Daves1940Buick56S Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 All:What is the proper lube for the steering box? The shop manual says "grease" but what kind is best? Or is it really 90 weight oil?Thanks, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Magrath Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 This has come up a couple of times on the forum in the past. Penrite make steering box lube that comes in a grease gun cartridge. We've used BP Semi Fluid Grease with success as well. I've found oil goes straight out the pitman shaft seal.CheersGrant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted August 12, 2012 Author Share Posted August 12, 2012 The 90 weight oil just dripping out is what I figured would happen. I will look for the ones you mentioned. Thanks Grant!BTW, what is the "proper" oil to use in the rear end and tranny? I notice the manual spec's 90 Hypoid for the rear. Is the current 75W-90 that I see a suitable sub? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Magrath Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 I believe so Dave. But don't use hypoid in the gearbox.CheersGrant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLYER15015 Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Dave,According to my research on the Ford and Chevy forums, many folks recommend "knuckle pudding" for the steering sector box.It is a mixture of 90 wt gear lube and moly bearing chassis grease, mixed to the consistency of STP at room temp.I made up a batch about a year ago for my '40 Buick, and it has performed quite well.Still have a peanut butter jar of the stuff, and I used a paint mixing blade in an electric drill to do the mixing.Just my $ .02Mike in Colorado 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted August 13, 2012 Author Share Posted August 13, 2012 Thanks Mike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sivad39 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) All:What is the proper lube for the steering box? The shop manual says "grease" but what kind is best? Or is it really 90 weight oil?Thanks, DaveDave,I encountered the same problem when I filled my 1939 steering box with 90 weight oil recently--it began leaking out. I did some e-mailing around and found that the proper lubricant is more like grease. One product, recommended by a GM mechanic friend, is called Lubriplate 105 that is sold by NAPA. He said it is used in assembling engines and has the consistency of hand lotion. Another source (the Buick Advisor of the Buick Club for 39s), said that he got a product from a local Buick dealer 10 years ago. I was unable to get it from a local Buick dealer, so I'm going to try the Lubriplate product. By the way, the Lubriplate comes in 8-10 tubes and filling the steering box may require more than one tube. Edited August 19, 2012 by sivad39 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Magrath Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 This is what you need.STEERING BOX LUBRICANT - Penrite OilNot expensive either. I can get some for you from a supplier here in Christchurch and send it to you if necessary.CheersGrant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sivad39 Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Dave,Just so you know, I haven't tried this product (Lubriplate 105) yet, because I have to figure out how to get the 90 weight oil out of the steering box first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted August 19, 2012 Author Share Posted August 19, 2012 Thanks to all!! I ordered the Penrite stuff from Restoration in Escondido, should be here this week. Now I have another issue that I will warrant a new thread.Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Sivad39, Just wait awhile and it will drain all by itself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RonJar Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 On a 1938 Century, once the pitman arm is off the pitman shaft, can the old seal be removed and a new one installed with the steering gear in the car? Whatever is in the gear now, looks like grease, just runs out around the pitman shaft.RonJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Magrath Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Short answer is yes, but the seal may be worn because of excessive wear in the pitman shaft bushing. You could be back to square one again without installing new bushings.CheersGrant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v12lincoln Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Vintage Ford has a 600wt oil that they sell for their steering boxes,trans and diffs for the model Ts and As. do a search for Sacramento Vintage ford and you will find it. Just in case you dont find it anywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted September 8, 2012 Author Share Posted September 8, 2012 So the Penrite showed up and I dumped it in. Took almost a whole bottle so the box was bone dry. I thought for sure one of the springs in the drag link was busted so I set to taking it apart. First, I had to use a chisel to scrape of a few decades of garm to even see the metal end of the link. After about 30 minutes of this it was finally reasonably clean. I had bought a set of Sears drag link sockets and they work great, had no problem getting the plug out. Lo and behold, the springs were fine. So while I had the Pitman disconnected I went ahead and did a steering box adjust (all 3 adjustments) and checked the wheel pull and it was exactly 2.5 lbs of force across the center as per spec. I put it all back together and adjusted the drag link as per procedure. Result is I probably reduced the steering slop by about 50%. So I drove it and I am still getting some wander where I am "chasing" the car direction with the steering. Next thing is to get the alignment checked.Cheers, Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Magrath Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Nice work Dave!CheersGrant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sivad39 Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Thanks to all!! I ordered the Penrite stuff from Restoration in Escondido, should be here this week. Now I have another issue that I will warrant a new thread.DaveDave,Can you give me a number for Restoration in Escondido?Ken (sivad39) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted January 29, 2013 Author Share Posted January 29, 2013 Ken:Restoration Supply Companyand their number is 800.306.7008Cheers, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gmorse Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Good morning. I also have had the leaking steering gear oil problem. Not from the shaft seal, but actually from the plate that is on the bottom of the box. 90 weight gear oil goes thru in a few days. I also am trying Penrite steering box lube. I think it said that is equal to a 1200 weight oil. Having no easy way to drain all the previous lube, I am just adding a little more Penrite every few days as needed. We will see how it works.Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Magrath Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Might be time to change out that gasket Gary!CheersGrant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarageStudios Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 (edited) Thanks for all the tips in this thread.. I too tried to research this heavily.. my 1937 steering box with a pitman arm, has a loose copper seal.. just a small gear like operation so I dont think fluid is used...and when restoring this section, the grease (history if it was ever changed etc not known) looked like grey peanut butter with mica in it.. and now ready to refill her but with..???.... appreciate all the pointers.. Edited December 12, 2020 by CDN224 General edit, spelling (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 (edited) 37.... Pontiac? I am using the Penrite steering box lube in my 36. What's needed is a semi-fluid grease. Plain grease gets wiped off and wont flow back to lubricate the gears. Oil runs out on the ground because there is no seal. I don't know what you mean by a copper seal. If the bushing on your pittman shaft is loose you will need to fix that. If I remember correctly, the shop manual has a description of the properties of the thick fluid originally used, unfortunately the description isn't a lot of help in 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20181019165454/http://www.earlytimeschapter.org:80/steeringgearserv.html Edited December 12, 2020 by Bloo (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarageStudios Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 7 hours ago, Bloo said: 37.... Pontiac? I am using the Penrite steering box lube in my 36. What's needed is a semi-fluid grease. Plain grease gets wiped off and wont flow back to lubricate the gears. Oil runs out on the ground because there is no seal. I don't know what you mean by a copper seal. If the bushing on your pittman shaft is loose you will need to fix that. If I remember correctly, the shop manual has a description of the properties of the thick fluid originally used, unfortunately the description isn't a lot of help in 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20181019165454/http://www.earlytimeschapter.org:80/steeringgearserv.html Sorry, yes its s small copper ring for the pitman, pitman shaft is solid, I was just worried about the rubber seal and leaking but almost all my research (like you said) is a thick fluid type grease that flows but doesnt leak.. (new to all this, Im an IT guy) I have the original manuals etc, shop and parts book... appreciate the feedback, and Penrite was on my list... like 800/900 or even 1200 weight "semi-fluid grease"... Cornhead Grease, poly urea based NLGI 0EP grease... ill look back to the manual and post my results, not to keep on this topic :) but very appreciative 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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