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thedeatons Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2002 Posts: 215
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 8:36 pm Post subject: Steering Box Question - Front Orifice - Fill with Grease? |
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The front facing orifice on the steering box, the one that faces forward/down... Is that supposed to be filled with grease, or have some type of dust seal on it?
Ours is open after the rebuild, and I just filled it to the rim with the grease I used inside...
What do your steering boxes look like?
James |
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Helfen Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2009 Posts: 3448 Location: Vulcania
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doc1976 Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2008 Posts: 356 Location: Mesa, AZ
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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well the front orifice should be filled with a threaded plug and the steering box should be filled with gear oil. |
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doc1976 Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2008 Posts: 356 Location: Mesa, AZ
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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so the front of the box is open? where did the plug go? |
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thedeatons Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2002 Posts: 215
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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Here is a pic showing what I mean...
(I don't want to get into an oil vs grease discussion. Everyone has different opinions on this.)
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Snort Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2005 Posts: 1957 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:43 am Post subject: |
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That orange fuzzy thing which of which you speak? That should be your adjusting screw for the steering worm gear. It should not be open to the inside of the box, but rather it is recessed to accept a hex key wrench.
(edit to actually answer your question)... it should have neither grease or dust seal, but should be clean and dry. |
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Max Welton Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2003 Posts: 10697 Location: Black Forest, CO
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Snort Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2005 Posts: 1957 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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OK, I take it back. If you have to choose between packing it full of grease, or using it as a place to store your chain saw wrench, I would choose grease. |
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thedeatons Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2002 Posts: 215
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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LOL...
Okay, so I should dry it out. I will try that.
I was just worried of things getting inside it without grease being there, or was thinking we were missing a dust cap of some sort....
James |
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glutamodo The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004 Posts: 26300 Location: Douglas, WY
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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thedeatons wrote: |
Here is a pic showing what I mean...
(I don't want to get into an oil vs grease discussion. Everyone has different opinions on this.)
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Is this a picture of the actual steering box in question?
If so, that looks like a Worm and Sector style box - (the picture Max posted is of a Worm and Roller box - way different!)
those don't have any big hex bolt on the bottom to adjust, the adjustment on those is on the top!!
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thedeatons Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2002 Posts: 215
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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Oh wow... I just realized I didn't give a lot of information.
It's the steering box from our 1965 Type 1 Beetle.
I'm just wondering if that front hole where the red stuff is (Redlin CV Moly grease is packed in there) should be packed with anything, like grease, or if it should just be open and dry...
Thanks!
James |
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Michael Fischer Samba Member
Joined: April 20, 2004 Posts: 1585 Location: Salem, OR
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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There is no open hole on a steering box. If there was dirt would get inside and ruin it. And all the oil would leak out and make a mess. From what I have seen all the ones I ever cracked open where filled with oil. Brand new ones you get today are filled with oil. Some people like to use grease. I'm sure VW used what they thought would work best in there. They used oil. They did not leave them dry. Do that and it wont last long. |
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thedeatons Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2002 Posts: 215
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Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 9:09 am Post subject: |
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Sigh... I meant is that front hole supposed to be left dry. Now it is filled with grease because i did that on the rebuild.
Am i not communicating my question properly? Is everyone understanding what i am asking?
James |
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Snort Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2005 Posts: 1957 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 9:16 am Post subject: |
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James,
The consensus is that regardless of which style of steering box you have, be it worm and roller or worm and sector, there should be no open holes in the steering box. If there is an open hole, you need to get the correct part to fill it. Using grease to fill such a hole is ill-advised.
I've never taken apart a worm and sector box, but you can somewhat tell from the drawing above that there is some type of a plug or other device which sits in front of the worm gear to close this hole. In a worm and roller box it's the adjusting screw as I've mentioned above. So this is no longer a grease or dry answer to your question, sorry. Open hole in steering box = bad. |
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thedeatons Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2002 Posts: 215
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Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 11:08 am Post subject: |
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Okay... That makes sense.
The hole is open for a short distance, then there is a shaft in there.
I will clean it out and take a look, then tell you guys what I find.
I just couldn't imagine having an exposed shaft-end that is constantly being turned, with no protection over it.
James |
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glutamodo The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004 Posts: 26300 Location: Douglas, WY
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Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 11:39 am Post subject: |
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Here's a better image of the Worm and Sector type box, there is supposed to be an end cap there at the worm's lower bearing.
and for comparison, the same angle on a Worm and roller box, where there's an adjuster at the bottom.
-Andy |
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Max Welton Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2003 Posts: 10697 Location: Black Forest, CO
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NewVWFan Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2005 Posts: 159
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 2:54 am Post subject: |
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Excellent thread. Thanks!! |
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morymob Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007 Posts: 4683 Location: east-tn
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 4:21 am Post subject: |
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The old standby black moly lube we have used 4 yrs in cv's is my lube of choice now. Been using in the gear boxes of my mower 4 a long time also and if it will stand up in these it will be fine in a steering box. |
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 33882 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 7:51 am Post subject: |
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Old boxes (with the single metal plug) used oil. The later boxes (with two plastic plugs) used grease. I repack either with Moly EP grease. |
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