The Ford Barn

popcorn-guy · 09-22-2010, 01:19 PM

Any one have any experience with the "ezsteer" steering box made by a John Kovar? I would like any input from those familiar with it and their impressions of its' performance & feel.

Thank you for your consideration.

Mike V. Florida · 09-22-2010, 02:56 PM

Here is a thread about the unit;

EZ STEER

johnsor · 09-22-2010, 02:59 PM

I sent away for their brochure. It looks like a very good product, however for $830. ($800. + $30. shipping) its just too expensive for the ratio gain. I'm going to order a 2 tooth rebuild kit for less than $150. and it will last another 80 years.

popcorn-guy · 09-22-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

Here is a thread about the unit;

EZ STEER

Read the above thread, but it doesn't seem to be referring to what is being sold today. I wonder if these were earlier 56 Ford F100 boxes that had been converted?

Oops, I just went back and took a look at the post dates. Am still wondering if some of it refers to earlier boxes that may have been conversions of older F100 boxes? Reading the web page it seems that all the parts are new and the use of needle brg's would make a huge difference imho and the ratio changed from 11:1 to 18:1 would certainly add leverage to ones application of steering force.

John LaVoy · 09-22-2010, 03:31 PM

In the next issue of the Model A Times we review the EZ Steer box. We installed it in the roadster and have let many people drive the car, everyone seems to like it.

MikeK · 09-22-2010, 08:19 PM

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I looked at it at the French Lick convention. When I played with the one on display, it was alarmingly loose, I could turn the input with two fingers and feel a tiny bit of lash. A new box should be tighter than that.

The box uses a stock later F-1 style gear and sector. Setup of these gears new should show some drag across the center position. This box had none. I asked about adjustment an discovered there is NO external way to take up slack. The answer was "It comes adjusted, you touch nothing. If you open it the warranty is void." The scary part was the next statement: "Keep the shipping box just in case."

Why would I pay $800 for a box that I cannot take the play out of, especially one that will surely loosen after a few thousand miles of break in wear? I will be interested in seeing if Model A times addresses the lack of adjustment issue. Perhaps I missed something? The increased numerical ratio will exaggerate any existing play in the suspension/ steering linkage, the last thing I need is a box with built in non-adjustable slop of its own.

With my Gemmer box, or with an F-1 or F100 box, there are ways to adjust the preload on the taper rollers for the worm, and the mesh of the sector. With this box the instructions are 'don't touch or else. . .'

09-22-2010, 01:19 PM	#1
popcorn-guy Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 50	ezsteer Any one have any experience with the "ezsteer" steering box made by a John Kovar? I would like any input from those familiar with it and their impressions of its' performance & feel. Thank you for your consideration.

09-22-2010, 02:56 PM	#2
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: ezsteer Here is a thread about the unit; EZ STEER __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

09-22-2010, 02:59 PM	#3
johnsor Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spooner, Wisconsin Posts: 242	Re: ezsteer I sent away for their brochure. It looks like a very good product, however for $830. ($800. + $30. shipping) its just too expensive for the ratio gain. I'm going to order a 2 tooth rebuild kit for less than $150. and it will last another 80 years.

09-22-2010, 03:31 PM	#5
John LaVoy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 1,219	Re: ezsteer In the next issue of the Model A Times we review the EZ Steer box. We installed it in the roadster and have let many people drive the car, everyone seems to like it.

09-22-2010, 08:19 PM	#6
MikeK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,919	Re: ezsteer Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I looked at it at the French Lick convention. When I played with the one on display, it was alarmingly loose, I could turn the input with two fingers and feel a tiny bit of lash. A new box should be tighter than that. The box uses a stock later F-1 style gear and sector. Setup of these gears new should show some drag across the center position. This box had none. I asked about adjustment an discovered there is NO external way to take up slack. The answer was "It comes adjusted, you touch nothing. If you open it the warranty is void." The scary part was the next statement: "Keep the shipping box just in case." Why would I pay $800 for a box that I cannot take the play out of, especially one that will surely loosen after a few thousand miles of break in wear? I will be interested in seeing if Model A times addresses the lack of adjustment issue. Perhaps I missed something? The increased numerical ratio will exaggerate any existing play in the suspension/ steering linkage, the last thing I need is a box with built in non-adjustable slop of its own. With my Gemmer box, or with an F-1 or F100 box, there are ways to adjust the preload on the taper rollers for the worm, and the mesh of the sector. With this box the instructions are 'don't touch or else. . .'