , that and the offset bushing trick and you'll be carving corners in the full 1g range my car feels like a road racer now :-D
 
cannucky said:
the firm feel power steering is available as a rebuild kit for your existing bad box and is worth every penny just have your local guy { or do it yourself if your able } install they're seal kit when you have your box rebuilt no more excess end play no more vague feel your gonna be impressed by how tight it makes your front end feel , that and the offset bushing trick and you'll be carving corners in the full 1g range my car feels like a road racer now :-D
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I don't know what "your local guy" would charge or what kind of warranty would be provided (labor only most likely), but this is straight from the Firm Feel website; "cases are machined for roller bearing sector supports and worm gear assemblies are resized, then the box is fitted with Firm Feel's exclusive reaction springs".

Yeah, just a simple job for your local guy.

In my dealings with, and all my friends dealings with Dick Ross, he's proven himself to be a no bullshit, straight shooter kind of guy that I would do business with again. And even if a "rebuild kit" is offered (from Dick Ross at Firm Feel), why would I want to take a job this specialized to someone who has not learned all the little "tricks" doing it year after year, day in and day out.
 
I bought a stage 2 for my aspen, unfortunately I haven't gotten it installed yet.
 
Subscribe, thinking about the same...
 
Yeah the firm feel seems the way to go for a new upgraded unit. Steer and gear does nothing special to theirs. They reuse everything possible and button it back up for you. NOt much change in performance.

I think I'll be sending my money Firm Feel's way. They had some great products at the Spring and Fall Flings.
 
I've got a box with the small return line out of a 67 V8 Barracuda that I'd like to upgrade to take the place of the box in my 65 wagon (5/8ths return line). Since they're a vendor at the Nationals, I'd guess they'll accept my box at the show to save on my shipping charges. If so, wondering if I'd get my original box back, or is it just a core to them? Might have to give them a call this week to find out for sure.
 
I've been buying from them for years but only manual boxes. I'm sure they sell quality power boxes. By the way, is it me or are your washers on your strut rods backwards? That moving dollie looks kinda maxed out.
 
dart4forte said:
I've been buying from them for years but only manual boxes. I'm sure they sell quality power boxes. By the way, is it me or are your washers on your strut rods backwards? That moving dollie looks kinda maxed out.
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It's you.
This is how the early A's were installed by the factory. Read one of the washers some time,it will say "This side out".
 
Only the 1 piece get the washer the other way. THe way Dave's car is is how all 2 piece should be. And yes the washers say "rubber this side" or something like that.
 
I've installed 2 Firm Feel power steering boxes that came from cop cars. Sold another to a buddy with a C-body. My bud and I are both happy campers with the FF boxes.

One of the things that can be done to put more heft in the steering without changing the steering box is to go to a smaller diameter wheel. The Demon originally had a standard steering wheel on it. The FF box improved things quite a bit, but once I put in the Tuff wheel, it became very nice. I see why the Tuff wheel required power steering.
 
I installed a rebuilt Stage I Firm Feel box in my Valiant a couple of years ago and every place it could leak it's dry as a bone.

Plus, there's virtually NO play "on center," and it has just the right amount of road "feel." for me.

In addition to that, the guys at Firm Feel are easy to talk to, approachable. and VERY knowledgeable about front end technical matters.

I would buy again from them, in a NY minute!
 
I have the Stage 2 Firm Feel box in my '70 Duster and it is firmer than the original box (not as much play either) but still not much road feel; I think that's from the stock steering wheel though, that thing is BIG. When I get the chance I'm going to upgrade to a Tuff wheel or something similar in that size.
 
i know a few guys that bought them and love them. everyone told them to go stage III. they did and love it.
 
I drove my buddy's roadrunner with a stage 3 box. The road feel was awesome. It did feel like it was manual steering on the highway. I am going for the same box in my car. Anything better than the stage 3 is called rack and pinion.
 
I have all of Firmfeel's front end components in my Dart, including a stage 3 steering box. I like the feel and its been trouble free for over 2 years.
 
I got the Stage II and it still steers easier than any of my new cars. It is much better than stock but only has a little feed back. I drove a Stage III and it felt much better and you could still turn the wheel with one hand. I would go with the Stage III.
 
Cool. I really did not know which stage to get. Stage III seems the way to go but I will give them a call anyways. Great to hear about all the people that are happy with their units.

dart4forte said:
I've been buying from them for years but only manual boxes. I'm sure they sell quality power boxes. By the way, is it me or are your washers on your strut rods backwards? That moving dollie looks kinda maxed out.
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Leaving everything on the K-frame made things go much faster. But the extra weight this time around with having all the suspension still on the K-frame has definitely maxed out this dolly. It rolls but not too well.

Yep the washers are correct.
 
By the way, is it me or are your washers on your strut rods backwards?
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they are backwards from what the factory did but some after market companies tell you to put them ion like that
 
abodyjoe said:
they are backwards from what the factory did but some after market companies tell you to put them ion like that
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They are not backwards,this is how they came on the early A's from the factory.

Later A's (67-75) turned them around and added a roll pin through ther strut rod.
 
once again, the factory used 1 piece bushings that used the washer in the opposite direction. All aftermarket replacements use the washer as shown.
 
twofosho said:
I don't know what "your local guy" would charge or what kind of warranty would be provided (labor only most likely), but this is straight from the Firm Feel website; "cases are machined for roller bearing sector supports and worm gear assemblies are resized, then the box is fitted with Firm Feel's exclusive reaction springs".

Yeah, just a simple job for your local guy.

In my dealings with, and all my friends dealings with Dick Ross, he's proven himself to be a no bullshit, straight shooter kind of guy that I would do business with again. And even if a "rebuild kit" is offered (from Dick Ross at Firm Feel), why would I want to take a job this specialized to someone who has not learned all the little "tricks" doing it year after year, day in and day out.
Click to expand...

however it was done it was done right by my "local guy" it was sent to him by my resto guy who uses nothing but Firm feel for all his suspension in his own cars and he has been building and racing mopars professionally for over 30 years ,I would in no way advocate sending this sort of work to a shade tree amateur but most major markets have a highly competent guy in them that was what I meant by "your local guy " and this guy seemed to be balking at the price a little and this was the way it was explained to me if you feel different or have a different opinion well we all have one of those and I can smell yours from here thanks for crapping on me for advocating your friends product :thebirdm:
 
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