Steering box blows a seal. Now what?

[Scoopy G]

Hello gents. In my travels today in the 67 Newport Custom, I began to smell a strange smell. It turns out it was power steering fluid. I put the car on the lift when I got home, and it looks like there's a blown seal in the steering box. What's the fix? Do I have to remove the box and have it rebuilt, or can I replace the seal myself?

Thanks for any advice,

Rich in Tampa

 

[SIPLOWGUY]

Are you talking about the sector shaft seal? That is an easy fix.

 

[Scoopy G]

Thanks for the reply SIPLOWGUY. I do not know what the sector shaft is. I gave the unit a cursory look when I got home, and now I'm even wondering if there's a hole in one of the hoses. I'll take a closer look tomorrow.

 

[Gerald Morris]

Hello gents. In my travels today in the 67 Newport Custom, I began to smell a strange smell. It turns out it was power steering fluid. I put the car on the lift when I got home, and it looks like there's a blown seal in the steering box. What's the fix? Do I have to remove the box and have it rebuilt, or can I replace the seal myself?

Thanks for any advice,

Rich in Tampa

1. Remove the box.

2. Find the leak

3. Determine if YOU can repair the leak or NOT.

4. Either repair it yourself, or hire another party to do it for you.

5. You MIGHT want to just replace the steering gear box. Its all a question of time and money; how much do you have?

 

[SIPLOWGUY]

Thanks for the reply SIPLOWGUY. I do not know what the sector shaft is. I gave the unit a cursory look when I got home, and now I'm even wondering if there's a hole in one of the hoses. I'll take a closer look tomorrow.

The sector (pitman) shaft is where the pitman arm attaches. Common place to leak, box R&R is not necessary.

 

[SIPLOWGUY]

1. Remove the box.

2. Find the leak

3. Determine if YOU can repair the leak or NOT.

4. Either repair it yourself, or hire another party to do it for you.

5. You MIGHT want to just replace the steering gear box. Its all a question of time and money; how much do you have?

Perform step 2 first, step 1 and 5 may not be necessary. I would THOUROGHLY clean the area and pinpoint the leak. Do use care as I have heard of fires if the PS fluid hits the exhaust manifold.

 

[Big_John]

Thanks for the reply SIPLOWGUY. I do not know what the sector shaft is. I gave the unit a cursory look when I got home, and now I'm even wondering if there's a hole in one of the hoses. I'll take a closer look tomorrow.

More likely it's a hose if it's leaking that much. Seals usually, but not always, tend to seep rather than dump fluid.