manual steering lube

[tubewatts]

hey, whats the proper lubricant to put in my 67's manual steering box

[heep70]

Isn't it just bearing grease?

[NM5K]

I've been wondering the same thing, as the gear on my 74
looks like it's been leaking, and I wouldn't be surprised if it
needed oil...I'm not even sure where to put it in...I see a
plug of sorts on top...Maybe thats it...I've never had to mess
with a steering gear before....Ever...Well, except just to adjust
one...MK

[tubewatts]

yeah, theres a 1/2" plug on top with a little pressure release button on it.......I put gear oil in mine, but then afterwards I thought maybe I should check and see if theres something more "proper".....its now leaking, so that made me wonder twice if I did the right thing or not.....I'm thinking about trying to tighten the bolts associated with the pitman arm and bearings to see if I can tighten up the seal....also a good/bad idea??

[FORDification]

The '67 Maintenance and Lubrication manual states that the steering box on 4x4s uses 90wt, but doesn't specify (or even mention) what to use on 2WD trucks' steering box. The '67 Service Specification book simply lists a Lubricant Part Number for the 2WDs (C3AZ-19578-A).

If you're going to try to do some adjustments, use the following specs:

- Worm Bearing Preload (Required to rotate input shaft and worm assembly past the center high point) - 4-5 in./lb.
- Total Preload (Total required to rotate input shaft at approximately 1-1/2 turns either side of center, with gear out of vehicle or Pitman arm disconnected) - 9-10 in./lb.

[tubewatts]

thanks, Keith....I guess gear oil wasnt that far off the mark, being 85W...so now I have a leaky box to deal with....ah well, I'll add it to the list......

[NM5K]

Hummmmmm....I checked my box on the 74 today...
I was expecting an oil, but it looked like front end type
lube. Real thick...About the same color as the dark grey/
black lithium grease you use in the guns...This was in a
f-100, 2wd....I wonder if maybe the 90 wt is for the 4wd
only? Mine has grease/oil all along the outside case.. I tried
to compare with engine grease patterns, but it seems to be
from the box, as other stuff in that area does not have the
grease...I have to wonder how that thick stuff I saw could
even leak at any great rate....I considered maybe the oil
had gummed up and got thick, but it looks like normal thick
grease...If yours was supposed to have the same thick stuff,
it could explain why it would start leaking more with the 90 wt..
I've been trying to find out where my rumble/noise in my
steering column is coming from...It's like it's got a flaky bearing, or
u joint...I can see no sign that my cab mounts have sunk in...
They seem to be intact...But I've got a rubbing/rumble type of
noise...Seems to originate in the lower column area...
MK

[NM5K]

Isn't it just bearing grease? Hmmm

In fact, thats about what it looked like in mine..."74 F-100"
Either that or about the same stuff as front end lube..
Was dark grey/black color...
MK

[NM5K]

Was checking for steering lube info, and ran across this site...
Seems to have some pretty good info...He states that use of 90 wgt
in a box designed for chassis grease, will leak bad...I bet thats the case
with you being it didn't do it bad before...Also seems to probably verify that the thick lube looking stuff in mine, is probably normal, and not just dried up oil crud...
http://www.brooks-planck.org/DatsunDiar ... boxes.html
So you might wanna consider going to grease, instead of 90 wgt..
The stuff in mine did look just like chassis grease. Makes me curious
whats in the one in my 68....
MK

[tubewatts]

Yep....after letting all the gear oil leak out (lets call it a "cleaning"), I put in lithuim bearing grease with my grease gun and now it steers like a champ and doesnt leak a bit.....I think thats the ticket