Leaking steering box

[shanmeg1]

Leak in my steering box. Any ideas on how to find the leak if I've already power washed it and can't find it? Is there any seals that could have burst? John

[mrsnicks]

I'm assuming power steering gear box?

I had the same problem with my 1972. It was actually leaking out of a seep hole in the box. Turned out my seals were bad and it was coming straight out the side of the box through the weep/seep hole.

Was told this was to let you know when your seals were bad. Didn't feel like rebuilidng it... grabbed one outta the junk yard and it help up well.

Patrick

[jzjames]

just read a tech article which said using gear oil as a lube in the steering box will allow it to leak past the bottom seal to the pitman arm. Grease was recommended instead. Take a look.
http://www.stangerssite.com/lubrication.html

[shanmeg1]

Is it hard to replace the seals in the box?

[FoMoCo]

Great, My saginaw box decided to start dumping fluid this week. Its dry except around the pitman shaft. I ordered a new seal. We'll seewhat happens.

Nick

[binder56jd]

jzj- good article - learned something - thanks

[shanmeg1]

Nick can you get pic when you put the seal in? Thanks john

[FoMoCo]

I got every thing squared away.
This morning I walked out into the garage and found the entire system's fluid on the floor. Here's a quick step by step of how I did this while the box was on the truck.

Remove the pitman arm. I beleive it was a 1-5/16 socket.
Have a good set of internal snap ring pliers ready, that dude was 2"
Remove the ring
Lightly use a punch and tap to on the washer looking ring under the snap ring, it should fall free.
Next is the seal.
Use a center punch and make a dimple on oposite sides of the metal seal.
Next use a fine thread sheet metal screw and screw into the seal where the dimple are. The screws will bore into the seal and with two pliers, come right out.
Next, repeat the washer ring and seal removal procedure because the saginaw box is double sealed.
Installation is just the reverse. I used a section od tubing to drive the seal back in, or an old socket will do.

No more leak

The kit is an EDELMANN 8515 I came with two seals and rings, but the snap ring was wrong. The kit was just over 10 dollars.

Nick

[67highboy]

An even easier way is after the pitman arm is off and the snap ring is removed, put a pan under the steering box, make sure there is fluid in the resevoir, start the truck and turn the wheel all the way one way to lock and give the steering wheel a good pull against the lock. The seal will pop right out in the pan

John

[theskytoucher]

An even easier way is after the pitman arm is off and the snap ring is removed, put a pan under the steering box, make sure there is fluid in the resevoir, start the truck and turn the wheel all the way one way to lock and give the steering wheel a good pull against the lock. The seal will pop right out in the pan

John

Thats good to know i think Im going to have to change the seal on mine.