Varmintmist

I am just about to dive in and do a rebuild on my steering gear box. There is play so my guess is that it has never been adjusted or messed with in 55 years so I figure F-it, if I am going to do it might as well do it.
I still want to pick up some brass punches but am pretty set for tools needed.
So IAW the interwebs..........
I should use 80-140
lithium grease
JD corn grease
high temp grease
a mixture of any or all of them blended in a pot over an open fire while dancing naked around it juggling chipmunks clockwise and adding 3 drops of unicorn sperm. WTF

I have on hand, 1 tube lithium, 2 tubes lith blend, 1 qt 75w-140.

Rescue Rogers

read the Jim Shea papers
https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...CKLv8lCd8_41F6

Varmintmist

Downloaded that and it says to use the discontinued GM part #, followed that to here https://www.midweststeering.com/sagi...-which-to-use/ and looks like lithium grease

Rescue Rogers

I bought a cheap solution to get the gease in there. It was a bolt that was drilled out and had a zirq fitting in it. Just srewed it in and pumped it up....worked fine.

blue427

I use no#630-AA Lubriplate,it's lithiumgrease.I brought it from Global Power U.S.A.,240 Glenhead Rd.,unit 16.Glen head N.Y. 11745.That was a few years ago so don't know if they're still in business.Seems to work well and doesn't leak.I have a b.b. with super comp headers(s.s.) so it gets plenty hot in the engine compartment.

4-vettes

You want a good drip free synthetic high pressure grease. If there's any liquid on the top of the tub when you open it. That's not the stuff you want.

J.Abbott

When the GM grease went discontinued we started using a Driven EPC and it was one of the closest we tested to the GM grease.

Varmintmist

Well, that sucked. Apparently a PO decided to cot the frame and anything else with under coat. Anything else included the rust on the bolts. It was nice and dry because the undercoat didnt let anything penetrate..... It also kept the threads full of undercoat.
I am thinking about dropping it in a bucket of #2 home heating fuel.
Rag joint is coated in this stuff to.

MelWff

Read this link and PM Gary with any questions. He does these boxes all day long.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...x-rebuild.html

7T1vette

Anyone who puts anything but synthetic grease in an OEM C3 steering box is not doing themselves justice. IMO Does a MUCH better job with sliding friction; lasts a lot longer; never turns to WAX; won't melt due to being near the header.

nwav8tor

Here's what Gary (GTR1999) used in my steering box when he rebuilt it. Enuf said...


...and what it looked like

Varmintmist

Well, I have seen worse on the interwebs. Still slick, whatever the hell it is.

GTR1999

The sector is acid etched. I bet the worm radius is bad as well. What do you have for a preload? It should be smooth and steady. Polishing the sector and using common kit bushings is going to be loose, unless you are machining your own bushings?

Varmintmist

So its likely original goo.... and I am pretty much f'ed doing a home rebuild? I dont have the ability to chuck up anything or make bushings. Way outside my pay grade.

Rescue Rogers

You could clean it up and rebuild it to see how bad it is. It may function fine. If not make an appointment with Gary or just do it now

pspicci

I would contact Gary and make arrangements to send it to him. he did mine last year and my steering is the best it's ever been.
Pat

Varmintmist

Well, some life got in the way and the Black Ops Fund went into door headers.......

Its degreased and I do not see gouging. Plan is to put it back with the kit and roll with it. If I had just readjusted the box, probably would have been fine and out of sight out of mind.
Worst case it works the same and I make an appt. Best case it is great. Likely is it will be good for how I drive it.

7T1vette

When you pack in the grease, leave about 1/4" air space for heat expansion of the grease (after sector has been inserted).

Varmintmist

Found some Lucas, Just an FYI, John Deere has something that specs out the same. JD polyurea SD grease.

Apparently the reason that the polyurea grease is hard to find is that it was made in a single factory that had a fire. Apparently JD has a new supplier now and the grease is even green so that they can charge more

GTR1999

I was on the phone with Lucas today in fact, the same story, lack of material due to the factory fire. I was told another 6-8 months, maybe longer. I haven't used the JD grease to compare. I still have stock of the Lucas poly.