Recommendation for steering gear lube?

[Tom P.]

Re: Recommendation for steering gear lube?

Chuck...
Original C1 steering gears were filled with a special steering gear lube, about the consistency of 90-weight gear oil. Due to the steering box location next to the exhaust manifold, a service letter was issued in 1958 for the dealers to use chassis grease ( same grease used for ball joints and tie rod ends)
If you use 90-weight oil, don't add the oil to the box until it is in place, as the oil may run down the steering column shaft.
If you use grease... GM # 12377985 63-82 steering box lube is recommended. Several supplies have sale a grease fitting (Zip is one) that replaces one of the bolts on the side cover. Pump the grease in until it comes out the top fill plug. Do not pump grease into the column...

DENNIS IS 100% ON THE MONEY!!
AND BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, YES, I KNOW MY CAPS LOCK IS ON--------------------INTENTIONALLY!
I HAVE ASKED----------------SEVERAL TIMES------------BOTH HERE AND ON ANOTHER CORVETTE FORUM (yes, there are other sources of Corvette information besides here, believe it or not), FOR WHOEVER HAS A COPY OF THAT SERVICE LETTER TO ATTACH IT.
AT ONE TIME, SOMEONE DID POST THAT SERVICE LETTER AND FOR SOME DUMB REASON I DIDN'T DOWNLOAD IT AND SAVE IT.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, AGAIN, I'M ASKING, IF ANYONE HAS A COPY OF THAT SERVICE LETTER THAT SAYS TO USE CHASSIS GREASE INSTEAD OF GEAR OIL IN THE STEERING BOX, WILL YOU PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE POST IT AGAIN FOR ALL TO SEE?

(This also applies to 49-54 pass car steering boxes. I've had chassis grease in the 56 and the 51 Chevy for 40+yrs and have maybe added grease 1-2 times in each)

Oh ya, I forgot to add, YES, there is a seal in the 53-62 Corvette steering box for the sector shaft!

[Dennis C.]

Re: Recommendation for steering gear lube?

The wording in the ST-12 manual for lubrication, is the same that is in the 1961 passenger car shop manual.

Dennis

[John H.]

Re: Recommendation for steering gear lube?

Use chassis grease - it replaced the 90W "steering gear lubricant" as the field fix for the C1's, and was the factory fill (and shop manual-recommended lubricant) for midyears.

[Del S.]

Re: Recommendation for steering gear lube?

Could u help me with my steering box problem ? I had the steering box rebuilt about 2 years ago at the beginning of restoration and still havent finished the car but now my steering box is leaking out the bottom seal . I used synthetic gear grease . The only movement for the roadster is me rolling it out and in the garage. Do u think its a bad seal or is it the synthetic grease . thanks

[Lawrence M.]

Re: Recommendation for steering gear lube?

Del, I assume you are talking about your 1967. If you used Mobil 1 Synthetic chassis grease it is probably the grease. That stuff leaks red "cherry juice" out of my grease gun after it has sat for a few months without being used. My 1969 would leak gear lube out of the steering box. I sucked out as much as I could with a suction gun and refilled with Red Line Synthetic grease. No more leaking, even after driving from Chicago to Indy to have the car judged at a chapter meet.

Larry

[Del S.]

Re: Recommendation for steering gear lube?

Larry , thanks I will give it a try . Easier than removing the box .

[Lawrence M.]

Re: Recommendation for steering gear lube?

Del, just to be clear, I used Red Line Synthetic CV-2 Grease. Not the Red Line Gear Oil.

Larry