heavy steering

CB919ER said:
I guess it's rare to have a guy my age with an interest in classic cars like the Model A, and T, without building them into hotrod.
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Yes, more rare these days, unfortunately.
A lot of these folks got started when they were young...16 for me, I'm 58 now.
 
Y-Blockhead said:
I don't know what year your car is but you might consider getting a steering box end plate with the 'tube'. http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/steering-housing-end-plate It will prevent oil from running out the end along the horn shaft and filling your light switch. '28-29 have a different part #.
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That was my first thought as I read this thread. If the car has been standing for 20 years, that's plenty of time for the steering box to drain. It would only take a few drops a year and you end up dry (and stiff steering) Grease in the ball joints could be dried up too, likewise in the king pins. I'd go right through the steering with fresh grease as a minimum.
 
1930-Pickup said:
Yes, more rare these days, unfortunately.
A lot of these folks got started when they were young...16 for me, I'm 58 now.
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my love for these cars start when I was young. My grandpa got this car when I was 3, and I've been around it my whole life. I'm actually sick of hearing people tell me I need to chop and channel the car and put in a small block V8. This car is to pretty for that. If it were a clapped out rust heap that would be different but it's not.

Synchro909 said:
That was my first thought as I read this thread. If the car has been standing for 20 years, that's plenty of time for the steering box to drain. It would only take a few drops a year and you end up dry (and stiff steering) Grease in the ball joints could be dried up too, likewise in the king pins. I'd go right through the steering with fresh grease as a minimum.
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I'll grease up what I can and put some oil in the steering box, is there any tips on greasing the kingpins?

And my car is a 29 coupe
 
CB919ER said:
touché good sir!



I'll pick up a grease gun on my way home and lube everything I can. I see in my book that I'm supposed to us "Ford Special steering gear lubricate" in the steering box. Where can I get this stuff or what else can I use. I'm trying to take care of the car and do things right as much as possible.
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We use John Deere Cornhead grease in steering box and in u-joint.

You could get many different views on what to use.

Please don’t forget u-joint. Check transmission and rear end also. Enjoy.
 
CB919ER said:
is there a trick to lubricating these? or am I pulling the spindle off?
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Good grease gun!

Might take a couple of times over a few short drives to get the grease everywhere it is needed.

I would take it to your local garage and have them put car on lift. Than have them grease it with a commercial style grease gun. Drive on lift only.
 
WHN said:
Good grease gun!

Might take a couple of times over a few short drives to get the grease everywhere it is needed.

I would take it to your local garage and have them put car on lift. Than have them grease it with a commercial style grease gun. Drive on lift only.
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I understand why you say "Drive on lift only" but the shackles and king pins are best greased with the weight off the wheels. Even with a drive on hoist, I would ask them to put a jack under the axle before greasing.
Cornhead grease in the steering box as has been said is a good move - NOT chassis grease.
 
Synchro909 said:
I understand why you say "Drive on lift only" but the shackles and king pins are best greased with the weight off the wheels. Even with a drive on hoist, I would ask them to put a jack under the axle before greasing.
Cornhead grease in the steering box as has been said is a good move - NOT chassis grease.
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Good point on the jack under axel. You could also move the steering back and forth as you grease. Working it in.
 
WHN said:
We use John Deere Cornhead grease in steering box and in u-joint.

You could get many different views on what to use.

Please don’t forget u-joint. Check transmission and rear end also. Enjoy.
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And give the throwout bearing a shot while your at it... :p:p
 
If your steering doesn't return after a turn, the problem is probably caster. Is your front wishbone bent up? If it is, the caster has changed and affected the steering.
 
Jack up the front axle to get the wheels an inch or two off the ground. Grease all the steering and suspension joints, then turn the steering end to end a few times, and grease the steering joints again.

I use my original tool kit grease gun, but the dealers sell a special tip to install on the modern grease gun. Try to buy the metal tip, not the plastic one that some dealers sell.

Grease it well, fill the steering box, then report back. Also squirt oil on the dry springs and see how much better it rides.
 
I have found my modern type grease gun can be held tightly on the old fittings and won't leak past the fitting, allowing better pressure into the joint.
Hard to do with a side lever grease gun, easier with a grip lever type
 
CB919ER said:
That's going to be my first step, that and hitting all the lube points with a grease gun.

I guess it's rare to have a guy my age with an interest in classic cars like the Model A, and T, without building them into hotrod.
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I'm in your same shoes, just starting at 44. Also, trying to learn and not screw too much up in the process.

I thought I was going to be the young one!
 
Do not use grease in the steering box. It is suppose to use 600w same as used in Trans and Rear end.
Grease will get hard as clay and steering will get very stiff!
 
If your steering box has a grease fitting in it,do NOT grease it.Years ago garages had gear oil in a pump and used a grease fitting to pump through.They used to replace the plug with a grease fitting.Where it was OK,then was not,I would lean to it just losing it's lube.
 
Keith True said:
If your steering box has a grease fitting in it,do NOT grease it.Years ago garages had gear oil in a pump and used a grease fitting to pump through.They used to replace the plug with a grease fitting.Where it was OK,then was not,I would lean to it just losing it's lube.
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I wasn't going to put grease in the steering box, I had planned to put use a semi-synthetic gear oil it, and use grease everywhere I saw a grease fitting.
 
CB919ER said:
I wasn't going to put grease in the steering box, I had planned to put use a semi-synthetic gear oil it, and use grease everywhere I saw a grease fitting.
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Cornhead grease will not harden up like the grease used on fittings.

That’s why it can be used on the u-joint and steering box. It is self leveling and will also help in not being as likely to run out.

It is the correct viscosity needed.

This is not my first rodeo, please take my word on this one.

Also u-joint might take a full tube, 14 oz. Remove speedometer gear housing, two nuts, when grease starts coming out, your good to go. Enjoy.
 
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If your concerned about using any form of grease in steering box. You could also try STP.

This also could help with potential leaking. Enjoy.
 
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