What Lubricant To Use In A Manual Steering Box?

[Gregski]

I am rebuilding an old Saginaw manual steering box from a junkyard to downgrade my 1974 1/2 ton short box from power steering hot rod style. I removed loads of goop from it, which was too thick to be gear oil and more like grease. Now when I put it back together I don't know what to fill it with. On the InterWebs I have seen guys use everything from CV joint grease to gear oil to even some guys mixing the two together. Could you help me and my beloved truck Rusty out please and recommend the proper concoction?

[v30crewcab]

80/90 gear oil i think. I'm not at home or I could look it up in the factory manual.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by v30crewcab

80/90 gear oil i think. I'm not at home or I could look it up in the factory manual.

Thanks bud, I can't believe I did not crack my printed out PDF binder and checked the General Information and Lubrication SECTION 0 myself, ha ha

"the gear housing should be refilled with No. 1051052 (13 oz. container) Steering Gear Lubricant which meets GM Specification GM 4673-M, or its equivalent."

"NOTE: Do not use EP Chassis Lube, which meets GM Specification GM 6031-M, to lubricate the gear. DO NOT OVER-FILL the gear housing."

[hatzie]

Don't use gear oil. It will leak.

Here's the steering box thread by Gary Ramadei from Digital Corvettes.
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...ad.php?t=76773
Lucas Red "N" Tacky and Marine Green were mentioned as good greases to use because they don't separate.

The GM 1051052 Steering Gear Lubricant is obsolete. They say not to use EP chassis grease.
Ford used Saginaw steering boxes too... My 1972 F250 uses Ford C3AZ-19578-A grease.

Here's the excerpt from the 1973 GM light truck service manual.
------------
Manual Steering Gear
The steering gear is factory-filled with steering gear
lubricant. Seasonal change of this lubricant should not
be performed and the housing should not be drained-no
lubrication is required for the life of the steering gear.

Every 36,000 miles, the gear should be inspected for seal
leakage (actual solid grease-not just oily film). If a seal is
replaced or the gear is overhauled, the gear housing
should be refilled with No. 1051052 (13 oz. container)
Steering Gear Lubricant which meets GM Specification
GM 4673-M, or its equivalent.

NOTE: Do not use EP Chassis Lube, which
meets GM Specification GM 6031-M, to
lubricate the gear. DO NOT OVER-FILL the
gear housing.
------------------------------

[hatzie]

One point I probably don't need to make but I will anyway.

You need to carefully examine the ball screw and recirculating balls. If either or both are not in good shape replace em or find another core.
The original box on my F250 needed most of the major internals. I opened up several used steering boxes before I found a core that was tight enough to rehab... I still replaced the balls.