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TR4/4A TR4A Steering Box Lubricant

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Stinger

Stinger

Jedi Hopeful
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Ive read where some people use 90w gear oil in the steering box but the service manual says to use grease which I assume is the same as whats is used for the tie rods and ball joints. Which is correct? Thanks
 
What steering box? A 4A should have rack & pinion steering.

Earlier cars with a steering box definitely used gear oil in the box (as per the manual); later cars with R&P used grease in the rack (as per manual).

Trunnions (lower steering swivels) were just the opposite, early cars used grease, TR4A-onwards used gear oil.

TR4A lubricants (overseas)
 
Sorry for the confusion. I meant the rack and pinion. Anyway I just removed one of the boots and its definitely grease in there. Thanks
 
Another question. Should the boots be filled with grease or put back on empty? Are the boots just for keeping dirt and water out? Also how much grease should be pumped back in the r&p after boot removal? Thanks again.
 
The boots are just to keep dirt & water out, don't fill them with grease.

The rack doesn't necessarily need to be greased after reinstalling the boots, but if it hasn't been greased recently, I'd give it another 5 shots.
 
Since we're discussing basics -- I assume you know that to grease the rack you undo that brass bolt/plug that holds the ground wire on the top of the rack and thread in a zerk -- then go at it with the gun (at least that's how it is on my TR4).
 
And for some unknown reason the new racks have a different fitting on the pinion, have no brass bolt on top, and consequently have no ready means by which to fasten the ground. I was going to rebuild my old rack for that reason alone.
 
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