So I recently was gifted a 1988 Toyota Pickup; the truck runs but has some small issues. The first issue is steering wheel play and sounds. I replaced the original tie rods (inner, outer, sleeves), but I did not realize there was a steering fluid leak. I am still trying to hunt down the leak but I needed to use the truck to deliver something big so I foolishly put "power steering fluid with stop leak" stuff and now I am having a hard time tracing that leak. The steering wheel seems to have a lot of play, but I am not sure what is normal. I can grab the steering column from inside the engine bay and with little effort move the steering column which moves the steering wheel. Is that normal? Should it be stiffer than that? Would the downstream part be the gearbox replacement? Speaking of the gearbox; I feel that the gearbox is where my steering fluid is leaking. I wiped it down a bit and took a photo. Not sure if it is worth replacing the steering gearbox along with the pitman arm. Does anyone think it is worth my time to really spend the time to clean up the engine bay with some hand brushes and simple green?

 

Yes its a Toyota. Clean it up. I bet it wont let you down. I sure as heck no what I would do. Good luck.