Saganaw Manual Steering Gear Box

[PopPop]

GM has a "special lubricant" factory filled in these old Saganaw Manual steering boxes, but no where do they tell what the spec is. Anyone know what to use. I've read chassis grease, but no buying that for a gear box.

 

[Chris142]

I always thought it was sae90 gear oil. Prolly GL1?

 

[Colt45ws]

Is there a fill plug or something you can open up and see whats in it? If it is grease, John Deere Corn Head grease is made for slow speed gear boxes. You might look into it. I think I saw someone recommend it for a steering box application somewhere, but I don't remember where that was.

 

[Kira]

How old is your example and in what kind of vehicle is it?

 

[CorvairGeek]

I've heard of the Corvair folks making a 50/50 mix of a gear oil and Lubriplate because of the mystery GM left us with. It's not a demanding application, just don't want it too stiff when cold or to leak out on what are now, pretty old gear boxes.

Not a perfect or the best answer.

 

[PopPop]

thanks for the advice. CorvairGeek is aware. Saginaws were used up to early 80's I think. One more of GM's secrets I guess. What is in it? Just some old smelly sludge, but now that is gone and it's squeaky clean. It was thicker than rear diff oil, but thinner than chassis lube.