Cold Weather Steering Problems

[SasquatchSanta]

I don't normally leave the house when there is a two inch wide swath of ice across the bottom of the inside of my living room windows but lately I've formed a habit of going into town on Saturday mornings to have breakfast at the local eat 'em up. You've all seen 'em --- those small town restaurants with a big round table where the local gentry gathers early in the morning to tell lies about and ice fishing and deer hunting or bitch about the economy or politics. I've got to be careful doing this because I might lose my hermit status.

I didn't check the thermometer before leaving so when the old flathead in my M37 fired up with little fuss I didn't think too much about the temperature until I tried to turn the steering wheel. I also noticed that I had to work with the clutch a little more than usual in letting it out without killing the engine. The steering wheel was next to impossible to turn. I had to made 7 or 8 stabbs to back out of my driveway and onto the road without hitting my mailbox or running off the road. The ****ed steering wheel didNOT want to turn! Finally, after I got the truck out on the road and lined up in the right direction I ran in low gear for about a half mile and moved the steering wheel back and forth a little at a time (about two inches) until I finally got the grease in the steering knuckles freed up enough to navigate the wide sweeping 90 degree turn onto the main road.

When I got into the cafe I learned that the temp was somewhere 35 and 38 below zero. This is the first time I've driven the M37 when it was this cold since rebuilding the front axle assembly. I've got to figure out something to do to get it to steer easier and while I'm at it I might as well address the transmission, transfer case and differentials.

I used a white multi-purpose low temp (NLGI No. 2EP) grease when I packed the steering nuckles. The steering box as well as all the other gear boxes and differentials are running straight 80-90.

Has anybody got any suggestions for the steering knuckles? I can't very well put ATF or Marvel Mystery Oil in the knuckles because it would run out. When I rebuilt the front axle assembly I installed timken bearings on the top and bottom on the spindles. I figured timkens on both the top and bottom versus having a brass bushing on the top would make it wasier to steer? I was told the only reason for the brass bushing on the top instead of a timken was to accomodate air drops.

Lets talk lubrications.

 

[wldrbob]

ultrex synthetic grease NLG 1 good to 20 below used on the drilling rigs a lot they have a dealer in texas i think or alberta in calgary

 

[ralbelt]

Amsoil also has excellent waterproof synthetic grease and a synthetic 90W neither is effected by temp.

 

[bubba_got_you]

funnily enough i have never had this problem in Florida. it will be interesting to see what we come up with

 

[SasquatchSanta]

funnily enough i have never had this problem in Florida. it will be interesting to see what we come up with

Ohhh That's Good

Rub it in.

It was so cold last night the northern lights flickered a couple of times and went out.

 

[Kwai]

How about John Deere cornhead grease. Not sure what it does at 40 below but some M715 guys have used it on their trucks instead of the normal grease.

 

[1stDeuce]

Ernie, if you're running bearings top and bottom in the knuckles, and you used some "Low Temp" grease to pack the knuckles, I think you might start elsewhere... First, the 80-90 in your steering box is thicker than peanut butter at -37 F. You might replace it with some synthetic 80-90 for a bit of improvement. See what that does for you.

Have you adjusted the preload in the steering gear lately? If so, you may have it too tight. The colder it gets, the tighter a given adjustment will be for a steering box, or at least that has been my experience. They certainly stiffen up a LOT when they're cold if you set them tight. You might back it off 1/8" to 14" of a turn...

Same might apply to knuckles... If the preload on the bearings is too tight, they'll start to seize up in the cold.

Man, I didn't think it was getting that cold anywhere yet... I feel bad starting stuff when it's below about -20F. And you're driving an M37 even colder than that just to have breakfast?! You have lost your hermit status for sure!!
C

 

[SasquatchSanta]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I do believe I'll take a look at the steering box first.

That's a good point about the pre-load and cold weather 1stDeuce.

it was 35 below this morning.