C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

[Stuart F.]

The Service Manual lists a service interval of 30k miles for adding lubricant to a manual steering box on a C-2. It doesn't, however, give any specs as to what lubricant should be used other than "Steering Box Lubricant". I recently saw a tool (?) listed in one of the Corvette Parts Catalogs to be used to add lubricant. Basically, it is a bolt that is drilled thru and has a zerk fitting on it. The idea being, in tune with the CSM instruction, you remove one of three bolts on the cover, thread in this drilled bolt, remove a second bolt and apply lube with a grease gun until it comes out of the second bolt hole. Yes, which bolts you remove are specified, but that's not my question. As I recall, the last time I added "Steering Box Lubricant", it came in a squeeze tube. To me, lubricant in a tube is likely to be more of thick liquid whereas that in a grease gun would be, well, grease. Therein lies my concern. I haven't been to the auto parts store yet to see what they have, but I have bought the "Tool" and would like to use it. I believe my box seeps some lubricant so I am interested in using a heavier lube if it is really practical. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Stu Fox

[Joe L.]

Re: C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

The Service Manual lists a service interval of 30k miles for adding lubricant to a manual steering box on a C-2. It doesn't, however, give any specs as to what lubricant should be used other than "Steering Box Lubricant". I recently saw a tool (?) listed in one of the Corvette Parts Catalogs to be used to add lubricant. Basically, it is a bolt that is drilled thru and has a zerk fitting on it. The idea being, in tune with the CSM instruction, you remove one of three bolts on the cover, thread in this drilled bolt, remove a second bolt and apply lube with a grease gun until it comes out of the second bolt hole. Yes, which bolts you remove are specified, but that's not my question. As I recall, the last time I added "Steering Box Lubricant", it came in a squeeze tube. To me, lubricant in a tube is likely to be more of thick liquid whereas that in a grease gun would be, well, grease. Therein lies my concern. I haven't been to the auto parts store yet to see what they have, but I have bought the "Tool" and would like to use it. I believe my box seeps some lubricant so I am interested in using a heavier lube if it is really practical. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Stu Fox

Stu-----


If you used grease in a "squeeze tube" you used the wrong grease for a Corvette. What you likely used was GM #1052182 or its equivalent. This is the lubricant used for most GM manual steering boxes EXCEPT Corvette. The Corvette steering gear lubricant was originally GM #1052084. This is a 140 wt viscosity grease. It was discontinued many years ago and replaced by GM #12377985 which can also be used for most other chassis grease applications. This is the one I recommend you use.

[Clem Z.]

Re: C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

Stu-----


If you used grease in a "squeeze tube" you used the wrong grease for a Corvette. What you likely used was GM #1052182 or its equivalent. This is the lubricant used for most GM manual steering boxes EXCEPT Corvette. The Corvette steering gear lubricant was originally GM #1052084. This is a 140 wt viscosity grease. It was discontinued many years ago and replaced by GM #12377985 which can also be used for most other chassis grease applications. This is the one I recommend you use.

the thinner stuff got heated up by the exhaust manifolds and you had leaks and even ran up the steering column and dripped into the drivers lap when you were racing the corvette. not fun !!!

[Stuart F.]

Re: C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

Joe;

Thanks for setting me straight. Being an item you only do every 30k miles on a low useage car--------. Well, you explained why I may be seeing some seepage. Hope I haven't damaged anything.

The grease p/no. you quoted, is that available from my local Chevy dealer and/or an auto parts store?

Sorry to bother you on this. I must sound kinda stupid.

Stu

[Larry M.]

Re: C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

Stu:

I have used both the GM #12377985 grease Joe recommended as well as the adapter fitting you mentioned. Everything worked out very well: both adding the grease and the improved steering feel from the lube. Give it a try. The lube is still available from Chevrolet.

I purchased the adapter/fitting from Paragon, but I'm sure other places sell it as well.

By the way, I located a good used original #236 vacuum advance unit for you. If you still need one, let me know or send me a PM.

Larry

[David H.]

Re: C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

That's interesting . . .I bought the cirque fitting and the squeeze tube and understood the statement "no returns" on the cirque fitting - didn't need it with the squeeze tube. But I have noticed a drip coming down the pitman arm . . . Thanks Joe, I'll switch out to your recommendation!
Dave

[Jim D.]

Re: C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

Is there any way to remove fluid that is in box, I think the guy I bought the car from put p/s fluid in there, I would like to be sure it has the right lube as it has just been rebuilt.

[Larry M.]

Re: C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

Is there any way to remove fluid that is in box, I think the guy I bought the car from put p/s fluid in there, I would like to be sure it has the right lube as it has just been rebuilt.

Jim:

The only way I know is to remove the box and drain it. Then refill with the GM lube that Joe Lucia recommended.

Larry

[Jim D.]

Re: C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

Jim:

The only way I know is to remove the box and drain it. Then refill with the GM lube that Joe Lucia recommended.

Larry

Thanks larry, that's just my luck, but what the heck I am re-doing most of the others guys work anyway so what's a little more to make right.

[Jim S.]

Re: C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

The Saginaw manual steering engineers always told me to use a good grade of lithium based chassis grease in the manual gears (GM 12377985.)

You do not want to overfill the gear. You want some air space inside the gear to allow the grease to expand with underhood temperatures. Overfilling can result in the wormshaft (input shaft) and/or the pitman shaft seals blowing out as things heat up.

Despite what the shop manual says, filling the gear through one bolt hole in the cover until grease starts to purge out of the second bolt hole is not the best idea. You will end up with very little air space inside the gear.

Use a cheap turkey baster from the dollar store to add grease to the gear. Stop when you can just see the grease through the other bolt hole.

Jim

[Duke W.]

Re: C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

The C-2 steering gear lubrication recommendation seems to be a holdover from the C1 era where SAE 90 gear oil was the recommended lubricant.

In a nutshell, the C2 recirculating ball steering gear, if set up properly is "lubed for life" with a high quality general purpose NGLI #2 grease.

Periodic inspection should be made for leaks - not just an oily film, but solid grease. If solid grease leakage is evident, the leaking seal should be replaced or the steering gear should be removed for overhaul.

As long as there is no evidence of significant leakage there is no periodic need to "inject" any lubricant into the steering gear.

Since the GM "special grease" is not longer available, I recommend a full synthetic base NGLI #2 grease for overhauls and the housing should be packed to near full before the side cover is bolted on and the total preload is set.

Duke

[Jim S.]

Re: C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

Chassis lube grease (GM #12377985) is still available at GM dealers.

That isn't to say that more modern synthetic greases may do as good or better.
Jim

[Duke W.]

Re: C-2 Manual Steering Box Lubrication

I was referring to the 1052084. The 12377985 is pretty much a generic general purpose chassis grease.

This is one of the few Corvette fluid applications where I recommend a "synthetic". Because of the steering gear's proximity to the exhaust manifold a grease with a synthetic oil base will be more stable over decades and many tens of thousands of miles.

Duke