1st time steering box grease. Can you suggest?

F

funoldcarguy

Junior Member
Hello, just got a 38 ford truck. The steering is a little wonky. I would call it stiff and herky-jerky. Now, I don't know if this is just because of the bias ply tires, but my 39 steers smooth as silk.

I am going to start by replacing the grease in the steering box. Does anybody have and recommendations for this? It will be my first time doing this. If fluid or grease is in there, should I flush it out?

Can you help me identify the 4 bolts?

And I know this question has been debated (leaving me with more questions than answers) but what kind of grease would you put in there? John Deere Corn Head has been recommended.

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I always used the same gear oil that was recommended by the owners instruction book, if it leaked I fixed the seals.
There was another thread about corn head grease that showed that it only channeled when cold, that flowing only happens when it is hot, may not be a ideal lubricant in a cold steering gear that won’t get up to temperature during most of the driving these old cars usually get.
There are other heavy lubricants that cold flow and resist leaking out of defective worn seals.
 
#1 is the sector shaft adjustment, #2 (as Mart mentioned above) is the filler plug, #s 3 & 4 are top cover hold down bolts. Good luck with your project.
 
I have used John Deere cornhead grease for years on MANY of these cars. I did drill and tap and extra filler plug for a grease fitting. I put that in place so I can be confident the gear assembly is fully packed. Then swap it out for the non-modified plug.
 
Kube said:
I have used John Deere cornhead grease for years on MANY of these cars. I did drill and tap and extra filler plug for a grease fitting. I put that in place so I can be confident the gear assembly is fully packed. Then swap it out for the non-modified plug.
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Good idea
 
I cannot find JD Cornhead grease anywhere in my little town. We have a Walmart, an O'Reilly Auto Parts, and an Ace hardware. I can't even find the Grade "0" grease, which I have been told is a viable replacement in this scenario.
 
Have an agriculture store nearby? Or an oil distributor? They may have some, doesn’t have to come in a green tube.
 
I called up my local tractor store but no luck there either.

If anybody can help me match one of these O'Reilly Auto Parts greases up, I would certainly appreciate the help! They had about a dozen but I was lost looking at them all.
 
It is an NLGI grade 0 polyurea grease with EP additives. If you have an Cenex nearby , they may have it. Early Jeep CJ owners use grade 00 pourable grease in steering boxes and turning knuckles. Can be found at TSC and other places, known as cotton picker spindle grease.
 
Try ebay and Amazon. Can find most anything there. Just checked Amazon. Plenty of it in there.

funoldcarguy said:
I cannot find JD Cornhead grease anywhere in my little town. We have a Walmart, an O'Reilly Auto Parts, and an Ace hardware. I can't even find the Grade "0" grease, which I have been told is a viable replacement in this scenario.
Click to expand...
 
If you need your steering box rebuilt I would recommend using Larry Bledsoe in California . +1 (909) 855-7853. He rebuilt two boxes for me at reasonable cost and the work is done thoroughly/quickly!
 
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