Steering box contamination

[3crispies]

About 5 years ago drained oil out and it was a yellowish colour, assumed water contamination so refilled with steering box oil cant remember which type. Box has a slight weep and felt a bit notchy so again drained oil and appears to be a murky colour and had what appears to be metal seperating from the oil when in a clear container.
Have ordered new seals but considering a 50/50 oil and grease mix as thing box needs a complete overhaul which I need to look into. Will this mix actually have any gains ?.

[dodger tom]

steve at wolfgang int’l, who sold me a rebuilt steering box, recommends 1/2 oil and 1/2 grease, but i can’t remember the specifics. call him, or wait for feedback from more knowledgable members.
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1978 Champaign Edition Westfalia
Would never find the time to keep up another classic air-cooled.

[SGKent]

Gl4 gear oil and check it once a year. New seals will help the drip. Also keeping it properly adjusted will slow a drip too.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Manfred58sc]

100% full synthetic like Super Lube, the viscosity and resistance to emulsion with water is unparalleled. Any other modality is yesterdays technology
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Fat chick owner/operator

[bsairhead]

John Deere corn head grease.

[SGKent]

the problem with corn head grease is that all the feral pigs come out at night to chew the tires when it leaks. If they get it on them ...

future bus owners chasing a future tire chewer


Link

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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[dodger tom]

here is some reading on the subject:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=396007&highlight=steering+box

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=451071&highlight=steering+box+grease

no pig chasing that i know of, though.
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1978 Champaign Edition Westfalia
Would never find the time to keep up another classic air-cooled.

[crownline]

How do they get grease out of the head of corn.
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1972 Bus 1700 cc Single Carb. But not a progressive.
Barelymuvin
Wish I still had the ones I got rid of.

"It"s got some dings and dents and neither of us is going to SEMA."(Update, I went to SEMA in 2019 but the Bus stayed home)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-8446.png]Click to view image[/URL]

[bsairhead]

[SGKent]

[bsairhead]

[raygreenwood]

Years back....late 90s..... I started installing 50/50 oil and grease. While it does the trick because it has the film strength and EP capability of grease and the flow-ability of a high ISO gear oil so it does not readily leak out.......its VERY difficult to get a correct formulation that will not have an oxidization/incompatibility issue between the grease base and gear oil base.

What I found worked....is compatible....is exactly what manfred58sc stated. The superglue synthetic grease....mixed with superlube synthetic gear oil is perfectly compatible.

But....kind of a pain to mix and install. It is moderately thixotropic....shear thinnable....so if you can whip it up it's easier to pump in.

Looking for thixotropic greases.....or actually gear GREASES.....which is what the steering boxes on the 411 anx 412 came with....which are really a very heavy oil....or a light grease....take your pick......I later found out about Cornhead grease which is a 0 or 00 grade of shear thinning grease that works ideally in steering boxes and power take off systems. Ray

[3crispies]

Thanks for all replies due to cold snap here before christmas couldnt get the box lube wam enough to flow, weather here in the Uk is mild compared to elsewhere so have replaced seals cleaned and refitted.
Just need to look into adjusting properly.....

[SGKent]

what year bus is it?
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin