Steering box lubricant

[49_flat]

I'm in the process of restoring a 49 chevy 3/4 ton flat bed pickup and need some help on finding the proper lubricant to use in the steering box and how much to use?

 

[tech1]

You should use straight 90w. this is what our steering box rebuilder suggests, as for how much I'm not sure.


Jesse Hazell Chevy Duty Tech.

 

[vwnate1]

It is _critical_ to use an _OIL_ in there , NOT a paste lube nor grease ! . it is a recirculating ball typ of box and so needs something that will flow .

If it leaks , you can use 600 W oil or STP etc. , fill it slowly up to the bottom of the filler hole and always wipe away the accumulated road grime before removing the filler plug ! .

Regular EP 90 W gear oil is great .

The sector shaft seal as the same as the manual box seal on all 1/2 ton GM pickups up to the 1970 year model and the GM seal seems to be the very best in quality , better at sealing the leaks in old tired boxes .

I'm sorry I don't have the GM part # handy but it's only $9.00 or so..

-Nate

 

[Bill Hanlon]

GM part number for the seal is 7801626. Last time I looked it was around $14. Federal Mogul (National) part number is 313842. About 1/2 the price at my FLAPS. These are both "rubber" seals, not felt seals like the originals from the 40's & 50's.

 

[49_flat]

THANKS everybody for the help.

 

[Kens53chevypu]

My steering box has grease packed into it. Should I try to remove the grease and refill with 90w oil? How do I remove the grease?

Thanks
Ken

 

[vwnate1]

You _don't_ ~ just fill it with some synthetic 85W hypoid gear oil and that'll thin it out in time .

You'll prolly find they added grease to it because the sector shaft seal is bad and it drips a lot . you can remove the Piman arm and replace the seal or you can simply top it up every month or so with STP , Bardhal or other super thick _oil_ .

-Nate