Steering- Swivel Bracket

[SkunkBoat]

So, I had fairly tight steering last year. disconnecting the drag link showed the cable to be OK. Definitely caused by the swivel bracket. Not getting new grease into it, none comes out. Just gets pressurized. Tried grease remover into the zerk hole, got me nowhere.

Decided to man up and take it apart. Snapped off a couple bolts, stripped out a phillips screw....After more than a decade in salt, anything below the waterline that has never been unscrewed & lubed is likely to snap when you try to remove it

Well the lower bracket was seized to the end of the steering bracket. After a lot of head scratching, blow torching, penetrating fluid soaking....

I smacked the hell out of it with a BF hammer. Its still usable but New part on its way from Boats.Net $92. I had already bought replacement bushings,shims and a C clip.

You can see from pix that the top was getting no grease, totally dried out.
There was nothing else I could have done so I feel better ...I guess..

Like all outboards, the steering bracket is steel(not stainless) and the housing and lower bracket are aluminum. The new bushings are different, with holes and indentations for better grease flow.