Steering Lubricant Question

[mgambuzza]

I was going to place lubricant in my steering box, but the first thing I noticed was the grease nipple. I checked to verify and yes, the previous owner must have placed it to insert grease into the steering box. After my first sense of anguish, and thinking of how I could find a way to expel it (was thinking of using a heat gun to try to liquify the grease, but then how to drain it), I thought maybe I could just add fresh grease to ensure all parts are adequately greased and in contact.

Looking for opinions on whether to continue inserting grease, see if there is a procedure to heat and drain existing grease, or enjoy the car until I have my box rebuilt and at that point have the box sealed and use proper fluid.

[J Franklin]

Add light oil and it will dilute the grease and become more fluid. Gear lube can be inserted through the zerk, so maybe it isn't grease in the box. Have you looked?

[CWPASADENA]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Add light oil and it will dilute the grease and become more fluid.

X2

Chris W.

[700rpm]

Stick a wire probe down into the box and see what it brings up.

[Patrick L.]

Yep, try to scrape as much grease as you can then just fill with heavy oil like 600W, 140 or 250.

The grease fittings were installed back in the day to use a grease gun full of the heavy oil to fill such things. Easier than trying to pour that stuff into that little hole. But, because it was a grease fitting some folks thought it must be for grease. Imagine that !

[Mulletwagon]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Let us know if the oil leaks out. If so, there are mods to keep the oil in. Leakage is the reason some have resorted to grease.

[Bob Bidonde]

Liquid lubricant will leak out of the sector housing. Since the 1960's I have been using 90% by volume of wheel bearing grease and 10% by volume of SAE 140 gear oil. No leakage! The grease goes in first to seal the sector housing.

[DHZIEMAN]

Some folks chose, when the 600w would leak from the steering box to put grease in the steering box, as grease would not leak out. But, the box innards are designed for oil lube not grease. Only way to tell is flush out the grease and replace with and oil type lub. Then fix the leak if there is one.