What fluid to use
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: Toms River New Jersey
What fluid to use
Hey Forum Gurus,,
I'm finally putting the Porvette back together after a 10 year "stand-by". I've gotta do the front caliper rebuild (parts on the way) but I noticed a leak at the steering box where the pitman arm mounts. I'm not gonna worry about replacing the seal yet but I wanna make sure the fluid is "full". According to 2 Corvettte books I have, I removed the "fill" & the "level check" bolts on top of the box. I can't see any fluid down either shallow hole. All I can got so far is to use the "specified gear lubricant", but no idea what that is. So, queston is, what fluid/gear lube goes into the steering box? It's a '79 with tele/tilt/power steering.
Thx,,, Bill A
ps: sold our first 2014 Vette at Lester Glenn Chevy in Toms River.
I'm finally putting the Porvette back together after a 10 year "stand-by". I've gotta do the front caliper rebuild (parts on the way) but I noticed a leak at the steering box where the pitman arm mounts. I'm not gonna worry about replacing the seal yet but I wanna make sure the fluid is "full". According to 2 Corvettte books I have, I removed the "fill" & the "level check" bolts on top of the box. I can't see any fluid down either shallow hole. All I can got so far is to use the "specified gear lubricant", but no idea what that is. So, queston is, what fluid/gear lube goes into the steering box? It's a '79 with tele/tilt/power steering.
Thx,,, Bill A
ps: sold our first 2014 Vette at Lester Glenn Chevy in Toms River.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
I've used 80w gear oil before with no problems. It's a bit more viscous than the original stuff that came in a tube, but if 80w will handle a ring & pinion, it will stand up to anything in the steering box.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,734
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Are you a reasonably good mechanic? DIY guy with decent set of tools?
If so, you can remove the top cover of the steering box (IF YOU DO IT PROPERLY SO THAT YOU DON'T CHANGE THE BOX ADJUSTMENT) so that you can remove most of the old grease (or whatever the PO put in that box) and replace it with hi-temp synthetic grease. Synthetic will not melt when warm, so the box is likely be leak-free.
If you need to know the correct procedure for doing that task, send me a PM.
Otherwise, the approach you have mentioned is correct...buy you'll still have whatever [leaky] lubricant the PO installed in that box.
If so, you can remove the top cover of the steering box (IF YOU DO IT PROPERLY SO THAT YOU DON'T CHANGE THE BOX ADJUSTMENT) so that you can remove most of the old grease (or whatever the PO put in that box) and replace it with hi-temp synthetic grease. Synthetic will not melt when warm, so the box is likely be leak-free.
If you need to know the correct procedure for doing that task, send me a PM.
Otherwise, the approach you have mentioned is correct...buy you'll still have whatever [leaky] lubricant the PO installed in that box.
