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Replace seal and dust cap BJ8 steering box.

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Susan Lybolt

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Is there a problem replacing the seal and dust cap on BJ8 steering box? It looks like there is a portion of the splines showing from the idler.
 
Susan, I don't think there is much that can be done with the steering box without taking it out of the car. And that is a pretty big job. Some have said that you can get the steering arm off the splined shaft with it in the car, but I never found a puller that would fit in there. I suppose with some creative fabrication you could weld up some pieces that might fit but I was stripping my car anyway and did all the work on the bench. I installed two seals and it still leaks a little. I think it might be really hard to get the seal out with the box still in the car. Just my opinion. Dave.
 
Susan Lybolt said:
Is there a problem replacing the seal and dust cap on BJ8 steering box? It looks like there is a portion of the splines showing from the idler.
Click to expand...

I've done it, but it's a PITA. IIRC, you need a 'stubby' puller--Harbor Freight is fine for this--and you'll have to grind some to get it to work. Then, you can extract the seal with either screwdrivers or ground-down steed rods with the very tip bent for hooks. The new seal(s) can be pushed in with some custom drifts made from--you guessed it--ground down 1/4" steel rods.
 
I did this last month with the box still in the car. As mentioned above the difficulty is getting a puller that will fit in the small space available. The one I used didn't fit 100% and was at a slight angle rather than vertical. With a fair bit of patience and a lot of swearing I finally got the arm off.
 
Hi Derek
one photo of your puller is agreeed by me (just to buy the right one)
Thanks in advance
 
Hi Susan,

Why go through the trouble of a difficult fix or even box extraction? ifyour steering box performs properly but leaks, consider an alternatefill. A while back there was a thread that focused on steering boxand idler fill lubricants that were thicker then the recommended oil and morelike grease, would not leak, but provide lubrication and ease ofoperation. Such greases as John Deere Corn Head grease, NAPA 0W EngineAssembly 0w grease, Penrite Steering Box lubricant, and even STP Oil Treatment.

As an example, the John Deere CornHead grease was formulated for slowspeed gear cases and is an NLGI grade 0 extra soft lubricating grease. Additionally, it contains extreme-pressureadditives, excellent at high and low temperatures, contains anti-rustproperties, as well as resistant to water and moisture washout. At less then $4.00 a tube, it is reasonablypriced.

So, you have a choice of rebuildand/or reseal using the original Healey recommended oil or select one of themany alternatives available.

Hope this helps,
Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
Ray,

I have been using Penrite steering box lube for years, but even that was leaking out of my box in surprising quantities. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and replace the seal.
 
Andrea

Here is a photo of the puller I used. As I mentioned it did not fit perfectly and it often slipped off the arm due to it being at an angle to avoid the lower suspension A arm. Eventually after a lot of effort I got it stable and was able to make some small turns on the tightening nut. It doesn't take much before the arm will suddenly release.
 

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Whoa !!!
Any lubricant that will not leak out if the seal fails will cause the box itself to fail.

Just do not put any GREASE in the box If it leaks fix it,:hammer:

OH I agree: it can be done in the car and finding the right puller is a PITB.-:highly_amused:
 
Drain out the oil , fill it with corn head grease , problem solved . This is a fix that has been done for years and works and I have done it in my cars no problems . Corn head grease is a semi solid grease used in corn auger gearboxes very similar in operation to Healey steering boxes .
 
9 times out of ten replacing the seal won't fix the leak as the problem is not the seal but the shaft it fits around I even tried putting two seals in and it still leaked . The shaft could be scored or marked in some way . Save yourself a whole lot of time effort frustration cursing swearing bloodied knuckles and and don't forget money and just put the corn head grease in and be done with it ......permanently
 
Andrea

I do not think you will be able to use the three legs. There is not enough space, plus the steering arm only has two 'shoulders' on which you can get a grip.
 
Healey Nut said:
Drain out the oil , fill it with corn head grease , problem solved . This is a fix that has been done for years and works and I have done it in my cars no problems . Corn head grease is a semi solid grease used in corn auger gearboxes very similar in operation to Healey steering boxes .
Click to expand...

Well it probably froze in the winter an take all summer to thaw out up there so I guess it works.-:devilgrin:
 
Keoke,

From your comments, I gather you are not for using the John Deere Corn Head grease and, although I do not agree with associating your destructive steering box conclusions to all grease-type lubricants, would like to know and understand what facts and specific experience you are basing and associating to this product. Innuendo and generality aside, I am not talking about using chassis grease but a specific lubricant that was designed for a very similar situation and that has been know to resolve a difficult issue. So, I look to understand the definitive reasoning behind your conclusion that I have come to appreciate from you on past presented positions.

Thanks and all the best,
Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
Previous thread: "Steering box oil":
Penrite Steering Box Lube (NLGI 00) and John Deere Corn Head Grease (NLGI 0) are quite similar greases. The Penrite is not an oil, it's a grease and says so on the packaging and in their materials.

From Wikipedia:

Here in the USA, the JD is quite inexpensive and the Penrite is difficult to come by. The JD has a long history of being used in vintage car steering boxes.

For specs, see:
https://www.penriteoil.com.au/pis_pdf...BER%202013.pdf
https://jdparts.deere.com/partsmkt/...alMultiPurpose.htm#_Special-purpose_corn_head
 
Keoke,

From your comments, I gather you are not for using the John Deere Corn Head grease '

BEIN A Country:cowboy: boy I never heard of it.
But early boxes had grease fittings on them and they were removed because the grease was pushed aside which caused the boxes to fail.
Read about that a long tine ago too in one of those restoration type articles,but maybe they was wrong????--:highly_amused:
 
Keoke said:
Keoke,

From your comments, I gather you are not for using the John Deere Corn Head grease '

BEIN A Country:cowboy: boy I never heard of it.
But early boxes had grease fittings on them and they were removed because the grease was pushed aside which caused the boxes to fail.
Read about that a long tine ago too in one of those restoration type articles,but maybe they was wrong????--:highly_amused:
Click to expand...

Been a country boy and never heard of corn head grease ?? You cant be that country !!! They failed as they were using the wrong grease . Yep the articles were wrong ...very wrong ....
 
Been a country boy and never heard of corn head grease ??
You cant be that country !

Well seriously all we :cowboy:had was some cows and horses ,Whats thos John Deer things they talikin about??---:highly_amused:
 
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