Steering Box Debate

[55 Fargo]

Okay this thread is not to tick anyone off, or rile anyone up, just a process of discovery, to determine the facts of the age old steering box lube question.

Okay I have read a lot of the threads, have added my 2 cents, and may have started a few in the past.

I always thought my steering box on the 47 was a bit losse, but it has some play, but is actually quite good, as compared to the trucks current steering gear.

Now on Canuck built Dodge and Fargos, they used Ingersoll Machine steering gears, not sure if this is unique to Canada or not, design is no doubt the same as the US built Dodge trucks.

As I have revealed, my current steering is dangerously sloppy, the tie rods ends, have slight play, but the box is the culprit.

So I have a donor box on the bench, got to clean it and paint it. But it is another leaker, which would indicate, time to replace seals.

Now seal replacement on this box, will it require a machne shop to install, does it require any other itmes to seal this thing up.

How many of you have replaced seals to discover the box still leaks, or it was a success, and you have not looked back.

How many of you still use grease,(as I do in m 47 Chrysler), without any adverse effects.

There is Penlite, and John Deere Corn Head Grease, very thin viscosity grease, to allow some fluidity, while being quite solid and stable as compared to 90 weight gear oil.

Now I am sure there will be the advisors who state only gear oil should be used, and others who claim grease is just fine.

I want to find out, what is needed, and what I may need to do to seal this steering box correctly.........

[Jeff Balazs]

Rockwood;

Morris Lubricants makes a semi fluid grease that I have used to good effect in leaky old gearboxes in the past. Great stull.

Just my take on this.

Jeff

[55 Fargo]

Rockwood;

Morris Lubricants makes a semi fluid grease that I have used to good effect in leaky old gearboxes in the past. Great stull.

Just my take on this.

Jeff

Hi Jeff, sounds like that product is much like John Deeres Corn Head Grease, the consistency of mustard...

[55 Fargo]

Pics of an Ingersoll Steering Box

[Jeff Balazs]

Rockwood;

I am not familiar with Corn head grease......but yes this stuff is about like sour cream I believe it will stand up to a variety of applications. I plan on using it in my Pilothouse steering box.

I have used it in antique motorcycle gearboxes that were supposed to have either motor oil or 90wt in them. These boxes were fairly leaky by design and didn't shift all that well with the original type lubricants in them. The switch over to the Morris Semi fluid grease made a huge difference.....no leaks at all....and even better it totally smoothed out shifts. The improvement was amazing for something as easy as a lubricant change.

Jeff

[55 Fargo]

Sounds like a good product, and for the application, it obviously did a better job than a gear oil.

[NiftyFifty]

Ok, so to stir the pot, has anyone ever found a power assist box from a newer vehicle that will fit into the stock place without a pile of trouble? My buddy has a 48 ford with one installed from a 60's chev but no idea what would work in a dodge?

[55 Fargo]

Ok, so to stir the pot, has anyone ever found a power assist box from a newer vehicle that will fit into the stock place without a pile of trouble? My buddy has a 48 ford with one installed from a 60's chev but no idea what would work in a dodge?

Would be interesting to know, a friend has a 60 Chevy Apache, and he installed a power steering set-up in it, but maybe it was available for GM trucks by 1960....

[cavisco1]

I read on another site where someone used a Mitsubishi Montero power steering box on an old International. I looked up some pictures of the Mitsu box and it looks like a possibility, but who knows unless you can compare the 2 side by side.

 

Scott.

[NiftyFifty]

Looks like a nice small unit, but ya.. Unless its on the bench to compare, its hard to know

[Dodgeb4ya]

Here is the corn head grease I use on old steering gear boxes....NLGI-  Grade 0.

Wheel bearing grease is grade 2.

[Don Coatney]

I also have my steering gearbox filled with John Deere corn head grease.

[P15-D24]

Ok, so to stir the pot, has anyone ever found a power assist box from a newer vehicle that will fit into the stock place without a pile of trouble? My buddy has a 48 ford with one installed from a 60's chev but no idea what would work in a dodge?

 

Might check Snake River 4X4 as they supply power steering upgrades for Power Wagons and other Military Dodges. 

[P15-D24]

I don't get it. Fixing the seal is an in car job, takes about 30 minutes. Just need a puller to get the pitman off. Why not fix the seal if it is leaking and use the correct lube?  

[Plymouthy Adams]

I don't get it. Fixing the seal is an in car job, takes about 30 minutes. Just need a puller to get the pitman off. Why not fix the seal if it is leaking and use the correct lube?  

 

 

I also feel the same way...while it is good to know or learn the waters you are about to tread, have they even taken it apart yet to see what is wrong?   I also wish to add that a speedi-sleeve could also be an item of value here and advise to inspect the output shaft for a cut groove about the seal perimeter A pitman arm puller can be borrowed from most parts store just for the deposit..or purchase one from Harbor Freight...I have had my HF puller for many many years and has never failed to perform...I also have their tie rod tool that does not damage the unit in any manner..only thing is it is a bit on the large size but...a small special cut plate inserted in the jaws reduces the puller to perform excellent on the smaller size tie rod ends also...just throwing these options out there for consideration..

[Dave72dt]

Going back to the original post, replacing the seal may not be enough to stop the leak and certainly won't tighten the steering up.  You're going to have to deal with anything that's worn, out of adjustment before expecting a seal to hold.  brgs can look reasonably good and still be completely worn out and since you have a leaker, it's almost certain a brg has been run dry at least once.

[Dodgeb4ya]

It's not quick and easy to just put a seal in and stop a steering gear leak sometimes.The seal is set deep in the steering box and hard to remove with out nicking the case or the shaft without completely removing the sector shaft. The OE seals are a tight fit.

I myself have had a couple MoPar  steering box seals that turned out to be leakers after careful complete new sectors, bearings and bushings and careful press in of the seals .I have also seen a few resto's that were leakers too.

The proper EP grease assures there will be no leaks even on an old leaking  box and will provide excellent lubrication.

JMO on this common issue.

Bob

[_shel_ny]

This is a 2  year old thread. The problem has probably been fixed by now

[Don Coatney]

This is a 2  year old thread. The problem has probably been fixed by now

This thread was not so much a question as a debate per the subject line. Most debates are never ending