Rack and pinion lubrication

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:50 pm

Have to replace the left hand side rack and pinion steering boot on the L series.
What lubrication (probably grease) are we using.

littlewhiteute · Post by **littlewhiteute** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 5:59 pm

Power or manual steer?

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:42 am

Manual. No power steering on this one.
I think the Gregorys manual states to use Subaru grease. ?
The manual also talks about packing some grease inside the boot before installing.
I had thought to use graphite grease and/or CV grease but not sure.
I will do some "Googling" and see what I can find.
Car is up on chocks and I had to use the MY this morning. So much for retiring.
P/S and electric windows were nice to have again though.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 10:26 am

CV Joint grease would do the trick (IMO) just smear some on the shaft but put a big dob on the knuckle. Try not getting too much grease on the area where the boot clamps to.

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 12:54 pm

Options I have come across for steering gearbox greases are:
Subaru steering grease
Valiant M-2 grease
One Luber SG grease
And possibly the easiest one to find (maybe) is:
Castrol TRW Grease.
This one is a smooth grey consistancy and is Lithium complex based with Moly disulphide solids. Its applications are for plain bearings, steering racks, and ball joints.
Like most places Sunday is not a day where much is open and Auto 1 had nothing I was happy with so I will have to wait till tomorrow. Considering this is not a big job having no grease is a pain. If tomorrow gets me nowhere I will go with CV grease to get back on the road.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 1:14 pm

If you have the time then buy what you feel is best but CV Joint grease is made for extreme conditions, so it will work fine. I use this Grease. Should be available from Supercheap Autos today.

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 3:52 pm

This afternoon I put a little CV grease inside the LH side steering end universal joint boot (looked like some black coloured grease had been there before) and put the uni boot and its clip (1 big clip on the larger end, nothing on the smaller end) back on. I fitted the new steering boot on and over the universal joint and its boot and positioned the smaller end of the new boot on the tie rod end. This means I can put some grease up the new boot and position it on its larger end to finish off.
What I did note was a very small amount of a creamy coloured grease coming out of the steering rack end that would have in time just collected up inside the boot (if it had not broken)
It is never condoned to mix lubricants so I did not choose to put any CV grease into the new boot at this stage.
I cant recall what a lithium based grease looks like but seem to recall it may be a creamy colour.
Does anyone recall what a lithium grease looks like compared to say a petrolium grease.
I found in my shed some creamy coloured grease that I have put into an icecream container some time in the past and of course did not mark the container as to what it is. DOH !!
All I know is I dont want to use a petroleum grease into the boot as I believe it is not good for rubbers.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:10 pm

Grease comes in many colours so it's hard to say what is what.. really best to keep in the original container. But saying this, Lithium grease is generally your 'standard' type of grease and is mostly found in a clear/brown colour. Petroleum grease (jelly) is usually known as vasoline and is a kinda white/clear colour. Synthetic grease comes in so many colours (I use the red/purple one), these are usually the best to use because of the high temp and pressure resistant properties.

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:23 pm

Thanks RSR 555.
You have confirmed my thoughts exactly.
This (my fault) unknown grease is not white like vaso it is more of a Caramel/Brown colour.
Think when I am back to work off holidays on wednesday I will suggest some training in how to ID various greases.
We already have a 2 day course with SKF in bearing technology but "tweaking" the course with lube ID may be an advantage.