steering box leak advice needed

[Lona]

I have a '31 roadster that sat unused in a garage for 19 yrs. After doing some steering box adjustments, I noticed there was no visible oil in the 2-tooth steering box so I topped it off with about 1/2 pint or so of 90 wt gear oil to the point where it reached the level of the plug hole. After turning the elevated front wheels a few times, the oil level went down and I topped it off again and replaced the plug.

Immediately, oil started leaking from around the bottom radius of the sector shaft on the outboard side of the frame rail between the pitman arm and the frame. It was a fairly steady drip. I let the car sit overnight and in the morning found the drip had stopped but had left about a 1 ft round patch of oil in the drip pan under the car. It was much less than the amount of oil added to the box the previous night. Now, there is only a slight oozing from the same place and appears to be coming from behind what looks to be a cork gasket on the sector shaft between the pitman arm and the outside face of the frame. After driving the car with multiple turns, there is no new leak but there is still oil oozing from that cork gasket. The sector shaft housing where bolted to the steering box is tight with no leaks observed.

Looking at the steering box schematics in both Snyder's and Les Andrew's red books, I see no such cork gasket on the sector shaft, only a brass thrust washer. Is this a homemade cork gasket? What prevents oil from leaking out of the sector shaft if there is no seal? Is the brass thrust washer also supposed to act as an oil seal?

Since the oil level is now at the bottom of the sector shaft, the worm gear and sector teeth are not immersed in the oil and therefore not being lubricated properly. What should I do to stop this leak?

If my sector shaft is worn and needs to be replaced should I replace the sector shaft and housing with the new bearing style instead of the original bushing type? Does the new type have a proper seal?

Any suggestions anyone might have regarding stopping this leak would be greatly appreciated.

Glen

[Mike V. Florida]

Two things come to mind;

This for the bottom leak by the light bail;


This for the sector leak,

[Bob/Kansas City]

90 weight gear oil is too thin. Try the 600 weight oil sold by all the vendors for use in trans, differential and steering box. Or try Penrite steering box lube sold by Restoration Supply in Escondido, CA. - That stuff will stop your leak!

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Bob/Kansas City

90 weight gear oil is too thin. Try the 600 weight oil sold by all the vendors for use in trans, differential and steering box. Or try Penrite steering box lube sold by Restoration Supply in Escondido, CA. - That stuff will stop your leak!

600w is not 600 weight but a type of oil

[msmaron]

Originally Posted by Bob/Kansas City

90 weight gear oil is too thin. Try the 600 weight oil sold by all the vendors for use in trans, differential and steering box. Or try Penrite steering box lube sold by Restoration Supply in Escondido, CA. - That stuff will stop your leak!

Actually most of the restoration houses now sell a 1500w, I use it and it does add nice lubrication.

[1931 flamingo]

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Pennrite steering box lube as Bob stated above. Will NOT leak out, about $15 plus postage from Restoration Supply or Specialties.

Paul in CT

[Lona]

Thanks all for your suggestions. I've ordered Penrite steering box lube from Restoration Supply and they will ship today. If this works, sure beats pulling and rebuilding the box to stop the leak.

Glen

[rscardina]

I use Penrite. It has resolved my steering box leak.

[J Franklin]

The o-ring shown on the previous post goes between the sector housing and frame. I just went to the hardware store for one and did no modification to the housing and it works. The Penrite is a great product.

[SANTA Ray]

I had a small leak and found by putting STP with the 600w it helped. I would suspect sitting that long the gasket had dried out. New lubricant may in time soften the gasket(s) and slow the drip.

[billwill]

I know pople that use s.t.p and they it works good luck