Is a Quick Ratio Box Right For Me?

[dlindsey19]

Hi all, I need some opinions or insight on this. 1999 GMC Yukon Denali, has 275/55r20 tires and 20" 07-13 Tahoe LTZ rims. My steering box is looser than the girl I talked to when I was in high school and I'm unsure of whether or not to swap to a quick ratio box. I was going to go with a Cardone new unit from rockauto, but the redhead quick ratio box caught my eye. According to Redhead it isn't recommended with oversized tires or off-road vehicles. What is the reason behind that? I don't do any serious off-roading (albeit, driving through thick snow and ice sometimes, but no rock crawling) and I usually stick to pavement if possible. The cardone is significantly cheaper than the Redhead and also has no core charge. I've also thought about the Borgeson #800134, but again, unsure if I should use the quick ratio steering. The EVO system was bypassed when I did the power steering pump about 7 months ago and it will be replaced under warranty as to not contaminate the new steering box. Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[skylark]

The quick ratio isn't recommended because of the high center of gravity in the event of a quick high speed turn, it has the potential for a roll over.

 

[Schurkey]

The quick ratio box probably also involves a stiffer torsion bar in the steering box, both of which will make for heavier steering especially with big tires.

Wild Guess: You should be fixing all the other problems with the front-end/steering, and at that point you might decide that the steering box you have is just fine; or perhaps could be adjusted (TWO places, not just one) to reduce free-play.

The rag joint is an epidemic failure and cause for loose/vague steering, wandering. There's extensive coverage on this site for replacing the rag joint with a lower steering shaft having a U-joint (although it's way more difficult/expensive on '95+ model years.)

 

[dlindsey19]

The quick ratio box probably also involves a stiffer torsion bar in the steering box, both of which will make for heavier steering especially with big tires.

Wild Guess: You should be fixing all the other problems with the front-end/steering, and at that point you might decide that the steering box you have is just fine; or perhaps could be adjusted (TWO places, not just one) to reduce free-play.

The rag joint is an epidemic failure and cause for loose/vague steering, wandering. There's extensive coverage on this site for replacing the rag joint with a lower steering shaft having a U-joint (although it's way more difficult/expensive on '95+ model years.)

My box is leaking and I’m replacing the whole front end once it thaws out here in Idaho. I would send it off and have it resealed but I’m unsure of the condition on the inside.

 

[Caman96]

The quick ratio isn't recommended because of the high center of gravity in the event of a quick high speed turn, it has the potential for a roll over.

100% agree! Often “quick” is not better.

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

In my opinion, fast is better than slow, especially when things get hairy. You have to get ahead of what the car is doing and it's harder to do that if you have to turn the steering wheel more than 180 degrees.

I doubt the fast box is all that fast. It's probably something like 2.5 complete turns instead of 3.

 

[dlindsey19]

In my opinion, fast is better than slow, especially when things get hairy. You have to get ahead of what the car is doing and it's harder to do that if you have to turn the steering wheel more than 180 degrees.

I doubt the fast box is all that fast. It's probably something like 2.5 complete turns instead of 3.

Yeah, in the research I did I found the stock box was 3/3.5 turns, and the quick ratio is only 1/2 turn less. So I'll just go with a stock replacement from RockAuto.

 

[Caman96]

Yeah, in the research I did I found the stock box was 3/3.5 turns, and the quick ratio is only 1/2 turn less. So I'll just go with a stock replacement from RockAuto.

Which one? Cardone?

 

[dlindsey19]

Which one? Cardone?

Yes, the Cardone 977540GB. My other options are Lares, AAE, or Edelmann. None of my local parts stores carry new steering boxes for that truck that aren't upwards of $700.

 

[Caman96]

I’d avoid Cardone completely. At least look at this:

Borgeson Street & Performance Series, OBS, 12.7:1 Ratio

Expanding on our wildly successful Street & Performance Series of steering gears Borgeson Universal now offers the only quick ratio power steering box to replace the Delphi 800 series in the 1988-1998 Chevrolet and GMC OBS trucks. This all-new power steering box has a quick 12.7:1 ratio with...

www.borgeson.com