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Sat May 05, 2012 4:04 pm

Can anyone tell me what color the ATE Steering Box should be for a 62 Single Cab? I'm planning on painting the tube black and the box gray. Also, after looking at pictures it looks to be like the tube that holds the horn wire is the same as a brake line? It looks like it goes only about an inch past the bracket ? Mine is gone. Can anyone confirm or deny? Finally, any tips on servicing the steering box where the mileage on the vehicle looks to be low, about 50,000 miles. Finally, I thinking of using 140 wt gear oil instead of the 90. Any thoughts?
Thanks
Micromotor

Sat May 05, 2012 5:58 pm

John Deere Corn Head Grease.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=421677&highlight=corn+head+grease

Sat May 05, 2012 10:06 pm

As far as I know - Black steering box.

The box shouldn't need anything special on a Bus with 50K.
You could check the adjustment per the manual anyway.
Change the oil if it's been sitting.
If it starts leaking, it could need the lower or the output to the drag link seals replaced.

Sun May 06, 2012 7:18 am

micromotor wrote: Also, after looking at pictures it looks to be like the tube that holds the horn wire is the same as a brake line? It looks like it goes only about an inch past the bracket ? Mine is gone. Can anyone confirm or deny?

Early buses (pre1960?) have the grounding wire to the horn wrapped in a metal wire for a little more road protection.

Stick with 90 Wt. and a new output seal.

Sun May 06, 2012 9:14 am

EverettB wrote: As far as I know - Black steering box.

The box shouldn't need anything special on a Bus with 50K.
You could check the adjustment per the manual anyway.
Change the oil if it's been sitting.
If it starts leaking, it could need the lower or the output to the drag link seals replaced.

Now That I have the Steering Box off, I can confirm that it was originally black.
The box had what looks to be an original safety wire seal and it was fully packed with a thin grease. Definetly not 90wt. The insides look great. No dirt, water, or rust.

Sun May 06, 2012 9:22 am

Early buses (pre1960?) have the grounding wire to the horn wrapped in a metal wire for a little more road protection.

So 1962 would be just the wire?
Is there any kind of seal where the wire exits the box or do I just use some silicon?
Thanks

Sun May 06, 2012 9:47 am

no seal on the wire by design it doesnt leak

Sun May 06, 2012 10:03 am

Just checked our 1960 (DEC59 built) walk thru camper conversion and it has the armor wire wound around the ground wire.

Check the 1963 (MAR63 built) SC we have and does not have the armor wire. Just a black plastic sheath around the wire, and NO sealant.

Think will get over to the 1962 Wounded Westie project today and check the ground wire on it.

Sun May 06, 2012 12:06 pm

micromotor wrote: The box had what looks to be an original safety wire seal and it was fully packed with a thin grease. Definetly not 90wt. The insides look great. No dirt, water, or rust.

John Deere Corn Head Grease as mentioned above. The antique Ford guys run it in their steering boxes and swear by it. It is the closest thing anyone has found to the original grease for steering boxes. Some on here use it. Here are some links below. I picked mine up from my local JD dealer.

http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/parts/batteries_and_fluids/maintenance_fluids/grease/grease.page
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&am...&pbx=1

Sun May 06, 2012 10:14 pm

My 62 had the protective metal sheath for the wire but it was damaged.

Mon May 07, 2012 12:33 am

I also use a 'steering box' grease, in the rebuilds i do, i think VW changed to grease in 67 and all early bay boxes that i have done have grease in.

The wire hole doesn't need sealing, there is a tube inside and the oil/grease level is below the top of the tube

Mon May 07, 2012 5:40 am

Early buses (pre1960?) have the grounding wire to the horn wrapped in a metal wire for a little more road protection.

Looks like the "metal wire wrap" is a replacement part. Can anyone tell me what it is called and where it is available?
Thanks

Mon May 07, 2012 6:26 am

Our FEB62 SO-34 westie does not have the wire wrap.

Wed May 09, 2012 3:37 pm

Anyone know a source for the "wrapped wire" shown in this pic

Wed May 09, 2012 9:41 pm

Eric&Barb wrote: Our FEB62 SO-34 westie does not have the wire wrap.

my April 62 did but not sure it was stock I still have the old box I should clean it up and check it out also had an elbow.

Mon Jun 25, 2012 5:43 pm

So this is my SC with my substitute wrapped wire cover installed. I used some NOS wire feed welder liner and I think it looks great.