Steering box lube check
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 0
From: Olive Branch MS
St. Jude Contributor
Steering box lube check
Hey guys. Haven't been here much lately. Have a question about the steering gear box. I replaced the power steering hoses and pump not too long ago but it still seems like my power steering is lacking some power. I want to check the grease in the box. Can I do it in the car? I know the middle screw is to adjust the lash, but can I take the other three out and remove the cover to see inside without hurting anything? Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
Don't take the cover off, you will disturb the adjustment. You can take one of the cover bolts out and maybe be able to tell if the grease in the box is still ok and if there is enough. Be careful how much you add if you do - if you pack it tight, the grease can expand when the box heats up and blow out your seals. There has to be some space left in the box to allow for this expansion.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,166
Likes: 3,968
From: Connecticut, USA
76 is correct, you can't remove the cover without unscrewing the lash screw and then you'll need a TW to reset it- if you want to do it right.
The method of removing the cover screws isn't too good. You're better off removing the box and really checking it good, resetting the preload and lash out of the car.
The method of removing the cover screws isn't too good. You're better off removing the box and really checking it good, resetting the preload and lash out of the car.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
If you remove the pitman arm (as instructed in the service manual) you can adjust your steering box in the car as well as if it were on a bench. If it needs to be rebuilt, then clearly it has to be removed from the car.
As far as lubing the box, I made a hollow bolt with a grease zerk to fill the box with the right EP grease, with a second bolt out to know when the box is filled. I fill per the service manual.
As far as lubing the box, I made a hollow bolt with a grease zerk to fill the box with the right EP grease, with a second bolt out to know when the box is filled. I fill per the service manual.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 0
From: Olive Branch MS
St. Jude Contributor
Thanks guys. I'll check into this first. I did jack the car up and turn lock to lock about 12 times as per the service manual and it did help a little. Not as stiff as it was. But it has always been rather hard to turn, like it almost had manual steering. Won't have time to look any more til next week. Thanks again. I'll keep you posted.
