Steering box lube

Ron Lachniet

Ron Lachniet

Senior Member
I was reading about using corn head grease in a steering box but living in a cold climate it seemed too thick in cold weather. I know corn head grease flows when it is cold if the gears are moving fast but steering gears hardly move at all. I decided to mix corn head grease with Lucas gear oil about 50/50 and heat it on the stove and mix it together. I then put the mixture outdoors for an hour in 25 degree temperature. It got a little bit thicker but I could still pour it out and it really stuck to a screwdriver blade. I think this is a steering box lube that is less likely to leak and do a good job of keeping everything well lubricated. any thoughts?
 
Sounds good as long as it will stay in a liquid form and not turn into a solid. Also, just remember that a properly fitted sector to the bushings won't leak anyway.
 
You might want to take a look at Pennrite Steering Box Lube from Restoration Supply Co. It's heavy enough not to leak but stays fluid enough to flow. I use it in my '29 where I had a slow leak from the sector shaft housing that really didn't merit a teardown to repair and the Pennrite turned out to be a good band aid for the leak.
 
Penrite Steering Box Lube is so good, I use it on my breakfast cereal in the mornings.
 
Thanks to all for your input. I do have new gaskets and seals in my steering box but from what I have read they originally used a very heavy lube that is hard to find. I think Pennrite sounds like the ideal oil, but being Dutch and having these ingredients on hand I think this comes close to the same consistency.
 
The proper oil for Mod A gearboxes (Trans, Rear, Steering box) is 600W Steam Cylinder oil. Believe it or not, it's still available! The 600W Is just a name, It's really only about 280 weight. The thing to remember is that the worst oils of today are better than the best oils of 1930. Translation, Put anything you like in there! Just remember, It shouldn't leak out. Some modern oils will. And it has to be thick enough that it stops the gears so you can shift. And of course it must lubricate! Some use straight STP. I am using a 50/50 mix of STP and Lucas "Oil Stabiliser" It seems to work OK. A while ago, someone used Lucas "Hub Oil", there were mixed reviews! But It's hard to go wrong!
Terry
 
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