56 steering box

[Steve Junkersfeld]

I recently read a thread that discussed servicing the steering box on C-1s with chassis grease vice lube oil. I just finished rebuilding my 56 steering box and wondered what the conventional thinking is on this. I usually take the approach that whatever was good enough for the General in 56 is probably OK now - but I am curious what the people in the know are thinking. Is chassis lube a good way to extend the life of an older box, or is it the right appraoch for a newly rebuilt box as well? Thanks Steve

[Joe L.]

Re: 56 steering box

Steve-----

If it were me, I'd use GM #12377985 grease. This product is the successor to grease GM #1052084 which GM recommended for ALL Corvette and "heavy duty" steering box applications.

[Steve Junkersfeld]

Re: 56 steering box

Joe, Thanks for the advice. I suspect the grease you recommend is more like a heavy gear lube than chassis grease. I'll pick some up from the local dealer tomorrow. Steve

[Theodore K.]

Re: 56 steering box

Steve,
When I rebuilt my 57 box two years ago, it came with a canister of chassis lube and a special bolt for the lower hole that goes into the box. The bolt had a lube fitting and was hollow. You literally pumped the chassis lube into the box until it came out the fill hole on top. Then replaced the bolt. I have not had any problem with the box except for adjustment problems that had nothing to do with the lube. The kit was supplied by Dot Pro of Little Rock and the lube and fitting was included. I never drove it in the winter when I suspect the lube with get stiffer. However the box sits near the exhaust manifold and I suspect it warms up pretty fast.

[Steve Junkersfeld]

Re: 56 steering box

Theodore, Thanks for the response. The chassis lube you describe is the same as would be serviced using a grease gun? I guess that as long as the gears, bearings and bushings are lubricated it would work OK - the box can't get as severe usage as front wheel bearings and they do OK with grease. I see your point on cold operations - that may be the reason the steering boxes were serviced with gear oil originally.

[Joe Pennington]

Re: 56 steering box

Steve, I would think long and hard about using chassis grease in your steering box. In fact, I'm going to pull the box and column in my 56 ( no easy task)so I can flush the grease out and have a tool and die shop precision machine the sealing surfaces to ensure I get a leak proof box with the 90 weight oil. After reading the post about the grease only being correct only if my car is painted pink, no way am I going to chance losing those points. Now if I could find a set of NOS "Mary Kay" window decals I might reconsider and Just repaint the car pink.