Comboverfish wrote:
>
> jim beam wrote:
>
>
>>the old grease should be fine. do /not/ use vaseline - it's petroleum
>>based.
>
>
> Egad! It might mix with the hydraulic oil (power steering fluid)...
> which is also petroleum based. If rack seals were inherently
> intolerant to petroleum, they would never last in P/S fluid either.
> Vaseline can be used much the same way it has been used forever in
> automatic trans rebuilds. It's not necessary if you are careful with
> the end seals or use a cone installation tool, but certainly OK. It
> melts away at low temps and dissipates in the system much better and
> safer than a run-of-the-mill bearing type grease.
>
> Toyota MDT in MO
>
well, honda power steering fluid is /not/ compatible with other power
steering fluids - it wrecks seals. i don't know for sure what the
situation is, but if it were a silicone oil rather than a mineral oil,
that could easily account for the manufacturer spec for silicone grease
and would /definitely/ rule out compatibility with vaseline.