What type of fluid do I put in the steering box of my 1970? I read in a magazine that if you have any type of leakage to just fill it up with bearing grease. Do you recommend this? I would assume that you drain the fluid first. What do you think?
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Re: C3 1970 Steering Box
Don-----
You can't drain the "fluid" from a 1963-82 Corvette steering box; the gear lube used is a 140 wt and it's FAR too viscous to drain. The only way to remove it is to disassemble the steering gear box and clean it all out. However, it does not have to be removed prior to adding lubricant, if that is necessary.
The gear lube originally used for 1963-82 Corvette steering boxes was a special lubricant of GM #1052084. This lubricant was discontinued several years ago and is replaced by lubricant GM #12377985. These lubricants are compatible and the 12377985 can be used to "top off" a steering box previously filled with the 1052084. Other lubricants MAY be compatible with the 1052084, too, but I KNOW that the 12377985 is, so that's what I'd use if I were you. I haven't had to use the 12377985 for the steering box application since I have a "lfetime+" supply of the 1052084 [none for sale]. However, I would have no reservations, whatsoever, about using it for the steering box. In fact, it may be a better lubricant.
I DO use the 12377985 for most other chassis lube applications.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: C3 1970 Steering Box
Just rebuilt my 68 box and it had grease not fluid so draining is out.
Like Joe stated, I had to gut it and scrape the grease out.
My box took an entire grease gun tube of 12377985 to re-pack it.
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