| [GMCnet] Synpower Ain't Forever [message #183431] |
Thu, 06 September 2012 19:40  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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As I've recounted here numerous times, I cured a "notchy" steering CV joint
some years ago (8+?) by greasing it with Valvoline Synpower grease with
MS02. During the intervening years I've never had a problem again and have
only rarely greased either of the Zerk's on the steering column (neither of
which does anything for the CV anyway).
During the just-finished 400 mile Labor Day weekend trip, the "notchiness"
came back. I'd had some inkling that something was fishy during my
previous trip, but nothing dramatic. During the last trip, there was no
doubt -- a couple of times, if I hadn't nudged the wheel back to straight
ahead, I'd have been in the ditch.
Today I pulled the steering shaft and disassembled it. The CV joint balls
and races looked perfect, but after cleaned, the thing was almost
completely rigid -- I used a plastic mallet when I wanted to change the
orientation of the pieces. After removing each ball and cleaning it and
its races, I re-Synpower-ed the whole thing, Smooth as silk again now.
There was no sign of any deterioration of any part of the CV, nor of the
grease. I'd packed it tightly with grease and there was a good solid
"plug" of it in the top of the coupling -- there's been no water intrusion.
Despite that fact, this time I machined a Nylon plug to go in the
coupling, below the steering shaft. I have no idea why the notchiness
returned.
I'd installed a lower boot, over the blue splined shaft, thinking to
prevent water intrusion there. That may have been a mistake. The boot was
deteriorated to the point that it was open most of the way around just
above where the lower (outer) shaft begins. Before it became porous, it
had been holding water -- I know because the entire circumference of the
shell which holds the seal on the top of that shaft was severely rusted &
pitted. I don't think I'll replace that boot, but leave the blue shaft
exposed, as it was from the factory. The rubber 3-lip seal at the top
seems to still be in good condition, so little water should get into the
lower shaft (which one Zerk lubricates). If I do anything, it will be to
put a simple "umbrella" over the joint to minimize the water striking the
seal, without holding water in the area.
n. :-(
I'll squirt the lower U-joint Zerk before I re-install the shaft -- it may
never be touched again, hard as it is to reach. :-(
The moral of this story is: "As good as Synpower may be, it doesn't last
forever!"
Ken H.
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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