Steering box - Good advise

[adileo]

A couple weeks back, I filled my steering box with STP. It didn't stay in there long and leaked out. Based on several recommendations on the Barn. I refilled with John Deere corn grease. I am happy to report (about a week and couple drives later) NO leak.

For me corn grease was the way to go. In addition to not leaking, it's much easier to fill box, with the a grease gun.

Again, good advise and wanted to share with anyone who might have same problem.

[A bones]

Glad you are satisfied. I've been meaning to get some. So far the only leak I have is the steering box. The Barn has taught me that grease will do harm in the long run.

[32phil]

I have never had experience with corn grease, but IMHO straight grease is not the way to go in a steering box. If it was, rear axles/transmissions would use grease rather than heavy gear oil. The problem with grease is that it tends to separate from the gears and stick to the non-moving parts rather than the surface of the gears. Once that happens the gears are unprotected. If you must use grease you might want to try some STP mixed with it. It thins the grease some and helps it to stick to the gears rather than the inside of the box. Leaks will be slowed down quite a bit as well.

[Mike51Merc]

I've had a lot of success with straight STP. I'd think that if STP leaks out, perhaps it's time for a new sector shaft seal.

[adileo]

If you've seen the John Deere video on it you'll notice that it turns fluid under heat and stays fairly firm cold by which controls leaks.

[Vic Piano]

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Corn Grease has a low melting point (don't remember the technical term) which allows the lubrication of gears. Unlike conventional grease that will, through centrifugal force, push the grease outward, Corn Grease liquefies and coats all moving parts.

[Scott H in Wheaton]

Watch the video and see why this is the best straight stuff to use in the steering gear box...no other additives or dilution needed.

http://youtu.be/UEwk_sYP6A8

[Bored&Stroked]

Great tip - watched the video . . . should work perfectly in our steering boxes. Ordered three tubes online today.

Thanks!
B&S

[glennpm]

I haven't had my rebuilt 32 on the road yet, but after first using STP, found that it still leaked out slowly over time. I now have the Corn Grease in and after that last of the STP migrated down and out, and this after trying to drain it well over a few days time out of the car. I also have it in my my universal joint, torque tube cavity. I knew I needed to try each of these after the memories of leakage with by forty.

I have found that even with a few rotations of the steering that it liquefies readily.

[adileo]

It's also good for rear springs

[TagMan]

I've used J.D. Corn Head grease in the steering boxes of all my old cars for the last 35-years and don't recall ever having had any leakage from any of them.

[JM 35 Sedan]

John Deere Corn Head Grease and regular chassis lube grease are at the complete opposite ends of the lubrication spectrum, and not even in the same league. I would never use any type of chassis lube grease in a steering box, not even if it was mixed 50/50 with gear oil, STP, or any other type of oil.
I had the exact same results, as adileo reported in post #1, about 4/5 years ago when I first used JDCHG in the ever so leaky steering box in my original low mileage '35 fordor sedan. I had tried every type and weight of gear oil, and mixes of various ratios of these oils with STP, and had to wipe all of the puddles of that crap up from the garage floor, unless I remembered in advance to put a catch pan in place. Yes, the box needed new seals, no doubt, but I was getting ready to take the tour of a life time, and thought since there was not enough time left to take that box out, and install new seals, I would give the JDCHG a try. Sure glad I did!! The next week I left on a 7200 mile, 30 day, cross country trip to South Lake Tahoe for the EFV-8C/A GNM, into California for a bit, and then back home. During that trip the steering was noticeably better/easier, and the leaky gear box problem was history. Never did rebuild that box and install new seals, because it was just plain no longer necessary when I started using Corn Head Grease!!

[1931 flamingo]

Penn Rite Steering box lube=NO leaky.
Paul in CT

[richard crow]

fix the leak.

[Old Henry]

My gear box was leaking and it wasn't any seals. It was the tube in the bottom that the horn wire went through. It was slightly cracked where brazed to the base plate. Re-brazed it and stopped the leak. Didn't have to remove anything but that base plate. Worth checking out. Might be a much easier fix than rebuilding the gearbox to replace all seals.

[Scott H in Wheaton]

Originally Posted by Old Henry

My gear box was leaking and it wasn't any seals. It was the tube in the bottom that the horn wire went through. It was slightly cracked where brazed to the base plate. Re-brazed it and stopped the leak. Didn't have to remove anything but that base plate. Worth checking out. Might be a much easier fix than rebuilding the gearbox to replace all seals.

I had the same thing...Silver Soldered it and hope I nailed it

[corvette8n]

I've got a couple of tubes of corn head grease waiting to use in my 8N steering box, just need spring to come so I can do it.

[bo8109b]

Removing and disassembling gear boxes is interesting and not a big deal. Just did two of them in my '48 Ford and '48 Mercury. Cleaned a lot of gunk out of both. Only needed shaft grease seals and top gaskets. I'm not a mechanic, just somewhat handy.

[BIG MIKE]

I stuffed my steering box with Lucas Red and tacky Grease , soots me fine no problems for the last 7 years

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by BIG MIKE

I stuffed my steering box with Lucas Red and tacky Grease , soots me fine no problems for the last 7 years

There ya go Big Mike, tanks for that tip .

Where have you been hiding? Don't believe I have seen you here in years .