76 FJ40 steering box with grease instead of 90w?

[South Texas 97]

Not yet ready to rebuild my steering box, but in the interests of replacing all the tie rods and the rag joint, thought I should at least change the steering box oil, 0.6qt of 90W oil. Removed the steering box with the pitman arm attached, you can get it out without removing or at least loosening the fender, but it is a tight squeeze. I had to loosen up the steering shaft mounts as well to give me the space to lift the box off the studs,and a couple of rotations, and levering on the inner fender just a bit, it came out through the wheel well.
Got it cleaned up pretty good, removed the bung, only to find the box full of grease and not oil. It seems to have 5 1/2 turns lock to lock, and there are a couple of places where it seems a bit crunchy.

I put some 90W oil, but it only took about 3 oz, so for now will button it back up, and put it on the list for future work.

One way valve cleaned

ready for some paint, and reinstall

took some measurements

 

[Green Bean]

Very nice work! (I think I read somewhere the old timers would sometimes fill their steering boxes with grease to prolong rebuilding...)

 

[Skreddy]

It is even in the Toyota manual that grease can be used if a suitable repair is not viable, or something like that.

 

[South Texas 97]

Thanks for the quick response, a rebuild of the box is on the list, but not today!