What exactly do you use in the 240z steering rack?

a search suggests grease but the FSM says a API GL4 oil :surprised

Stephen, pulled the outer end boots off the other day and my old "Z Doctor" had used the same grease he put in the wheel bearings. That was on the ends I could see. I'll check my manual and see what it says. I'm at the same point.

I have always used wheel bearing grease.

Will

The inner and outer tie rod ends should be greased. But if the lube is low inside the rack and pinion tube itself (a rare problem), GL4 gear oil should be added.

ditto on the wheel bearing grease.

i had the grease fittings on 1 side and a plastic plug on the other side which i replaced with a grease fitting. shot it with the grease gun and all seems well.

never heard about the gl4 oil being used, i'd be interested to hear more.

Thanks, I've got the hole on the LHs of rack which is pluged for grease I guess. Below the slack adj nut I have another small bolt, which I opened expecting oil to run out but it appears to be blocked with grease, from the manual you have to fill the rack by removing the slack nut etc.

On closer inspection it seems the LH inner tie rod is loose, can this be replaced or does it mean the whole rack refurb

Ok searched greasing the steering rack on the site, here we are.  

73 240z, purchased a rebuilt steering rack ungreased. What is the procedure?  how do you know it's greased enough?

Single grease fitting under the steering shaft spline. Do I need to add a second grease fitting on the passenger side small bolt?

Thanks.  

Having a hard time understanding why they would rebuild a rack and not grease it during the process. Just can’t imagine how it has not been lubricated.

All you can really do now is remove the rubber boot on the P/S, turn the steering wheel all the way to the right so that it is exposing as much of the P/S rack as possible and grease it up well. Turn the wheel all the way back and forth to spread the grease around and before you put the boot back on put some grease inside the boot.  It will be decades before it needs greasing again.

8 hours ago, grannyknot said:

All you can really do now is remove the rubber boot on the P/S, turn the steering wheel all the way to the right so that it is exposing as much of the P/S rack as possible and grease it up well. Turn the wheel all the way back and forth to spread the grease around and before you put the boot back on put some grease inside the boot.  It will be decades before it needs greasing again.

P/S rack?

25 minutes ago, bluez said:

P/S rack?

Passenger side I think. 

1 hour ago, CanTechZ said:

Passenger side I think. 

The rack that sticks out of the housing when the steering wheel is turned all the way to the right

Ok. here's some pics. The rebuilt steering rack (assumed reassembled with assembly lube) and shipped ungreased. Pics shows a zerk fitting below the steering shaft spline. Does the stock rack not have this zerk fitting in this location?

When gunning grease into the zerk fitting, How much is enough (original question) where should I see it ooze to know it's fully greased?

Re small bolt: read in the thread someone installed a second zerk fitting in the factory breather hole, passenger side. See pic. 

Sorry, not a ton of info in the FSM. 

Thanks, Andrew