Steering box rebuild

[Kurt G.]

While under my car recently I found a bit of power steering fluid around the seals on my steering box. The box is working fine, it just needs new seals. I am wondering whether a rebuild is a project I want to attempt myself, or if I should just send mine out to get it done by a professional. I have moderate mechanical skills, but I'm a little nervous about tearing into my babies components and screwing something up. Anybody out there done it and have any comments on how tough a job this is, and or how easily an overhaul and reseal can be screwed up. Can the unit be resealed without a full overhaul? Any special tools needed?

[Jim T.]

Re: Steering box rebuild

Kurt I do not believe you found power steering fluid around the seals of your steering gear mounted on the frame. The steering gear contains grease. What most likely around your bottom seal is leakage from the grease unless someone put some power steering fluid in your steering gear.

[Edward J.]

Re: Steering box rebuild

Kurt, the stering box seal is a easy job, you'll need a good heavy duty pitman arm puller,(maybe one of your local parts stores rents them, or just buy one they not that expensive) Next center the steering wheel, remove pitman arm, (note the position of the arm). Then remove the three bolts on the aluminun housing and the tap the bottom of shaft up and remove upward with out trying to rotate the shaft,then look at pitman shaft and note the position of the gear, so when you drop back into same position. once the shaft is out you'll need tap out the old seal and install a new one, and wipe out the steering box housing w/ a few rags and put a tube mobil one chassis grease into box. If you have any questions let me know.

If you don't want to replaced the grease in box, just remove the pitman arm and use a small flat blade screw driver and get under the seal and pry out. but chances are the box grease maybe old and the gease tends to harden and turn to waxy and you will find the box works alittle easier w/new grease.

[Kurt G.]

Re: Steering box rebuild

Thanks, Ed. I knew when I posted it wasn't fluid from the box, but it was late after a long day and that's what my brain said to type. You make it sound easy. I'll give it a shot.

[Ridge K.]

Re: Steering box rebuild

Kurt, should you decide to use professional help .... I might mention to you that one fellow NCRS member who is requently on the TDB dipensing technical advice is Gary Ramadei. Any time I see a professional vendor taking his time to help for free on the TDB, it hits home with me.

I have never used Gary's steering box rebuild services so cannot honestly endorse his work, but I can tell you he has many, many posts helping others on the site. He seems very knowledgeable.
I think a whole lot about the good fellow members who truly are the top experts in the hobby ...giving freely of their time.
I try to help myself, but unfortunately I am only an expert at eating, drinking, and ....... sorry, I can't remember that third thing.

Ridge