Steering gear box leaking...How much $$$ to repair.

[bruce119]

Hey I got a leaking steering gear box at the pitman arm on my 93 X. This doesn't look like something I want to tackle on my own in the driveway on my back. Anyone got some ideas what I mite expect to pay in a shop. Seems to me you can get a new box for about $150.00 and don’t really know how much time but maybe 2-3 hrs. I’m guessing about $400.00...


Any thoughts, tips or suggestions????


Take a look at some photos.

Thanks
Bruce from Florida

 

[Brian1]

$8 seal and whatever the shop rate is for an hour of labor, could be anywhere from $50-100+

It is a simple but slightly messy job to do yourself. Remove the pitman arm nut then remove the snap ring up inside the housing. If the seal doesn't fall out start the engine for a quick second and the pressure will blow it out. Make sure to have a bucket to catch the fluid. Tap the new seals and washers into place (a short piece of pipe or socket helps sized to fit over the shaft and inside the housing, it is in tight quarters to work on), reinstall the snap ring and pitman arm and then tighten the nut, add new fluid and work the wheel left and right (easier if on jackstands) while watching the fluid level to bleed the air bubbles out of the system.

 

[bruce119]

Thanks Brian, that eases my pain a little and gives me some ammo for the shop.

So you don't think they have to pull the box.


Is that space above the Pitman Arm normal. It just looks to me that the arm dropped a bit. Would a bad seal cause that drop or is maybe something else worn.

I do, do a lot of my own work but this doesn't look like fun lying on your back in the driveway.



Thanks

 

[Brian1]

No they shouldn't have to pull the box. I did mine in my driveway and didn't pull the box. I did make a special tool out of a pipe and a piece of plate to drive the new seal back in.

The spacing looks normal to me. Did your steering suffer any sudden impacts or did the leak start under normal driving? If normal driving then there would be nothing to worry about and just replace the seal but if there was an impact to the steering a new box might be the better choice since the pitman arm shaft could have cracked and could eventually fail.

 

[bruce119]

It happened all of a sudden. Only thing I can think I was backing a utility trailer into my back yard and had it hard turned over in reverse. I think maybe that blew the seal never had a leak before yesterday. Woke up this morning and saw a BIG puddle under the truck.

I will report back how it goes at the shop.


Thanks for the replies
.