steering gear box
10-01-2006, 03:48 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
steering gear box
What fluid do you put in the manual steering gear box The same as the tyranny and read end 80-90 or 90-185 etc. Thank You guys you are great
10-01-2006, 04:22 PM
#2
Race Director
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2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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10-01-2006, 04:35 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
Every steering box on a C1 or C2 leak if you use just gear oil (ask me how I know). I have found that mixing the gear oil with grease so that it is just flowable works about the best. Some guys use grease only, but it tends to get stiff in cold weather. 
10-01-2006, 06:02 PM
#5
Race Director
Originally Posted by vettepoor
Every steering box on a C1 or C2 leak if you use just gear oil (ask me how I know). I have found that mixing the gear oil with grease so that it is just flowable works about the best. Some guys use grease only, but it tends to get stiff in cold weather.
10-01-2006, 06:40 PM
#6
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Originally Posted by vettepoor
Every steering box on a C1 or C2 leak if you use just gear oil (ask me how I know). I have found that mixing the gear oil with grease so that it is just flowable works about the best. Some guys use grease only, but it tends to get stiff in cold weather.
By the way, does anyone possess a copy the Chev service letter from 1957 that said to use grease rather than oil in the steering box? I would sure love to have a copy.
10-01-2006, 06:59 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
Changed my gearbox to chassis lube this spring. It slowed down the leak to more of a seepage. After a summer of driving it is a mess again. I met Gary Ramadei at Carlisle and am going to send my gearbox to him for a rebuild in November.
Roy
Roy
10-01-2006, 07:27 PM
#8
Race Director
Originally Posted by 67-427ci
Changed my gearbox to chassis lube this spring. It slowed down the leak to more of a seepage. After a summer of driving it is a mess again. I met Gary Ramadei at Carlisle and am going to send my gearbox to him for a rebuild in November.
Roy
Roy
10-01-2006, 07:46 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by GCD1962
If it's just a leak why do you need a rebuild? Can you tell where the leak is comin from? It's possible what you see is just the remaining oil seeping out. You can buy a gasket and try that before going the expensive route of a rebuild.
Roy
10-01-2006, 07:52 PM
#10
Race Director
Originally Posted by 67-427ci
The gearbox is one thing in the steering I have not gone over. To me it is worth a few $$$ to have peace of mind that the steering box is setup & functioning properly.
Roy
Roy
10-01-2006, 08:01 PM
#11
Originally Posted by piper
What fluid do you put in the manual steering gear box The same as the tyranny and read end 80-90 or 90-185 etc. Thank You guys you are great
10-01-2006, 08:07 PM
#12
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by GCD1962
If it feels ok and turns easily it probably doesn't need a rebuild. I though the same on my '62 and changed all the guts myself this winter. What I took out was still in spec and should no wear. My hard steering was due to a bad third arm bearing. Have some one look at it before you spend a lot of moeny, I'm sure the person you mentioned will charge about $600-700 or more for labor and new parts.
Roy
10-01-2006, 08:26 PM
#14
Race Director
Originally Posted by piper
I was told that chassis lube just make a path in the box and really does not get you any lubricant
10-01-2006, 08:38 PM
#15
Tech Contributor
Hi Guys,
Use grease.
These boxes, 63-82, are pretty much the same, the worm inputs are different between the 63-E69's and the L69's-82's - but they all use grease. I use Mobil 1 synthetic in my boxes. Keep in mind too these are not vented boxes and the seals will break down over time due to the proximity to the exhaust, especailly BB cars with headers. This leads to leaks. The early cars were spec'd out for gear oil but it quickly leaked out.
Since the point was made about rebuilding vs greasing I'd like to point out some things about these boxes.
First, without opening the box you have no idea just what is in there and how much. When I build them I leave room for expansion of the grease. I've opened up boxes with original grease,gear oil, still others were exchange rebuilt boxes with little miles on them that were overfull and not rebuilt. Following the procedure of trying to fill the box through 1 of 3 cover screw holes is just too inaccurate- at least for me. Plus why mix new grease with some of the junk that may be in there?
The second thing I see is these boxes, like C2 &C3 disc brake systems, get a bad rap. There are R&P conversions and Jeep boxes that are popular now but a properly setup stock box preforms extremely well. I guess I'm known these days for the boxes I "blueprint". These boxes are set to tight spec's that cut down on the typical loose spec's they had from day one and only got worse over time from improper adjustment procedures. Once these areas are addressed and setup, the boxes work great. It doesn't matter if the car has PS on manual steering- box on center feel is dead on- no lost motion in the wheel.
Roy, I'll be glad to help you out anytime you need, just let me know.
GCD-
The most one of my jobs ran was about $550 and that was a blueprinted custom built box with new gears. Most average abotu $275,less shipping.Charging $600 or more would have been just wrong, I'm a hobbiest myself and do what I can to help out fellow corvette owners. I look to re-use the original gears as long as I can still set them up. Every job I do I'm always in contact the owner. They make the decision on all repair work and know the cost up front.
With respect, I do not work on the C1 cloumn/boxes. They certainly can run more for parts and setup is similar but the 63-82 boxes are a better unit.
This is not meant as any type of flame or insult, I just want to clearify some questions on this very common subject.
This post my help explain some of this.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1345411
Thanks
Gary
Use grease.
These boxes, 63-82, are pretty much the same, the worm inputs are different between the 63-E69's and the L69's-82's - but they all use grease. I use Mobil 1 synthetic in my boxes. Keep in mind too these are not vented boxes and the seals will break down over time due to the proximity to the exhaust, especailly BB cars with headers. This leads to leaks. The early cars were spec'd out for gear oil but it quickly leaked out.
Since the point was made about rebuilding vs greasing I'd like to point out some things about these boxes.
First, without opening the box you have no idea just what is in there and how much. When I build them I leave room for expansion of the grease. I've opened up boxes with original grease,gear oil, still others were exchange rebuilt boxes with little miles on them that were overfull and not rebuilt. Following the procedure of trying to fill the box through 1 of 3 cover screw holes is just too inaccurate- at least for me. Plus why mix new grease with some of the junk that may be in there?
The second thing I see is these boxes, like C2 &C3 disc brake systems, get a bad rap. There are R&P conversions and Jeep boxes that are popular now but a properly setup stock box preforms extremely well. I guess I'm known these days for the boxes I "blueprint". These boxes are set to tight spec's that cut down on the typical loose spec's they had from day one and only got worse over time from improper adjustment procedures. Once these areas are addressed and setup, the boxes work great. It doesn't matter if the car has PS on manual steering- box on center feel is dead on- no lost motion in the wheel.
Roy, I'll be glad to help you out anytime you need, just let me know.
GCD-
The most one of my jobs ran was about $550 and that was a blueprinted custom built box with new gears. Most average abotu $275,less shipping.Charging $600 or more would have been just wrong, I'm a hobbiest myself and do what I can to help out fellow corvette owners. I look to re-use the original gears as long as I can still set them up. Every job I do I'm always in contact the owner. They make the decision on all repair work and know the cost up front.
With respect, I do not work on the C1 cloumn/boxes. They certainly can run more for parts and setup is similar but the 63-82 boxes are a better unit.
This is not meant as any type of flame or insult, I just want to clearify some questions on this very common subject.
This post my help explain some of this.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1345411
Thanks
Gary
Last edited by gtr1999; 10-01-2006 at 08:48 PM.
10-01-2006, 08:56 PM
#16
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Hi Gary, I filled my box up with 185 gear oil . Should i try and get it out and put chassis grease in it or wait for it to leak out. Do you put grease in the ones you rebuild? Thank You
10-01-2006, 09:05 PM
#18
Race Director
No problem Gary - I was refering to a C-1. The parts for these are over $400 and the one place I contacted wanted nearly $700+ and they wouldn't use my parts (even though it would be the same stuff they would use). It's nice to know the C-2 etc are less expensive. I wound up doing my own. It was not that difficult. I put the grease in mine before I put it back in the car so I knew how much is in there
10-01-2006, 09:22 PM
#19
Tech Contributor
Originally Posted by GCD1962
No problem Gary - I was refering to a C-1. The parts for these are over $400 and the one place I contacted wanted nearly $700+ and they wouldn't use my parts (even though it would be the same stuff they would use). It's nice to know the C-2 etc are less expensive. I wound up doing my own. It was not that difficult. I put the grease in mine before I put it back in the car so I knew how much is in there
The one thing that always bothered me about the c1 steering design was the lack of safety concerns. I know it is a 50 year old design but ever since I was a kid the C1 boxes were in my mind when discussing a c1. A friend of my older brothers died in a C1 many years ago after hitting a fire hydrant and doing little damage to the car. The impact drove the cloumn and flat steering wheel into his chest killing him. To look at the car you would never have thought anyone was hurt, let alone killed. Sorry not trying to be morbid here again just pointing out the car design. I do like the C1's.
Yes I use grease, Mobil 1 synthetic.
10-01-2006, 09:39 PM
#20
Race Director
Sounds like a freak accident. Everything is well protected and bolted in many places. Hard to see how just the column came up away from the frame to do the injury? The frame too is an old design, but similar to a early 50s chev truck so its pretty strong. I have a 40 chev coupe and the frame on that is not as beefy as the one on the C-1.