Hi Guys
I was emailed a thread from the forum I no longer visit,(CF),about greasing steering boxes. I know many of you visit there and can them the correct information because God knows there is a lot of misinformation there from what I have been shown.
Using gear oil,engine oil or mixtures of them will result in leaking from the seals or adjusting nut. Using those zerk fitting screws in the cover may work but may also result in over packing grease and it will weep out. I have shown here and elsewhere where I've opened many old boxes and you can see where the new grease didn't mix with the old hard packed grease. It didn't offer any benefit other the false security that the box was now "good".
The best way to lube a 40 year old box is to remove it,clean out the old grease,use new synthetic grease,install new seals and adjust it. Of course going this far I always recommend rebuilding the box since most of them need it anyway and most of the adjustments are off. Incorrect adjustment will result in wear on the center tooth of the pitman shaft and then it's worn out and useless. Many of the boxes I rebuild that were previouly serviced fall into this catagory so be sure of what you're doing.
Lastly I no longer use or recommend Mobil 1 grease. I stopped using it in boxes and rear bearings based on what I've found over the past year with what I was told is a new formulation. It always had a oil separation issue compared to other greases and combined with heat buildup caused some weeping past threads and seals.
Good luck
I was emailed a thread from the forum I no longer visit,(CF),about greasing steering boxes. I know many of you visit there and can them the correct information because God knows there is a lot of misinformation there from what I have been shown.
Using gear oil,engine oil or mixtures of them will result in leaking from the seals or adjusting nut. Using those zerk fitting screws in the cover may work but may also result in over packing grease and it will weep out. I have shown here and elsewhere where I've opened many old boxes and you can see where the new grease didn't mix with the old hard packed grease. It didn't offer any benefit other the false security that the box was now "good".
The best way to lube a 40 year old box is to remove it,clean out the old grease,use new synthetic grease,install new seals and adjust it. Of course going this far I always recommend rebuilding the box since most of them need it anyway and most of the adjustments are off. Incorrect adjustment will result in wear on the center tooth of the pitman shaft and then it's worn out and useless. Many of the boxes I rebuild that were previouly serviced fall into this catagory so be sure of what you're doing.
Lastly I no longer use or recommend Mobil 1 grease. I stopped using it in boxes and rear bearings based on what I've found over the past year with what I was told is a new formulation. It always had a oil separation issue compared to other greases and combined with heat buildup caused some weeping past threads and seals.
Good luck
You know when I was looking for Mobil 1 synthetic grease, I found two types with differing heat ranges and choose the higher one. Can you comment on what your using now and how you think it would be a better choice.
Comment