Leaking power steering gear box
12-23-2006, 12:52 PM
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Leaking power steering gear box
I bought a gear box off ebay because my old one had a bad pitman arm and was leaking from that seal where the steering shaft connects to. The new one I got off ebay didn't leak for a while and had a brand new pitman arm. It worked great until I went over some pretty hefty terrain which required a lot of slow turning and going through ruts. After going offroad it has started leaking really badly. Now I have a few large power steering oil marks in the driveway everyday once again. What could be causing the gear box seal to start leaking and where can I get a new seal? The truck has a 3" body lift; could that be causing the seal to wear out because of the steeper angle the shaft connects to the gear box? I just want it to stop leaking already. Please help!
Last edited by ToyYoda; 12-23-2006 at 12:54 PM.
12-23-2006, 12:59 PM
#2
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My '86 gearbox started leaking bad and I was milking it out. I scored a gearbox off and '87 had it sandblasted and everything, but I never got around to swapping it out. In the mean time I got some Lucas brand power steering fluid which has seal restore stuff in it. Let's just say, I still haven't swapped out gearbox's. Stuff works great.
12-23-2006, 06:01 PM
#3
That seal is easy to replace. Its called the sector shaft seal. I see these leak after impact, usually body shops, but some off roading can bend the sectro shaft and make a leaker out of it.
12-23-2006, 07:31 PM
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mine leaks to.. none power steering box... got a used powersteering box and it leaks (not installed yet) .. seems really common on high mileage gearbox's... i plan to rebuild it anyways.
look up rebuild threads, they're everwhere including in the FSM
look up rebuild threads, they're everwhere including in the FSM
12-23-2006, 10:39 PM
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Where can I pick one up?
Thanks for all the great info. I'll try a few things and see what works.
12-24-2006, 06:18 AM
#7
+1 for Lucas Stop leak. If you haven't bent something, it will swell the seal and stop the leak. I replaced all the fluid in mine and run Lucas only. Try it! It's cheap and won't hurt anything. One other note... It worked so good, in my 4Runner that I changed out the fluid in my Sequoia when it was new! Lucas has conditioners in it that prevent the seals from shrinking in the first place. :bigclap:
Last edited by Sequoia'd; 12-24-2006 at 06:19 AM.
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12-24-2006, 08:29 AM
#9
We used to stock them, we did lots or repairs to steering boxes for body shops. Either the sector shaft was bent and leaking or literally broken right off, i e snapped! The sector shaft should come out (relax, its actually easy to do) and then replace the seal while its out. Easy to do even "in the vehicle". Check the dealer for the parts in stock or special order them (one day turnaround of ordered before noon). Other places mentioned on this forum might also have the seals. If the pitman arm has ever taken an impact and its easy to do as its right out front, it might be bent, so look close. Also, a pitman arm puller is needed to replace the sector shaft seal. Not too spendy, usually under $40 and something that can last you the rest of your off roading life and probably use again or laon to buddies who might need it. I bought mine from Matco? and it was around $45
12-24-2006, 09:59 PM
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Just to clarify, it's the shaft that comes from the steering wheel and through the firewall, then connects to the gear box, that tiny seal there. It's only about a 1/2" spline.
I'm going to drain the power steering fluid from it and try the lucas stuff and see how that works.
I'm going to drain the power steering fluid from it and try the lucas stuff and see how that works.
12-25-2006, 04:54 PM
#11
Well, that is a tough seal to replace. I've done one. You can buy a seal kit, and it comes with it. But the seal must be removed inward to the box needs some dissasembly. The large nut that holds it in place is staked into aluminum threads and its a bugger to do.
03-06-2007, 07:51 PM
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+1 for Lucas Stop leak. If you haven't bent something, it will swell the seal and stop the leak. I replaced all the fluid in mine and run Lucas only. Try it! It's cheap and won't hurt anything. One other note... It worked so good, in my 4Runner that I changed out the fluid in my Sequoia when it was new! Lucas has conditioners in it that prevent the seals from shrinking in the first place. :bigclap:
03-06-2007, 07:53 PM
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03-06-2007, 07:58 PM
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I don't about weather to use power steering fluid or ATF, but I do know that Lucas is amazing. I mix their oil stabalizer 20% to %80 oil every time I change it. I love Lucas!
04-05-2007, 06:49 AM
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Lucas P/S stop leak
Update...I drained the ATF out of my powersteering resevoir and pump and re-filled with 1 qt of Lucas P/S stop leak. As mentioned, previously I was adding 1/4 cup ATF to the res. at each oil change.
After three weeks with the Lucas in there, I still have some seepage, and the gearbox gets a moist film on it, but no drips off of the pitman arm like before.
The Lucas has a money-back guarentee to stop leaks, so it's a pretty safe buy. Although my leak has not stopped, it has reduced significantly.
After three weeks with the Lucas in there, I still have some seepage, and the gearbox gets a moist film on it, but no drips off of the pitman arm like before.
The Lucas has a money-back guarentee to stop leaks, so it's a pretty safe buy. Although my leak has not stopped, it has reduced significantly.
