Steering box
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 287
Likes: 69
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
Steering box
The stock steering box on my 66 PS car seems to steer fine.but is leaking down by the pitman arm. Should I attempt putting a seal and/or rebuild it or get a new or rebuilt box? If the best solution is a new or rebuilt box, where is the best place to buy one from?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 839
Likes: 323
From: Maumelle Arkansas
If you decide to go with a new box Borgeson makes them https://www.borgeson.com/xcart/produ...productid=1731
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 287
Likes: 69
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
Thanks for the replies. Just trying to figure out if rebuilt original or new would be better. I learned my lesson on rebuilt PS pumps that leak and finally bought a new one from Tuff Stuff and am very pleased with it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,265
Likes: 1,766
From: Central Michigan
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Rebuild/replace the box for a leaking seal??? What would you do if the front crank seal on the engine was leaking? Seems a bit extreme to me.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,166
Likes: 3,968
From: Connecticut, USA
The quality of some so called rebuilt boxes on the market is not what you might expect.
If the box is tight, the only way to really know where it is in that respect is to pull it and check with a 0-30 dial. Why would it need to be rebuilt? I sure wouldn't exchange it
If the car is new to you and you have no history of the box it might be worth checking it. These boxes are not vented, many times are filled with a mix of oil and grease or just have old separated grease in them. They will weep if the wrong type of lube is used, new or old seals in place.
So what condition should the box be in? There should be no lost motion when the box is on high center, the high center and true center positions should be known since they rarely are the same and many don't know the difference. If there are threads showing above the jam nut and the box is loose there may be adjustment in the box, if there are no threads showing and the box is loose the gears are most likely bad.
If you want a correct box the picture of the new one is no where close to correct. The casting is that of the later 70's boxes, the lock ring is completely wrong and the lash bolt may be a allen bolt. I can't say how they are setup.
If the box is tight, the only way to really know where it is in that respect is to pull it and check with a 0-30 dial. Why would it need to be rebuilt? I sure wouldn't exchange it
If the car is new to you and you have no history of the box it might be worth checking it. These boxes are not vented, many times are filled with a mix of oil and grease or just have old separated grease in them. They will weep if the wrong type of lube is used, new or old seals in place.
So what condition should the box be in? There should be no lost motion when the box is on high center, the high center and true center positions should be known since they rarely are the same and many don't know the difference. If there are threads showing above the jam nut and the box is loose there may be adjustment in the box, if there are no threads showing and the box is loose the gears are most likely bad.
If you want a correct box the picture of the new one is no where close to correct. The casting is that of the later 70's boxes, the lock ring is completely wrong and the lash bolt may be a allen bolt. I can't say how they are setup.
Last edited by GTR1999; Jul 29, 2021 at 08:24 AM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 291
Likes: 41
From: Springboro OH
Proper C2 steering box
If it is leaking, the grease is breaking down or there is incorrect grease in it. In my opinion it needs to be gone through by an expert.
If you want a guaranteed correct like original send it to Gary Ramadei, he has done 2 for me and the steering is wonderful on both.
SWC Tim
If you want a guaranteed correct like original send it to Gary Ramadei, he has done 2 for me and the steering is wonderful on both.
SWC Tim
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Le Mans Master
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What type of grease do you recommend?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,265
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From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
For C2 cars, I use a special zerk fitting and with a second hole open as a vent, fill box until it is full. About 1/3 of a tube as I remember (from almost empty). After that it takes about 5-15 pumps of the grease gun to top off every few years. This is for existing steering boxes using GM # 12377985 grease.
If rebuilding from new, use a good synthetic grease as opposed to the GM # I mentioned above. I believe Gary R uses the "Red and Tacky" synthetic available most out parts stores. He used Mobil 1 for years, but changed up awhile back.
For C1 cars I offer no recommendation. I believe it (as of now) should be (or is) the same as for C2 cars.
Larry
If rebuilding from new, use a good synthetic grease as opposed to the GM # I mentioned above. I believe Gary R uses the "Red and Tacky" synthetic available most out parts stores. He used Mobil 1 for years, but changed up awhile back.
For C1 cars I offer no recommendation. I believe it (as of now) should be (or is) the same as for C2 cars.
Larry
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I will gladly accept correction but my understanding is that GM recommended gear oil and later revised to chassis grease. The box is close to the header on a 396. My box pitman shaft seal lets a small trail of melted grease run down to the splash shield, I wipe it up.
Dan
Dan
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Joined: Feb 2008
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From: NJ Hockey beer league
I will gladly accept correction but my understanding is that GM recommended gear oil and later revised to chassis grease. The box is close to the header on a 396. My box pitman shaft seal lets a small trail of melted grease run down to the splash shield, I wipe it up.
Dan
Dan
Last edited by Pilot Dan; Dec 18, 2021 at 05:39 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,166
Likes: 3,968
From: Connecticut, USA
For C2 cars, I use a special zerk fitting and with a second hole open as a vent, fill box until it is full. About 1/3 of a tube as I remember (from almost empty). After that it takes about 5-15 pumps of the grease gun to top off every few years. This is for existing steering boxes using GM # 12377985 grease.
If rebuilding from new, use a good synthetic grease as opposed to the GM # I mentioned above. I believe Gary R uses the "Red and Tacky" synthetic available most out parts stores. He used Mobil 1 for years, but changed up awhile back.
For C1 cars I offer no recommendation. I believe it (as of now) should be (or is) the same as for C2 cars.
Larry
If rebuilding from new, use a good synthetic grease as opposed to the GM # I mentioned above. I believe Gary R uses the "Red and Tacky" synthetic available most out parts stores. He used Mobil 1 for years, but changed up awhile back.
For C1 cars I offer no recommendation. I believe it (as of now) should be (or is) the same as for C2 cars.
Larry
I use Lucas HD green grease now. I haven't used Mobile 1 in over 10 years. The Red & Tacky will work as well. When I stopped using the Mobil1 I started with Coastal because it was very good and had no separation like the Mobil1 did. However, they changed it from the quality it was and I moved on to the Lucas. That is what I would use in the C1 box as well
