Steering box query

[Simon8132]

Recently had a lot of work done to my van including a new gearbox & steering box at Dorset Dubbers.After no end of problems I took it to another garage who have sorted most of it out for me.One thing that has puzzled the new garage is dorset dubbers filled the new steering box up with grease when it should be oil.Not being mechanical myself does anybody know why they would do that and is it a bad mistake for a so called specialist?

 

[StuF]

Probably to make an old knackered box feel tight and new! :msn4:
That is until the grease breaks down

 

[bananacustard]

Grease quickly (and temporarily) makes the box feel tighter. The trouble is the way it moves, it leaves a void in the grease just where you mostly need it.

 

[Simon8132]

So it sounds like maybe they didn't put in a new steering box but charged me for one?

 

[Pickles]

I must have posted twice or something so deleted this one!

 

[Pickles]

So it sounds like maybe they didn't put in a new steering box but charged me for one?

I do believe, but have no personal experience that one company was refurbishing steering boxes in this way, filling them with grease that is. Also if you have got pre 72 bus (or thereabouts) you will have an early steering box and they can't have fitted a new one as they aren't available, haven't been for a number of years, be interested to know what they charged you for the new box?! At best I'd imagine it was a refurbished box, I'd try and find out where they got this box from.

They could of course have fitted a later steering box but that requires a modification to the chassis (Graham at Midland Early Bay is offering a drive in/out service for this - if you do a search you should find as relatively recent).

If you are new to VWs then I'm afraid as some others will testify the VW expert garages aren't necessarily one to go with. There are some exceptions but if you find one let me know.

 

[dustrat]

Most new and reconditioned steering boxes are filled with grease rather than oil now. I have just had my Karmann Ghia steering box reconditioned by a national specialist company and when I queried that it was filled with grease not oil they said that they fill them with special grease for a number of reasons one being it will not leak.My box comes with 5 year guarantee and any problems they will repair FOC. I would'nt worry too much and dis-reguard some of earlier comments.
Robert

 

[sparkywig]

Steering boxes should be filled with Hypoid 90 transmission oil, not grease.
Grease traps foreign bodies and causes more wear, and sometimes doesn't even touch the moving parts after a short while as voids form.

 

[six]

What viscosity are the specific oil for worm boxes like from millers etc?

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[mike202]

I have had my steering box re-filled with Castrol Spheerol grease, which is described as a semi fluid grease suitable for gearboxes.

It has stopped the small leak I had, but should I be concerned?

http://www.classic-oils.net/Product-220/Oils-by-Manufacturer-Brand/Castrol/Castrol-Spheerol-LEPO" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.cromwell.co.uk/CST7407900C" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[gr00veg0d]

Steering boxes should be filled with Hypoid 90 transmission oil, not grease.
Grease traps foreign bodies and causes more wear, and sometimes doesn't even touch the moving parts after a short while as voids form.

I filled mine with this stuff after renewing the steering peg and oil seal - then used a gasket sealant to stop any leaks

 

[ozziedog]

What Sparky Wiggs said. Hypoid 90 oil,,, not grease,, never grease,, don`t use grease,, desist with the grease,,ditch the grease,,just use oil,, only use oil,, do use oil ,,get some oil,,you`ll like oil,, the box likes oil,, VW likes oil,, catch my drift :mrgreen:

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,,,, TRY some OIL :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[six]

So I put the grease in then oil?

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[ozziedog]

So I put the grease in then oil?

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Maybe

Ozziedog,,,,,,, NO,,, No No No NO No !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO :lol:

 

[sharky71]

What Sparky Wiggs said. Hypoid 90 oil,,, not grease,, never grease,, don`t use grease,, desist with the grease,,ditch the grease,,just use oil,, only use oil,, do use oil ,,get some oil,,you`ll like oil,, the box likes oil,, VW likes oil,, catch my drift :mrgreen:

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,,,, TRY some OIL :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

i take it you need to use oil then Ozziedog???

 

[dustrat]

Sorry ozziedog but thing have come along way since our vehicles were built and also technology with oils and grease. The grease that is put in steering boxes is designed for that purpose and would not be put in if not suitable. If you want to put oil in your steering box OK.
Robert

 

[bananacustard]

Where can us luddites who insist on using Hypoid 90 steering box oil buy this new fangled, specially designed for steering boxes, grease? Might come in handy to stop the weeping.

 

[dustrat]

If you want to buy grease refer to what has been said before and go to https://www.cromwell.co.uk/CST7407900C" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Robert

 

[bananacustard]

Ooops, missed that. Excellent, thank you Dustrat. Be interested to see how this does the job over a longer period of time. I had a recon' steering box from a well known parts suppliers known as Mega(something) a few years back. It was fine at first but an MOT failure 2 years later. It was filled with a thick grease. I've a feeling it wasn't the high tech, semi-fluid grease referred to here. This has certainly been common practice by reconditioners and has made many folks wary of grease. An expensive recon' steering box should certainly last more than 2 years of relatively low mileage driving.

 

[Graham L]

Ooops, missed that. Excellent, thank you Dustrat. Be interested to see how this does the job over a longer period of time. I had a recon' steering box from a well known parts suppliers known as Mega(something) a few years back. It was fine at first but an MOT failure 2 years later. It was filled with a thick grease. I've a feeling it wasn't the high tech, semi-fluid grease referred to here. This has certainly been common practice by reconditioners and has made many folks wary of grease. An expensive recon' steering box should certainly last more than 2 years of relatively low mileage driving.

Agreed Jeremy I also had a box from said provider and when stripped down the grease was all pushed to either side and the worm and peg where bare, we fill steering boxes with Millers Steering box lube which is designed for classic steering boxes.