04-02-2020, 10:07 PM
Thank you gentlemen for your informative replies.
I am perhaps fortunate inasmuch as my steering box (in common with, surprisingly, the transmission gearbox) is reasonably continent, and, as have mentioned earlier, is in good order, being smooth from lock to lock. Judging by the 'gloop' that came out of the top of the steering column, I suspect that the box was at one time filled with graphited grease. The car's handbook (edition No: 972) suggests grease, but Woodrow recommends filling it with SAE 140. I prefer the idea of a thick oil, for the reasons outlined in Dave Mann's reply and I have filled it up to the bottom of the grease nipple hole.
Series Landrovers now use a thin graphited grease that seems to flow quite easily, as the spherical housings and attendant seals are useless at keeping oil in the swivel housings. I have used this special grease in my own Series III for many years after finding that I was previously replacing the swivel bearings virtually every year for the MOT and anyone who has owned a Landrover will know that it is not the most convenient of jobs. Thus the use of this grease in the steering box may very well be the way forward.
This leaves me with a dilemma: either I can remove the steering box from the car, dismantle and clean it out, charging it with Landrover swivel grease on reassembly, or I can leave things alone and monitor the situation, making sure there is always some rag in the car to wipe away any excess lubricant hopefully before it drips into my lap!
I am inclined, at least at this stage, to the latter course. Removing the steering box from a standard saloon looks to be a bit of a 'Chinese jigsaw puzzle', as I have already discovered that there is insufficient clearance between the top of the column and the roof to get the control tubes out. I am also in the position of not having 'SWMBO' (well, not one that is resident, anyway) and thus any incontinence from the steering gear will only cause me annoyance, rather than also getting either an 'ear-bashing' or three day's silent treatment.
Once again, thank you all for your combined wisdom.
I am perhaps fortunate inasmuch as my steering box (in common with, surprisingly, the transmission gearbox) is reasonably continent, and, as have mentioned earlier, is in good order, being smooth from lock to lock. Judging by the 'gloop' that came out of the top of the steering column, I suspect that the box was at one time filled with graphited grease. The car's handbook (edition No: 972) suggests grease, but Woodrow recommends filling it with SAE 140. I prefer the idea of a thick oil, for the reasons outlined in Dave Mann's reply and I have filled it up to the bottom of the grease nipple hole.
Series Landrovers now use a thin graphited grease that seems to flow quite easily, as the spherical housings and attendant seals are useless at keeping oil in the swivel housings. I have used this special grease in my own Series III for many years after finding that I was previously replacing the swivel bearings virtually every year for the MOT and anyone who has owned a Landrover will know that it is not the most convenient of jobs. Thus the use of this grease in the steering box may very well be the way forward.
This leaves me with a dilemma: either I can remove the steering box from the car, dismantle and clean it out, charging it with Landrover swivel grease on reassembly, or I can leave things alone and monitor the situation, making sure there is always some rag in the car to wipe away any excess lubricant hopefully before it drips into my lap!
I am inclined, at least at this stage, to the latter course. Removing the steering box from a standard saloon looks to be a bit of a 'Chinese jigsaw puzzle', as I have already discovered that there is insufficient clearance between the top of the column and the roof to get the control tubes out. I am also in the position of not having 'SWMBO' (well, not one that is resident, anyway) and thus any incontinence from the steering gear will only cause me annoyance, rather than also getting either an 'ear-bashing' or three day's silent treatment.
Once again, thank you all for your combined wisdom.