Grease ini steering box and relay or not? Let the debate begin!

[thixon]

I had to crack open my steering box to replace a part. After reassembly, its leaking like there's no tomorrow. Sure, I could buy/make a new gasket, and try to seal it up...or I could fill it with ball joint grease and see what happens. If I try this, I might as well do in the relay as well. Thoughts?

[Andrew IIA]

I'm using swivel grease in the steering box and relay after years of oil quickly leaking out of both.

[mongoswede]

Redline makes a high pressure CV joint grease that remains a grease consistency even when it heats up where a lot of cv joint grease turns to liquid. This might be a good alternative in a steering box. I imagine that a steering box would work for quite a while without any lube...not that I would recommend it.

[txffjim]

I used "knuckle grease" that came from the Willys tech board when I had one. It's 60/40 oil /bearing grease heated up gently & mixed together.
It flows, but oh so slowwwwly.

[crankin]

I imagine that a steering box would work for quite a while without any lube...not that I would recommend it.

I ran mine for 200 miles without lube...with no problems...But, I would NOT recommend it

[yorker]

The one shot swivel grease for coilers would be the way to go IMHO.

[bpj911]

cornhead grease

At your local implement dealer. Works well in leaky knuckles, steering boxes, winch cases, etc.

[Terrys]

Many years ago, I took my relay apart, drilled down through the shaft half way, put in a small hole to intersect that hole, and put a zerk fitting on top of the shaft. When it became obvious that worked out well, I put a zerk fitting into the body of the steering box and pumped it full of grease too. I lost track of that truck a long time ago, but the steering was velvety smooth while I had it.

[daveb]

I second the vote for the Land Rover "one-shot" grease. Others have used with apparently good result. Good luck getting it in the relay though.

[Blueboy]

the Land Rover "one-shot" grease.

yep, have been using it for about 2 years now in the steering box for Blueboy.

Jaime

[ignotus]

oil

Thixon,

I recently had to rebuild/replace my steering box. While doing so I took apart one that was grease filled. It was shot. The middle of the worm gear had deep pits in it. It would catch then you had to overcome the detent effect of the balls in the pits causing it to oversteer.
I feel that unless you have the box packed with grease it would just get pushed off the worm by the balls and not be effective.
I filled mine with oil and sealed it with blue RTV. It finally stopped leaking when I replaced the O-ring on the output shaft.

Just my $.02.

gene

[LaneRover]

Was it filled with Rover one shot swivel grease or regular grease?

[daveb]

wrong kind of grease. the one shot grease is able to flow, and shouldn't cause the problems you describe.

Thixon,


I recently had to rebuild/replace my steering box. While doing so I took apart one that was grease filled. It was shot.
Just my $.02.

gene