1960 Steering Box

[Joe M.]

I went to a lot of trouble six months ago to remove the 90W gear oil and install grease to try and stop the leaking problem that most have. I degreased the frame on the drivers side where 50 years of 90W oil had built up; including inside the frame rail.

During the cool months, no leaks. May 9th I drove it and got stuck in one lane stop and go traffic and the temp gauge stayed maxed out for at least 25 minutes. There was no place to pull over.

I noticed last night that the steering box is leaking as bad as it was with 90W oil in it.

Is it possible that the high engine heat degraded the viscosity of the grease to the consistency of 90W? I doubt if I used high temp gear grease.

[Russ S.]

Re: 1960 Steering Box

I would surmise that the high engine temp warmed up the grease enough to allow it to flow to the bottom of the sector where the seal is and then leak out. Had you replaced the lower seal and if so was there a wear groove in the shaft?

[Joe M.]

Re: 1960 Steering Box

After starting the thread, I checked my grease gun to see what color grease I had injected into the steering box; it is gray. The liquid coming out of the steering box is yellowish-brown; same color as the 90W oil. I knew that I could not remove all of the 90W from the box and the residual appears to be what is leaking out, not the grease.

Since I did not remove the steering box from the car, I did not replace any seals. My mechanic quoted me a price of $3,000 to remove the steering column and rebuild steering gear box. I passed on that. My steering is still tight, box just leaks.

[Russ S.]

Re: 1960 Steering Box

After starting the thread, I checked my grease gun to see what color grease I had injected into the steering box; it is gray. The liquid coming out of the steering box is yellowish-brown; same color as the 90W oil. I knew that I could not remove all of the 90W from the box and the residual appears to be what is leaking out, not the grease.

Since I did not remove the steering box from the car, I did not replace any seals. My mechanic quoted me a price of $3,000 to remove the steering column and rebuild steering gear box. I passed on that. My steering is still tight, box just leaks.

I am not so sure these boxes can be removed without pulling the body. Any one know differently?

[Jim D.]

Re: 1960 Steering Box

I am not so sure these boxes can be removed without pulling the body. Any one know differently?

Remove the exhaust manifold and they can be removed without too much hassle.

[Joe M.]

Re: 1960 Steering Box

I believe my mechanic told me that the radiator had to come out. He has only removed one steering box/steering column.

[Russ S.]

Re: 1960 Steering Box

Remove the exhaust manifold and they can be removed without too much hassle.

Jim, Doesn't the entire column need to be removed with the box?

[Joe M.]

Re: 1960 Steering Box

The steering gear box comes out with the column.

[Jim D.]

Re: 1960 Steering Box

Jim, Doesn't the entire column need to be removed with the box?

Yes. The steering wheel and turn signal hub have to be removed in order to slide it out. The rad. doesn't need to be removed but possibly the upper fan shroud will need to be. It's been 30 years since I did it so my memory is a little foggy but it wasn't a really big deal. Rebuild kits are now available for about $400 and they contain everything including a new steering shaft and upper bearing.

[Donald H.]

Re: 1960 Steering Box

Joe,

$3,000 to do the steering gear is way high. I took mine out (gear box/steering column) with the body on the frame and engine in. I removed the exhaust manifold and maybe the fan shroud. Comes out pretty easy.

I rebuild mine with the kit that Jim mentioned above. There are some instructions in the ST-12 as I recall. I'm out of town, so I can't look it up. But I also have an excellent set of written instructions from Tom Parsons that I can send if you are interested.

I also found a set of YouTube instructions. The box is very easy to rebuild if you get to that point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx4yugVBf90

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkZ5C7LRfd8&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YTTNY6rlmM

[Terry D.]

Re: 1960 Steering Box

Joe
You need to find a new mechanic
Terry