Steering box lube

[Cptn. Calzone]

Wolfgang reccomends Power punch EP1 or equilavent, for their boxes. I am looking for this goo and cannot find it locally and need to install the box on Sat. Anyone have a reccomendation? I have a NEW-Rebuilt box and want to feed it properly Thank you
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71 westfalia
67 912 Porsche Quintilla
67 Single Cab aka my work horse

[WestyPop]

ASSuming the rebuilt steering box is a '68-70 unit, IIRC the OG spec was for 90W, but I'd get Wolfgang to name their #2 fave lube, since hopefully, they machined/sealed the box better than when brand new.

Power Punch http://www.powerpunch.biz/Power_Punch_Gear_Oil.html contains MoS2, so possibly a good Lucas manual steering lube, plus some MoS2 additive (pre-mixed before force feeding it to the steering box) would be a good substitute.

Remember to check the steering damper also. Enjoy your new-found sense of control, Captain!
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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
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J.R.
68 Westy
(+ others)

[raygreenwood]

Most of the steering box lubes "were" a 90 weight bot not a hypoid gearbox oil. They were a 90 weight with a sulphur based additive package and thickener...similar to a browning PTO or gearbox oil.

I don't drive a bus, but the guts are similar in mine. I use Superlube synthetic grease...packed until there is no space or air. It stays the consistency of warm vasolene to 40 below....is EP rated, blows away all the oil based ones, is synthetic, non-toxic...and if your seal craps oil...will not run out of the box. I've put about 100k miles on it and several other people have done this mod mostly uin VW 412's but I have done it on super beetles and type 3 as well. Ray

[kevin77westy]

Has anyone ever tried "00" (aka double ought) grease in a steering box? Is that what you are talking about Ray?? Its sort of has jelly like consistency but is pourable. It is used in lawn mower transmissions, especially snappers.. I used it in a mower gearbox a couple of years ago and it seems like it would work nicely for this application as well. I know some ford/chevy guys run it in their steering boxes.. Its kinda hard to find in some places but my local NAPA had it in stock.. Just a thought..

[raygreenwood]

[SGKent]

Maybe over-kill, maybe not. The wear is on the worm faces and the bushings. The problem with the 90 wt is that when it leaks, it leaks out then the contact goes metal to metal. I've pulled several boxes apart now to rebuild and the wear was minimal on the one that was high mileage but still had oil. The dry one with less mileage was the one with wear, which is the one I am using now until I rebuild another I have. I think that just 90 wt is fine but if yours leaks then Ray's solution would be good until it can be resealed. FYI - we got seals from KAMAN bearing, both the top and bottom seals on the late boxes are common sizes that are still available.
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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

[raygreenwood]

Yes....good points. Bear in mind that the reason I went to this grease and method on the 411/412 steering boxes....may not be necessary for the bus. The reasons are the same. When these things leak, the oil goes away and damage comes quick.

The seal on our type 4 steering boxes is unique. The closest you can get is one with the same ID. At best you can epoxy it in around the perimeter. Even with that method...I did not feel safe about its ability to keep oil in as epoxy does not stick all that well to elastomers like the rubber seal surround.
Add to that...I CAN get a bug, bus or type 3 steering box either new, used or rebuilt. Type 4 steering boxes have been unobtanium (new) since the early 80's, are rare to be found used and are much more complex than the bus steering box (they are recirculating ball and worm). So...something safer than "leakable" oil had to be done in the face of unsure sealing ability. And...it had to be a lubricant that would insure that it would be virtually impossible to wear out this hard to find part. It works very well.....but as SGkent mentioned...it may be overkill. Ray

[hazetguy]

the output shaft seal is a metric seal, size 28 - 38 - 7, readily available, and you can even get them with an additional scraper edge to help keep dirt out.
the upper seal is also a metric sized seal, 22 x 32 x 7 / 8 (the 7/8 is the seal height in mm 7 - 8mm, not 7/8 of an inch). i believe the correct term is a "wiper seal" because of the extended sealing lip on top, but perhaps a regular seal could be used in this application? my only concern would be dirt getting in it.

a very quick google search yields several suppliers for both of these seals. i've even found them for sale on eBay.

more pics: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC

upper seal:

output shaft seal:

[mattcuddy]

[hazetguy]

oh, i presumed he was talking about type 4 powered busses. i edited my post to reflect this possible contradiction.
why would anyone care about an actual Type 4 in the bay bus forum?

[Nica]

My box leaks so I use STP

[mattcuddy]

[Cptn. Calzone]

Had a productive day today.We installed the new Wolfgang steering box and man what a difference in control and tracking I used a LubroMolly gear oil with a mollygraphite additive mixed real thick like cold molassas and filled up the new box.After speaking with Wolfgang about power punch They suggested this route as the graphite Molly is the secret ingredient in the Power punch. I took thye Westy out on a twisty road and was smiling ear to ear.
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71 westfalia
67 912 Porsche Quintilla
67 Single Cab aka my work horse

[Tom Powell]

What is the correct steering box lubricant for a 1968 camper?

I did a search of this topic, it was interesting, but I did not find the exact answer I was looking for.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...mp;start=0

I just purchased a rebuilt built steering box and about to install it. The packaging from the rebuilder recommended Power Punch EP-1. However the Power Punch website describes their product as an additive.

The Idiot's Guide says 90 wt gear lube. Another source says SAE 90 transmission oil. Another source recommended a mixture of STP oil additive and CV joint grease. In the Bentley I could not find a recommended lubricant for '68 through '72. The Bentley recommends hypoid oil for '73 and later. The owner's manual has no recommendation for steering box lubricant.

I am reluctant to use Power Punch EP-1 if it is only an additive.
STP and CV grease sounds hokey.
90 wt gear oil sounds good, but I would consider the source for that recommendation
I'm inclined to use Sta-Lube SAE 85W90 GL-4 which is what I use in my manual transmission

Should I assume that GL-4 doesn't need an additive?
Should I assume that Power Punch EP-1 would improve the GL-4?
Should I assume that Power Punch EP-1 is a good lubricant, not just an additive?

Aloha
tp

[ccpalmer]

I read somewhere on The Samba to use Red Line MT-90 GL-4, so that's what I used on my '71
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'71 Westy

[raygreenwood]

[richparker]

[Wildthings]

I would just fill it with something like a EP #1 moly grease or a synthetic #1 or #2 moly grease. I agree that the main thing in preventing wear in these boxes is keeping them sufficiently full of lubricant.

[raygreenwood]

[SGKent]