Hi, does the bung in the top of the steering box come out easy. I’m going to attempt to check and refill if required. I have the Penrite steering box oil/grease plus 200ml syringe ready to go. I’m not removing the box but checking in situ. As with all vw T2 simple tasks I thought of the what ifs…. 1. Will the bung play ball and come out easily. 2.!what if it’s 1970s plastic and disintegrated or the has a o seal that’s failing. where do I get a replacement as I have looked on the JK , Vw Heritage sites, c ustom and commercial and cannot seem to find it. Anybody had to replace the bung and any tips for the steering box top up procedure ! many thanks in advance
its just a push fit bung, problem is its gone hard/brittle i find taking the steering cover off inside is easiest and work from there @Keith.H did do the kits for resealing the boxes, and it contained the bung, he may have some left ?
Don’t put grease in your steering box. 80 grade gear oil will do. The bung should simply prise out of the top of the box. May be covered in filth, so hard to see. Should come out ok. It’s red.
…red plastic, with an o-ring on it. If your box is losing oil, likely the bottom seal needs replacing, which means taking the box out. Easy enough to do.
Certainly up to at least '74/75, getting that cover out of the way involves removing the steering wheel de-assembling most of the steering column. It would be easier to remove the steering box!
Also its well worth taking things apart for cleanliness reasons - disconnect drag link, unbolt steering box leaving the arm on it, thread it through the hole in the chassis member complete with arm attached. If you really must take off the arm, note its alignment with the marks on the shaft and the arm. Loosen the nut a couple of turns then wind up the pressure on a good puller. When it goes off with a bang the nut catches it rather than the puller going off across the room at high speed. Clean crud off the top so dirt does not get inside as you lever off the cap. Turn the box upside down for a while to drain metal filings and oil, refill with gearbox oil. If it leaks, get new seals.
I think @zedders meant that the floor plate on earlier vans is clamped by the plastic insulator at the bottom, so is a right pain to get off. The later ones are just a guide plate.
That's nice, but is the OP's who you are advising? Or would he be back later having shredded his insulator ring trying to follow your advice because he has an earlier bus? Now at least he knows there's a big difference.
Yep we are I have a late bay 1973 steering box but the screws to the cover plate on the inside cab floor are solid and I’m putting a ocean of penetrating oil on the fixings both from on top and underneath… to see if they will turn eventually. Otherwise it’s resort to removing the box which is obviously more work and I need a puller etc .. I’m only a engine maintenance sort of bloke but will need to take on these extra tasks if push comes to shove cheers for all the advice amazing
Exactly the point I've been trying to make. Undoing those screws on a '73 will only allow you to slide that plate around a little. You will not even get a look at the steering box that way. The best way to imagine it is the outer columm, plastic insulator and floor plate are one piece until you lift all 3 together which requires you remove the steering wheel etc first.
If it’s a late 73 model don’t waste your time trying to get the cover up inside as it’s a steering column removal job, the cover doesn’t slide upwards. I’m hoping to check/top up the box from underneath. Otherwise I’m leaving it as it’s not leaking.
Penrite steering box oil is what I was recommended it’s an oil but very thick almost a grease at room temp
It’s not leaking.., unless it’s empty already ! But I wanted to know if it’s got some lubricant in it. sounds like from all the advice i need to remove the box as explained by mikedjames
