57 Steering Box Question

[Ashley S.]

I have a couple of questions about my steering box.
1) How much oil is correct for the steering box?
2) How do you keep oil from leaking around the worm bearing adjuster cup?

If the quantity of oil is lower than the adjuster cup, I guess that could solve question #2, but I'm not sure.

Does anyone have any help they can offer?

Thanks,

Ashley

[Roy B.]

Re: 57 Steering Box Question

It was factory filled with GREASE not oil

[Ashley S.]

Re: 57 Steering Box Question

That would explain why I have oil leaking around the cup. Paragon sells what amounts to a heavy weight oil (around 80-90 weight I think) as the replacement for this.

What type of lubricant would you use in it if you were in my shoes?

Thanks,

Ashley

[Mike M.]

Re: 57 Steering Box Question

i use what used to be referred to as 600 Wt gear oil, which nowadays is labeled as 160 or 180 wt gear oil and is recommended for chevys and fords built in the 20's and 30's. got mine from the Filling Station which has an online ordering site. i also use some wheel bearing grease on the worm and sector when rebuilding the gear box. not sure, but tend to disagree with roy bratz when he stated the steering box was lubed at the factory with grease(i assume he meant wheel bearing grease)mike

[Roy B.]

Re: 57 Steering Box Question

I don't think the factory let the box go out dry !any way (grease ) C&C years ago sold a hollow bolt that toke the place of one of the side cover bolts having a GREASE fitting to allow you to grease the worm gear

[Bert L.]

Re: 57 Steering Box Question

Service manuals generally stipulate the use of a "good grade" chassis lubricant and that's what I use when rebuilding boxes.

Regards

Bert

[Roy B.]

Re: 57 Steering Box Question

Service manuals generally stipulate the use of a "good grade" chassis lubricant and that's what I use when rebuilding boxes.

Regards

Bert

Yes that's what I call GREASE

[Joe L.]

Re: 57 Steering Box Question

I have a couple of questions about my steering box.
1) How much oil is correct for the steering box?
2) How do you keep oil from leaking around the worm bearing adjuster cup?

If the quantity of oil is lower than the adjuster cup, I guess that could solve question #2, but I'm not sure.

Does anyone have any help they can offer?

Thanks,

Ashley

Ashley----


The original lubricant used for 1963-82 Corvette steering gear boxes was GM #1052084. I believe the same lubricant was used for C1 steering gear boxes, too. This is currently replaced by GM #12377985. That's what I'd use. Both the original and replacement lubricants are a 140+ wt grease.