Hello All.....I developed a severe power steering leak today and found it to be pouring out around the main shaft that connects to the pitman arm. I'm guessing it's a seal so I'm wondering if the seal can be changed without removing the steering box from the truck?

I'd hate to change the whole box, not only due to the cost but because all of the lines are really rusty...could be a disaster.

I was surprised that I couldn't find much info on repairing or replacing the steering box....any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

My only experience on a job like that was on a 1978 f-100. Pulled the pitman arm,
pulled the steering shaft out, pulled old seals,replaced with new seals, if i remember right,
on that truck, there was like two or three seals stacked on top of each other. replaced the shaft, pitman arm, and i think the drag link,and it was good to go. Now whether this will work on our trucks or not, i do not know,but maybe this will help. Maybe someone who has done one of our trucks will chime in.

 

Well it's very good to hear that changing the seals without pulling the box was at least possible on an older Ford. Thanks for sharing. Maybe there's hope...

I hope to dig into it this afternoon. I've done a lot of mechanical work on cars and motorcycles but have never touched a steering gear box. Sure sounds like the pitman arms can be tough to pull off...I've seen some scary videos of people trying to pull them!

 

Try to see if you can even find new seals at all.. If you can find the seals, then it could be assumed that they are replaceable. If you have a hard time finding the seals (even at a Ford Dealer), that's probably a clue that it's not really a serviceable part..

Mine has been 'weeping' for years.. The dealer told me when it starts to actually leave drips on the ground, it's time for 'replacement'... I took that to mean the whole pump..

Good luck with it!

Mitch

 

There are quite a few kits available at my local parts stores. I've also read some articles on changing the seals....I'm just not sure if it can be done if the steering gear box is left on the truck....that's what I'm really hoping for.

Here are a few examples of the kits available:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...RPSTERAMS_____

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...CGRP60016_____

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...RPSTERAMS_____

If it weren't for all of the hoses being so rusted, I think changing the gear box would probably just as easy as reparing the old one.

 

All the seals are available from Rock Auto either individually or in a complete rebuild kit. I would think that rebuilding a box would be a lot cheaper than a new one if you can manage to do it.

 

Yeah, start off with just a simple rebuild and once you get it apart, who knows what else you'll find..

I think the dealer said something like $500 for them to do the job.. That's me dropping it off and picking it up later.. No grease under the nails.. Just a very lighter wallet!

Pumps themselves, I've seen Reman ones for under $100 and the hoses don't seem to be that much either.. Around $15

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=236163

If I were to be attempting to do this myself, I think I'd just go the whole reman pump route myself.. Get some new hoses just for good measure.

As I'm getting older however, these types of DIY jobs are becoming less and less interesting to me...

And I have a garage full of cool tools to use too!

Mitch

 

Mitch - I think his leak is in the steering gearbox, not the pump.........

 

I've replaced a seal on an F250. as I recall it really wasn't a big deal..

 

Around here a reman gear box is about $150 plus another $100 for core. Seal is only $9.00 if I can get away with only that. I'll take a closer look this evening and see about getting the hoses off, etc...

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...GRPSTERAMS____

EDIT: Wow, the other local parts store also wants around $150 but the core charge is $223! I'd have to shell out $400 to get one there...

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...er=260891_0_0_

 

Thanks glc.... I had a brain fart and kept calling it a 'pump', but I was "thinking" gear box the whole time!

Mitch

 

I'm pretty sure its just a mater of removing the pitman arm and its right there snap ring might hold it in place. Could be something wrong causing the seal to fail though.

 

MKII, I did mis-quote the cost of the gear box.. See my post to glc above... Yep, around $150 + core.. Still not all that bad to get a completely rebuilt box, IMO.. Sure you can swap out the seals and all for a few bucks and if you were going to be getting rid of it, that would probably do fine.. If it's still going to be your daily driver.. Well, that's up to you.

At least you would get the core charge back once it was done!

That dealer installed deal is not looking as bad for me now..

Mitch

 

I'd love to be able to drop it off and have it fixed...just not an option right now...you know how it is.

I was just saying last night, Money might not buy happiness but I bet it makes a lot of things easier!

 

Another option, depending on price, would be to get a steering box from a junkyard. That way, the condition of it wouldn't matter as you could get it on the cheap and replace all the seals. Then you're essentially replacing your box with a reman, only one you did yourself.