ctuinstra

I'm rebuilding the steering box, actually just replacing the seals and cleaning everything up, and was wondering should I just go with the gear lube or switch to grease? I hate all the leaking oil, just made a huge mess.

dugsgms74

I put grease in my 68s box just like specified but I doubt oil would stay in mine for very long.

Lobzila

When I rebuilt mine, I put oil in it and had no leaks or problems. You should be fine either way you go.

mikem350

Grease is OK, less chance for leaks.

Haggisbash

I used a lube for vintage steering boxes that has the consistency of thick honey. Been in there for a year and a half since I rebuilt the box and so far no leaks.

ctuinstra

Do you think the grease will increase the steering effort on a manual?

Jim Shea

Saginaw engineering told me that they always recommended a good grade of lithium based chassis grease for their manual steering gear.

Gary Ramadei specifically uses Coastal Uniplex premium, high temperature, lithium complex grease.

Gary does not recommend synthetic grease for the manual gear.

Jim

Paul L

Jim,
Just a minor correction. It is "Coastal". It does not leak.

MotorHead

I use a mixture of chassis lube and engine oil. I put some grease in can and add engine oil until it thins enough to be like a paste.

ctuinstra

Jim, I'm confused. Gary doesn't recommend any grease or just synthetic grease in a manual box? What about the Coastal in a manual?

Peterbuilt

You can get steering gear lubricant at the dealership, part # 1051052.
That's what GM used at the factory.

Wrecked82

I've been running Mobil1 synthetic for 15 years w/o a problem. Check every 5+ years to make sure still full, which it is.

Jim Shea

Gary uses a brand of lithium based chassis grease in his manual steering gear rebuilds. He specifically does NOT recommend synthetic greases because he found that they tend to leak.

I am sure that other fluids, greases, etc may work but Saginaw laboratory and full vehicle durability tests were conducted using high grade, lithium based, chassis grease.

Jim

7T1vette

I chose synthetic gear grease because it would NOT leak. You want to use something thick enough not to be 'fluid' and also something that will not melt at engine compartment temps. That 'recipe' equates to a non-liquid, high-temp synthetic grease.

I exchanged the original type of grease for synthetic years ago, and have not had any problems or leakage since (and I did not replace seals).

ctuinstra

Thanks for clearing that up. I can understand using a good quality grease to help keep it from leaking. I'd like to add a thought about the quality of the grease whether it's synthetic or not. I remember once reading about one of the factors of a good quality grease is its resistance to separating. Some of the more poor greases will separate leaving a runny liquid and solids. In fact I have some synthetic grease in a grease gun that is leaking "oil" out of the bottom of the gun and dripping on the floor. For the longest time I couldn't find out where this mysterious red fluid was coming from because it was dripping onto a piece of plumbing and running down and then onto the floor. I though the pipe was leaking but I couldn't figure out why it's red. After investigating I found its the grease. I was shocked to see how much red fluid has come out of it. Synthetic is not the only grease that will separate though.

I may try a good grease, I just hope that it does't increase the steering effort.

alconk

Dumb question where do you add it?

Peterbuilt

My grease gun leaks too, it seems to be OK for the ball joints but I sure would not use it in the steering box. I'm not sure what brand I have.

Barry's70LT1

In 1975 I filled my steering box with straight STP. (with a small air gap) It's still in there now with 100K miles and also with manual steering.
Steering box is still tight, no play and continues to work well.

Peterbuilt

STP- a thousand and ONE uses!

corvetero

I read that grease must be filled at 3/4. What does it mean? 3/4 lenght from the very bottom?

How can I pull out the old grease with the steering box on the car? My concern is that the new and the old grease might not mix properly.

Is this grease OK?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Valvoline-VV...lWRgHA&vxp=mtr