Steering gear leaking some fluid

Belgian1979vette

Belgian1979vette

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Did a couple of longer runs in hot weather and today I looked under the hood. I have apparently some fluid coming from the steering gear. I run headers and they are close to the gear, so it must get hot, but I specifically used high temp grease when I did the rebuild.

Did anyone encounter this ?
 
Belgian1979vette said:
Did a couple of longer runs in hot weather and today I looked under the hood. I have apparently some fluid coming from the steering gear. I run headers and they are close to the gear, so it must get hot, but I specifically used high temp grease when I did the rebuild.

Did anyone encounter this ?
Click to expand...

My '73 also leaks from the steering gear, particularly when its hot outside and I've been running the car. I was going to go to the trouble of new seals and such but then decided I would just wait as I now want to upgrade to a Borgeson gear. Crossing my fingers, but this is the last leak I need to fix. Finally got everything else buttoned up tight.

DC
 
Depends on what grease was used. I found M****1 grease separates and will weep out. If over packed it will expand and leak out as well. Typically at the lower seal or the threads of the large adjusting nut. This will not affect the performance of the box and a correctly built box with good suspension parts and alignment will make the car steer much better then most expect.
 
My box is leaking a little bit too and mine is also being nuked right next to the header tubes.... I know the stock box is pretty good if properly rebuilt, but since I believe it was never meant to reside next to the primary tubes I think for me, the rack conversion is the way to go.... I have the Grand Am rack sitting on the shelf, one of the 2014 mods :D

Do you have a temp gun? How hot is that box? I personally believe any grease is going to liquify at that temp next to the header.....just saying, this is one way how these steering boxes get a bad reputation..... Heat kills them, grease gets too hot, leaks out the box, box runs dry, box dies ..... Rip.....
 
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My only comment is that the headers I use are Schoenfeld, they on the net....I use what they call chassis headers, the do not hang as lo as the oil pan, and they stay away from all appliances....~3" collector....been years now, but for 150 bux/pair it was the way to go.....

I do recommend using Jacobs ceramic plug boots on at least # 5 & 6 plugs, I did all 8, just for looks, :drink:
 
BBShark said:
Is there space to put a heat shield in there?
Click to expand...

I'm on my way of fabbing one up. I use a piece of scap metal from a rocker panel of another car I was working on. It has the rounded shape that will just about fit in between. Only problem is attaching it. That space if damn thight.
 
GTR1999 said:
Depends on what grease was used. I found M****1 grease separates and will weep out. If over packed it will expand and leak out as well. Typically at the lower seal or the threads of the large adjusting nut. This will not affect the performance of the box and a correctly built box with good suspension parts and alignment will make the car steer much better then most expect.
Click to expand...

Well, I've rebuilt the box myself and maybe I overpacked. It seems to be leaking some through the big nut as well.

I'm used to European cars and rack and pinion steerings, so I have nothing to compare to. I think it's reasonably thight, but I'm having trouble with the power steering not being progressive for one. Seems also that it steers better to one side than the other.

I've been trying to chase it down. Only thing I've found is that on the left. I seem to be able to wiggle the knuckle some when holding the wheel in the 3 and 9 o'clock position. Doesn't do that in the 6 and 12 o'clock. I already had the tie rod off, but the joint seems thight. Must say these were vbp joints...what's the partnumber for Moog's ?

Everything else is thight.

BTW : what is a steering box outright Garry. When I rebuilt my box, I got myself a new set of gears and the odd thing is the diameter on the shaft was smaller, it had larger bushings in the set as well. (Corvette south : yeah I know :crap:)
 
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GTR1999 said:
I found M****1 grease separates and will weep out.
Click to expand...

Same here. I've found it separates and weeps out of my grease gun all over the workbench shelf. Looking for a better grease for next time. Do you have a grease preference?

DC
 
Belgian1979vette said:
GTR1999 said:
Depends on what grease was used. I found M****1 grease separates and will weep out. If over packed it will expand and leak out as well. Typically at the lower seal or the threads of the large adjusting nut. This will not affect the performance of the box and a correctly built box with good suspension parts and alignment will make the car steer much better then most expect.
Click to expand...

Well, I've rebuilt the box myself and maybe I overpacked. It seems to be leaking some through the big nut as well.

I'm used to European cars and rack and pinion steerings, so I have nothing to compare to. I think it's reasonably thight, but I'm having trouble with the power steering not being progressive for one. Seems also that it steers better to one side than the other.

I've been trying to chase it down. Only thing I've found is that on the left. I seem to be able to wiggle the knuckle some when holding the wheel in the 3 and 9 o'clock position. Doesn't do that in the 6 and 12 o'clock. I already had the tie rod off, but the joint seems thight. Must say these were vbp joints...what's the partnumber for Moog's ?

Everything else is thight.

BTW : what is a steering box outright Garry. When I rebuilt my box, I got myself a new set of gears and the odd thing is the diameter on the shaft was smaller, it had larger bushings in the set as well. (Corvette south : yeah I know :crap:)
Click to expand...


You don't want to go over 13 in/lb on center in most cases. If you have more feeling in one direction then the other the control valve needs to be tweaked a little to balance it.

If you overpacked it using Mo***1 grease you can see it weep out the large adjusting nut even with thread sealant on it.

Not sure who supplied your new gears, if it was after Jan 2012 then it wasn't from Corvette Steering and since I have all his steering stock now it wasn't from me. The only other new gear on the market at that time I believe was from Flaming R and I can't say anything about them since I don't have them.
The bushings should not be loose on the pitman shaft or you will have play in the box for sure.

I can ship you a complete box if you need one, just PM me.
 
GTR1999 said:
Belgian1979vette said:
GTR1999 said:
Depends on what grease was used. I found M****1 grease separates and will weep out. If over packed it will expand and leak out as well. Typically at the lower seal or the threads of the large adjusting nut. This will not affect the performance of the box and a correctly built box with good suspension parts and alignment will make the car steer much better then most expect.
Click to expand...

Well, I've rebuilt the box myself and maybe I overpacked. It seems to be leaking some through the big nut as well.

I'm used to European cars and rack and pinion steerings, so I have nothing to compare to. I think it's reasonably thight, but I'm having trouble with the power steering not being progressive for one. Seems also that it steers better to one side than the other.

I've been trying to chase it down. Only thing I've found is that on the left. I seem to be able to wiggle the knuckle some when holding the wheel in the 3 and 9 o'clock position. Doesn't do that in the 6 and 12 o'clock. I already had the tie rod off, but the joint seems thight. Must say these were vbp joints...what's the partnumber for Moog's ?

Everything else is thight.

BTW : what is a steering box outright Garry. When I rebuilt my box, I got myself a new set of gears and the odd thing is the diameter on the shaft was smaller, it had larger bushings in the set as well. (Corvette south : yeah I know :crap:)
Click to expand...


You don't want to go over 13 in/lb on center in most cases. If you have more feeling in one direction then the other the control valve needs to be tweaked a little to balance it.

If you overpacked it using Mo***1 grease you can see it weep out the large adjusting nut even with thread sealant on it.

Not sure who supplied your new gears, if it was after Jan 2012 then it wasn't from Corvette Steering and since I have all his steering stock now it wasn't from me. The only other new gear on the market at that time I believe was from Flaming R and I can't say anything about them since I don't have them.
The bushings should not be loose on the pitman shaft or you will have play in the box for sure.

I can ship you a complete box if you need one, just PM me.
Click to expand...

I didn't use mobil I used skf grease. Why the secrecy about mobil ?
 
GTR1999 said:
Yes I use plain ole Coastal in the Black/Gold tubes available from any Advance or Auto zone and probably others.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Coastal is what I was using and apparently will be going back to. I've had such good luck with synthetic fluids over the years, thought I would try the Mobile 1 synthetic grease. Didn't work out for me.

DC
 
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