Steering Box Seal

[John Kuzman]

Well, after struggling with the steering arm removal, I am now trying to figure a way to remove the old seal. I have snapped off a couple of surgical picks, but have made no progress with the seal. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RonMacPherson]

Do you have enought "meat" in the face of the seal where you can get to it, to install opposing sheet metal screws? If so, might try several around the circumference of the seal face and then pry them out circling the seal to pull it loose.

 

[Andy65]

Take a short screw driver. Put it horizontal and lever it around. Work opposite sides. Careful not to scratch the surface. Can put tape over blade. This seal has a metal rim. So bite into the rubber destroying the rubber and it should give you good purchase against the metal lip. Sometimes a right angle screwdriver helps. As a last resort, remove the rocker shaft (don't drop the pin) and and push it out from above with a wood dowel as a drift. You should be able to get it from below.

Some people, myself included, put in two seals. There is room. It is important to keep the seal level upon starting. Tap against a block of wood or the right size socket. Once the first seal is in, a smaller socket can push it a smidge so the next one fit. Make sure the seal goes in right way up.

Congrats on getting the pitman arm off. Was it fun?

 

[John Kuzman]

Andy -

Thanks for the advice. I will give it a try this weekend.

On the removal of the steering (pitman) arm, I soaked it for days in PB Blaster, then put it under tension with the puller. Soaked it some more, tapped the side of the arm and added more tension. Repeated the process throughout an afternoon. The cell phone rang, went over to the bench to answer the phone and heard a "bang" that sounded like a 44 magnum fired in an echo chamber! I am glad I was not any closer, nor in the process of doing something very delicate to the car when it popped off.