Leaking steering box

[gharmon]

I checked at advance auto parts and they have several different things that could be a possibility. I'm leaking from the steering box where the pitman shaft comes out. Is this a pitman shaft seal or a worm shaft seal? They showed a couple other possible seals. Is this a common leak?

i have a 91 sport.

Thanks,

Gerald

 

[Tbars4]

...This is a pretty common problem but it is related to age...If you replace just one seal it will work for a while...If you replace all seals it will last longer...The only problem is the hard parts have the wear of age also so determining how long the repair will last is unknown...

 

[gharmon]

Which one is the main one that's leaking. I'm a temporary fix-it type of guy. which is the one I most likely need the most?

Thanks,

Gerald

...This is a pretty common problem but it is related to age...If you replace just one seal it will work for a while...If you replace all seals it will last longer...The only problem is the hard parts have the wear of age also so determining how long the repair will last is unknown...

 

[dirtnap]

What I plan on doing, since pitman arms can be a pain, is going to the boneyard and getting a non leaking box, and just swapping them out.

 

[RhainyC]

Gerald,

Do yourself a favor and replace all the parts, that pitman arm is a real bear. Been there, done that, hubby has the bruises to prove it. My truck had a crack in the steering gearbox _and_ was leaking from the bottom as well. If you're going to the trouble of pulling the gearbox and pitman arm off, replace all replaceable bits etc...it will save you a ton of headaches in the long run.

Good luck on whichever route you go!

 

[gharmon]

Ok sh*t. I hadnt looked yet at the job. I was thinking this was something I could pop the pitman arm off and replace a seal. But your saing that the steering box has to come off? The seal must have to be replaced from the inside?

Gerald

Gerald,

Do yourself a favor and replace all the parts, that pitman arm is a real bear. Been there, done that, hubby has the bruises to prove it. My truck had a crack in the steering gearbox _and_ was leaking from the bottom as well. If you're going to the trouble of pulling the gearbox and pitman arm off, replace all replaceable bits etc...it will save you a ton of headaches in the long run.

Good luck on whichever route you go!

 

[James909]

The steering gear doesn't have to come out if you are just replacing the output shaft seal. I have plans on replacing this seal on my truck when I get around to it. The problem with just replacing a seal though is as Tbars mentioned the rest of the steering gear is worn as well. So replacing the seal may stop the leak for a while but eventually it may leak worse than before. This is why I am just replacing this seal as a temporary measure and plan on replacing the gear with a rebuilt one when it starts to leak again. I want to eventually clean up the steering slop anyway. BTW at the auto parts store they may use the term "sector shaft seal" to refer to this seal.

 

[3 of 7]

My one ton was puking fluid out of both that seal and the pump seal, I put half a bottle of Lucas seal conditioner in it 6 months ago and it hasn't lost a drop since...
Best 15 bux I ever spent.

 

[gharmon]

Where do I get it? Does most auto stores have it? Wal mart?

Gerald

My one ton was puking fluid out of both that seal and the pump seal, I put half a bottle of Lucas seal conditioner in it 6 months ago and it hasn't lost a drop since...
Best 15 bux I ever spent.

 

[3 of 7]

I just got it at my local auto parts place. It's an Auto parts plus. They had power steering conditioner and auto tranny stuff too.... I've tried the wynn's stuff and stp over the years and neither of those worked for me.

 

[RhainyC]

Ooops! Sorry I didn't clarify more...

I simply meant if you are pulling the pitman arm off, it might simply behoove you to go ahead and replace the parts while it is all apart. I tend to be one to take preventative measures cause working on my rig is a real pain with no garage or carport.

Sorry if I was misunderstood.