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By DryLakesRacer - 5 Years Ago
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I'm doing some maintenance and decided to check the steering box; the plug was a little buggered (I'll get to that later) and I'm wondering what you guys use or recommend. As I remember most took 90 to 140 gear lube and if they leaked some type of chassis lube I'm assumed packed in with a grease gun. Looking in this one it appears to be grease but not fully packed.......Opinions please..
The plug was really screwed up once I got it off and I noticed it appears to be "pipe like" threads but none I can match. Any ideas here too..
The car has power steering but I don't think it matters since it's all external to the box..
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By Gene Purser - 5 Years Ago
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Chassis grease tends to harden and create a void where the gears mesh, creating a no-lube situation. Many have discovered John Deere corn head grease works well in leaking gearboxes. It liquifies where there is movement but stays semi liquid around the places where the grease usually exits. It is in a tube like chassis grease. Get it at your John Deere dealer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zNhli-J0Gk
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By DryLakesRacer - 5 Years Ago
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Thanks Gene, I have heard of it and wondered it any here used it. not near a John Deere dealer but there is always Amazon.
I found a new steering box filler plug list on the Mid-Fifty F100 site and bought it.
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By Talkwrench - 5 Years Ago
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I wouldn't use anything more than semi fluid grease [Penrite has a range]. Im not so sure on the JD stuff its polyuera based and I dont think it mixes well with other fluids.
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By Gene Purser - 5 Years Ago
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Talkwrench has a point. There are cautions against mixing polyurea with other bases but I'm not sure of the consequences.
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By oldcarmark - 5 Years Ago
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If its leaking at Sector Shaft its a very easy Repair. I did mine last Week. Pull the Arm off the output Shaft. Mark it first so it goes back on in same Positition. Pry the old Seal out using a Screw Driver and install the new Seal using a Deep Socket. The only Question would be which Seal to Order. Early Style 2 Tooth Sector Shaft Box or 3 Tooth Sector Shaft Box. Different Diameter Shafts. I ordered One of each from Rock Auto. Cheap enough to buy 2 .
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By miker - 5 Years Ago
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This just went around on the HAMB, and corn head grease was widely used.
I stole this quote about mixing it.
“Polyurea thickener is NOT compatible with other types of thickeners. If you had grease in a box you would definitely want to clean it all out before adding the Corn Head Grease, or any polyurea grease. Non-compatible greases will result in the thickeners failing and the oil separating out, it would be a mess.
If it had gear oil in it, that should not cause a problem, but I would still try to drain it as much as possible”
Whole thread here, starts out with STP and moves on to corn head.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/stp-for-steering-box-lube.1156068/
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By kevink1955 - 5 Years Ago
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I rebuilt mt 3 tooth sector box 25 years ago, the worm was completely shattered. Installed a new worm with long shaft and new lower seal. Filled it with 90 weight Extreme pressure gear oil and it's been fine.
I did have it apart 4 years ago with 12,000 miles since rebuild when I cut the long shaft and spliced in an EPAS electric steering unit and the steering box parts looked like new.
I feel the gear oil flows better than grease especially in a occasional use vehicle that may not always get the grease warm enough to flow.
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By DryLakesRacer - 5 Years Ago
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Thanks all. I see grease in mine, I have no idea if it would leak if I put in gear oil in it I am looking for options. I am not planning on removing it just a service. Sounds like John Deere Corn head maybe a great choice if clean. Thanks
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By FORD DEARBORN - 5 Years Ago
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Sorry for being a bit late with this information but was out of town for a while. I'll attempt to include a link showing the Motorcraft Moly grease Ford offers for steering boxed requiring it. My 64 F100 being one of the steering boxes for the application. Various Ford products in the early 60's used a recirculating ball style nut on the worm and required Moly grease instead of gear lube. I realize the gear discussed here is not of the recirculating ball but I think it's the moly that coats the surface of the gear contact point providing the lubrication as opposed to oil held in the thickener. I've kept the box in my 64 lubed in this fashion with no issues. There is also a Valvoline grease which appears to be the same product with similar specs and application. If I were to use a grease in place of gear oil, this is what I would use. If you can oped the link, scroll down to the 14oz tube with product description. Hope this helps, JEFF.......https://www.motorcraft.com/us/en_us/home/new-old-our-products/chemicals-and-lubricants/greases.html
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By DryLakesRacer - 5 Years Ago
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Since many auto parts stores carry "name" brand greases and not normally Motorcraft I drove over to my closest Ford dealership and they had the correct grease listed that was suggested here, a little over $10 with tax for the cartridge. I removed the plug and pumped it in until some finally came out from around the end of the pump. It is black/dark gray and don't get any on your skin. The steering was much easier. Thanks all...
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By BamaBob - 5 Years Ago
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My Ford tractor leaked all the 90wt. gear oil out by the left side shaft. I replaced the oil with Lucas Hub Oil two years ago and have not had a leak since. Just something to consider.
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