Wrecked82

Serious question. About 12 years or more ago, learned about checking steering box grease. It needed it. Filled with Mobil 1, properly, not over filling. just now, see box needs grease again and took almost a full tube of Mobil 1. No problem with steering. Nice and tight. So, is this a once every 5 years or so checkup. Or once every 50K miles?

7T1vette

Sounds about right. But, I'm surprised the Mobil 1 didn't last longer than that. Could it be leaking out the bottom seal?

And, when you mention Mobil 1, you are not referring to oil, are you? The steering box needs to have gear grease in it. I put some full-synthetic "Green Grease" in mine. I think it should last at least 5 years....maybe 10.

jb78L-82

Just an FYI that my OEM steering box was rebuilt/blue printed by Gary Ramadei in October 2010 and he opened the box from my 78 with 66,000 miles in front of me and the OEM grease still looked pretty darn good-car was built in October of 1977-33 years! BTW-the rebuilt/blue printed box by Gary is FANTASTIC-so much better than when it was brand new! I highly recommend his services if you want to keep the OEM steering system.

Wrecked82

Yes, it was grease. Nice red stuff. If it leaked out, wouldn't I see something on the ground somewhere? How does grease leak? Anyway, will be an annual spring checkup item henceforth. At 221K miles now, heading to 300K by time 4 more years gone. Drive the 82 20K miles per year. And, yes, its a crossfire that does not have problems. Imagine that.

George Ries

How do you check the steering box grease on a 76

Hitch

If your box needs grease it is time to have it rebuilt. All that you do when you fill it from the top is put grease in the top and the filler is still at the bottom so effectively you have done squat..

Wrecked82

What is the filler? Want to do it right.

Wrecked82

So, are you saying that everything the I read if squat? Don't ever rebuild? Just replace? And, all the posts about adding grease are wrong? Please explain.

7T1vette

What "filler"?

Hitch

No please re-read my post, it says that if you need to put grease in it... It is time to rebuild it.

Hitch

Grease is not all petroleum, there is a large amount of filler that it is made up of. Once the petroleum dissipates all that is left is the filler.

Jim Shea

It's too bad that Gary is no longer welcome here. You can find him at a competitor's site.

BTW, he quit using synthetic grease a couple years ago. He now uses Costal Uniplex premium, high temperature, lithium complex grease.

Saginaw engineers told me they recommended a good grade of lithium based ball joint chassis grease for their manual gears.

Jim

Marlin

I am not a fan of Mobil1 grease. I tried it when I was a tech; it always seemed to run badly. Luckly I tested it on my own car before it made it to my shop for general use so only had to redo my own wheel bearings.

I went back to my main grease, Valvoline Semi-syn(durablend). Its a moly semi-syn I use on everything and have not had problems with it.

jb78L-82

Jim, Gary told me that he no longer uses Mobil 1 synthetic grease for steering box rebuilds primarily because he found that it sometimes leaked passed the gasket and customers complained about the "red fluid" leak from their newly rebuilt boxes. He used Costal in my rebuild since I was not going to counter his expert advice on my box.

BTW-I have used Mobil 1 grease for years in all types of chassis components with zero issues or failures.

Paul L

A minor point. It is Coastal grease.

Marlin

Thats the issue I had when I used it. Same reason I never used it again and went back to my previous one.

7T1vette

Hitch...

Your post #6 says, "...the filler is still at the bottom...". We're wanting to know what "filler" you are describing? We don't understand your comment.

Vette5.5

You guys are loosing me here, and maybe can educate me a bit. I've swapped and disasembled a few GM recirculating ball power steering boxes over the years, and don't recall using any kind of grease. Usually just fill the pump reservior with power steering fluid, and done with it. If you're talking manual steering box, then maybe why I'm so lost, as no experience here.

babbah

I have a fresh fill of Mobil 1 red grease in my steering box and now after reading this post, would like to replace it with the Coastal Grease. (yes the Mobil 1 red leaks)

Without disassembling the box, how can I do this? Just pump the Coastal Grease in as the red stuff oozes out???

Thanks All!

MelWff

The corvette C3 uses a box that is basically a manual box. The PS pump and control valve are used to move a hydraulic ram/cylinder to provide power steering. Havent you looked at your system?