Steering Box Lubricant?

beauishere

beauishere

Junior Member
I've been all over the net trying to find the proper lube for a 1938 Ford Tudor Deluxe steering box. Mostly I get opinions and what's best, but nothing as specified by Henry. Whether the stock lube is what we go with is one thing, but we'd like to know what's correct.

A lot of guys say to use grease so it doesn't leak. Sounds logical, but again, what's it supposed to have in it???

Thanks.
 
This has been banged around in the barn a lot too. I believe that Ford entended service personnel to use a heavy grade gear lube. Model A charts list the old steam cylinder oil (600W) which wasn't graded by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). SAE 140 would have been the modern acceptable lubricant. Liquid lubes only stay in as long as the seal lasts which is limited.

Due to leakage, a lot of folks use the semi-fluid grease like John Deere Corn Head Grease or one of the other semi-fluid greases now available. This stuff works well for steering boxes and closed drive universal joints since it will still be fluid enough to get into the bearing surfaces then non-fluid enough to stay inside the housing after the parts quit moving around.

Kerby
 
85-140 is fine if a 38 box is leaking smothing is wrong either the sector shaft seal or the rod in the box bottom both are simple fixes .
 
Take your pick - all will work & I also know of folks that use straight STP . Not up on 38's but FORD called for S.A.E. 160 on 33-34 . Can't find it back but there is Ford info stating to use S.A.E. 140 if the 160 stuff isn't available . My choice is the 140 stuff & I use it in steering,******,u-joint & rear end with NO COMPLAINTS . Remember the u-joint only calls for 4 oz & it will LEAK if overfilled .
 

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Thanks all. Love this FordBarn.

We're fixing the sector seal now and then we're thinking about trying that 'corn head' grease since there's a John Deere dealer right down the road.

Much obliged.
 
I use cheap chassis grease. Why cheap, because that is a low melt point grease. Most chassis greases melt at 250, the molly type is even better. The exhaust manifold is right next to the steering box and it gets warm and melts the grease. I also adjust the steering a little tight where it is straight as it go's through center This wears in in a few day and there is no play and go's freely through center. I did my 39 30 years ago and it's still smooth with no play. G.M.
 
First, fix the leak(s), the most prevelent is usually in the tube loose from the plate above the light switch. Never use grease, it may flow with heat but I have seen gears ruined from grease that did not flow. I use 140 and STP and have never had a problem.
 
PennRite Steering Box Lube, available from :Restoration Suppy, Escondida, Ca 92025
www.RestorationStuff.com 1-800-306-7008
p/nLUB009 $15.75 plus shipping 500ml, 1200W, EP,non-leaking, manual boxes.

It works, no leaks!! Great company to do business with. JMO
Paul in CT
 
OK, don't laugh, but I've been using John Deere Corn Head grease in the steering boxes of all my old cars for years and it works great. It's very thick, but flows slowly to keep the components well lubricated and have never had a leak with the stuff. It's available at John Deere dealers or on-line.
 
It's the part in front of a combine that does the gathering . The grease is used in the gearboxes . See the pic of "corey" . The front part with the pointed things is the " cornhead " . Swiped the pic offen epay .
Mike51Merc said:
OK, WTF is a Corn Head?
Is it like a Wisconsin Cheese head?
Click to expand...
 

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David J said:
It's the part in front of a combine that does the gathering . The grease is used in the gearboxes . See the pic of "corey" . The front part with the pointed things is the " cornhead " . Swiped the pic offen epay .
Click to expand...

Thanks, I went and looked it up. Couldn't figure if the grease was made from corn, or what the heck a corn head was. I guess I'm just a city boy.
 
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