The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Steering gear

I have a 53 chevy truck and I had the steering box rebuilt and the steering is tighter coming off the center as you go left its smoother then back to right it's smooth until you pass through center then it tighter untill it passes over center then it's smooth going to the rest of the way
Going right. I have not added lubricant to the box yet is that something that will smooth it self out with lube and some use ? Also any suggestion to what kind of lube to use in steering box I was told grease but not sure ?

You should get some grease into the box, John Deere corn head grease is the closest to the original spec for the box. It sounds like the box needs to be adjusted. If you look in the service manual it explains the steps to do it. You will need a pull type fish scale to do it and they can be had at Wal Mart - K Mart type stores. Make sure that you have the box in the center of its travel when you start your adjustments. When the box is on center its at its tightest point.

Ok I'll try that .. What type of grease do I get u mention John deer corn head ?

John Deere Corn Head Grease. Any John Deere dealer should have this in stock.

Hy sal moreno, a properly adjusted steering box will be slightly tighter traveling through the center of its travel (wheels straight ahead position), if it checks out okay with the "fish scale" pull test then leave the adjustment alone, hope that helps.

A trigger pull scale works very nice for this job.

Ok I will put the corn head grease in it .. How much grease should I put in the steering box ?

Fill it to the bottom of the pipe plug hole. Do not pressure feed the self-leveling grease - that could force the grease up the the steering gear tube, right up to the horn button (as warned/described in the Operator's Manual).

I'm not sure what they mean don't pressure fill the gear box . How I'm I suppose to fill it with grease ? Do I just take the pipe plug out and stick a grease gun hose in the hole and just fill with grease until it comes out ?

That sounds good. It will be a thick but self-leveling grease.

Fill it to the plug and then wait a while for the grease to level out. Then, top it up into the plug hole.

I wonder if "knuckle pudding " would work? Over at the Willy groups the guys mix 90 weight oil with grease half and half to put in the universal balls on the front 4wd axles. Say it stays in better, doesn't leak past the seals on the ball.

John

Yep, that should work fine. That is what I did, but I used 120 weight gear oil and bearing grease. Mixed to self leveling consistency that I felt would still allow adequate lubrication to the top bearing.

What type of grease is it just general corn head grease

A corn head grease is the correct consistency. John Deere sells it by the tube. People have posted other sources.

I ordered cornhead from these guys
http://www.greenpartstore.com/John-Deere-Special-Purpose-Corn-Head-Gun-Grease-AN102562.html

By the way, can someone tell me how to shorten and rename a url like above?

Dennis

Press "Reply"

Use the second icon from the left (above the edit "window" - the icon is a globe with two chain-links under the globe.

Put the URL in the first box and then press "OK"
Put the words/description in the next box and press "OK"

You can then edit the words/description, if you want to do so.

Thank you Tim.

Dennis

This pipe plug is the fill plug on the top of the steering box correct?

1942?

Yes, it is a/the pipe plug.

Fill to just below below the base of the hole.
Drive/steer the truck.
Re-check the level and fill to just below the pipe hole.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1942/42csm0011.htm