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| | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 241 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 241 | I have just finished cleaning all the sludge from my 52 GMC 9400's steering gear. The bushings and bearings look fine so it looks like all I will need to get is a shaft seal and gaskets. I had a look in my manual to see what type of oil to use in it with no luck. Can someone recommend what I should use in it. I would assume some type o gear lube would be sufficient? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | | | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | They use regular gear lube. If the seals are good & it doesn't leak this is best. If its going to leak out use something thicker like TC says. Ive filled them full of chassis grease.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 241 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 241 | Thanks guys, the shaft seal is shot so I hope to be able to source one. I will use this grease though, the video is convincing. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 725 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 725 | Snapper Lawn Mower dealers all carry "0" and "00" bottled transmission grease for their riding mowers. It used to be about $10.00 a quart and is a lot easier to find than the JD Corn Head Grease. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 320 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 320 | I read where the seal (really a packing) was prone to leakage even when new, the fix of the day was to refill it with the cornhead grease. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 240 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 240 | Along with the grease I have added a little Justin Brothers friction modifier to the steering box and a little to the trans, they have always steered a lot easier and the trand shifted smoother, usually topped off the steering box and the rest split between the trans and rear gear from one can. A friend of mine run a mini hot rod pulling tractor and always had rear end heat problem until he started using it and his rear gear lasted at least 3 times longer.
You Learn more Listening than Talking
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 241 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 241 | How much grease should be put into the box? I don't want to over fill it. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 152 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 152 | I used john deere cornhead grease in mine, It doesnt leak any more.
49 chevy 1-ton. It is a work in progress but it's getting close. 49 1 Ton Pics | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
in 1954, the Shop Manuals instructs to fill the steering assembly to the level of the filler plug hole on all models except COE (that has a filler pipe that is filled to within 1/2" of the top of the pipe).
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 241 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 241 | in 1954, the Shop Manuals instructs to fill the steering assembly to the level of the filler plug hole on all models except COE (that has a filler pipe that is filled to within 1/2" of the top of the pipe). That would be for a gear lube but with grease would it be the same? The nice thing about the grease is it will cling to parts well but will it work its way around like an oil lube will? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
The proper lubricant was a GM self-leveling grease. The Deere product is a self-leveling grease; the Penrite Steering Gear/Box lube is a self-leveling grease.
Not all/many greases will "work its way around" like an oil, except for self-leveling greases.
EP-0 seems to be the modern grade for some self-leveling greases:
Castrol L/EP0
Lithium based, semi-fluid grease. Ideally suited for use in grease packed differentials and gearboxes requiring a semi-liquid, self-levelling grease.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 241 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 241 | The proper lubricant was a GM self-leveling grease. The Deere product is a self-leveling grease; the Penrite Steering Gear/Box lube is a self-leveling grease.
Not all/many greases will "work its way around" like an oil, except for self-leveling greases.
EP-0 seems to be the modern grade for some self-leveling greases:
Castrol L/EP0
Lithium based, semi-fluid grease. Ideally suited for use in grease packed differentials and gearboxes requiring a semi-liquid, self-levelling grease. Understood, thanks for the info. | | |
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