STEERING BOX LUBE

[2old2fast]

What is the best choice for lube/grease for a corvair steering box? I've been using 80/90 gear lube in mine,it doesn't leak out, but it does seep slightly around the cover

 

[putz]

All I have seen is Axle grease they don't really need gear lube they don't spin fast enough to throw the oil to all the places that need and grease sticks to the shafts to lubricate the splines.JMO

 

[blownt]

Don't use lube. It WILL leak out. If not now, it will eventually. Use axle grease.

 

[Screaming Metal]

I was just scrolling down and saw this post, just had to look.... Well, as Putz and BlownT have told you....many of the books say gear lube. Thats probably OK and all, but the seal on the shaft gets crap forced past it by hitting mudholes and waterholes at 60+ mph on backwoods roads and highways on the stock bodies cars. It never made much sense to me.

These cars have the steering box hanging out in the broad open were folks can see it and nothing looks more cruddy than oil seeping past a seal or a drip on one of these things. When I do a steering box, I drill and tap the cover for a 90 degree zerk. I drill and tap a secondary plug hole, that you can pull out a plug at the top to allow air to escape and to tell when its full, that way you don't have to force the grease out past the seal. It being full of grease protects it from water, and when it gets hot, won't run past the new seals.
These things see relatively low speeds and all, grease makes them last longer, pratically its a lube and forget thing with light weight rod like a Bucket....well....within reason.