Steering box lubricant ?

[JohnG]

hi all,

I am replacing my steering gearbox this Spring with a rebuilt one, hence bone dry.

What should I be using for a lubricant for that?

thanks!
john

[simplyconnected]

90W (same as your rear differential). Buy a name-brand oil.

[JohnG]

Thank you.

[Tbird1044]

John:
Please let us know how the "rebuilt" steering box works out for you and also where you got it. I think that would be some good information.
Nyles

[p38fighter]

I used Lares Corporation. I have used them in the past. It was $600 for a rebuild of my box. The box is fully lubricated and centered when received back. They didn't have any cores. It cost $180 round trip shipping because of size and weight.

[JohnG]

last year guys on this forum told me to go with Rock Auto. So I sent them a core and got a rebuilt back, while still driving the car.

I am also overhauling the shift linkage, which brings new meaning to the word sloppy. This will probably be more of a challenge then the steering box, based on reading previous threads.

John

[Frango100]

90W (same as your rear differential). Buy a name-brand oil.

Are you sure about this Dave? The recommended B8A-19578-A seems to be a long life grease. Many seem to use wheel bearing grease instead. I had looked into this a year ago or so and filled the steering box with a multi purpose grease.
Motorcraft Premium Long Life Grease part no XG-1-C seems to be a good alternative as well.

[simplyconnected]

Are you sure about this Dave? The recommended B8A-19578-A seems to be a long life grease. Many seem to use wheel bearing grease instead. I had looked into this a year ago or so and filled the steering box with a multi purpose grease.
Motorcraft Premium Long Life Grease part no XG-1-C seems to be a good alternative as well.

Frango100, you're right. Ford and GM steering boxes use different lube. Ford recommends Ford gear lube, C3AZ-19578-A, but a high-quality non-fibrous disc-brake bearing grease works just fine.

There are 27 recirculating balls that refuse to assemble unless this 'chassis lube' is used. Don't ask me why GM has no problem with their balls in 90W, but apparently Ford seals allow it to leak. I'm not happy with that because grease tends to cake in corners, offering no lubrication to the moving parts.

Personally, if I had to put grease in a steering box I would also add some heavy oil just to promote flow. - Dave