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Steering Gearbox leak

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wlivesey

Senior Member
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I hope this doesn't turn into too big a job. It looks like my steering gear box is leaking near the bottom, just above the steering lever. It's leaving a nice big wad of goop on the garage floor. I am assuming the seal right above the steering lever is shot. If it is this seal, is it possible to replace this seal from the bottom without taking the whole gear box apart. I am hoping I can take the steering lever off and remove the seal from the bottom of the gear box. Does the seal just press in? Can I avoid any adjustments by putting a mark on the case and the steering lever so I can realign the lever the way it was originally?
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Bill L
BT7
 
Bill,

I've replaced the seal but the steering box was out of the car (so I'll let others comment on the in-the-car routine). Getting the lever off can be a chore .. I modified a cheap pitman arm puller from Harbor Freight with a bit of grinding so it fit the arm. The seal can be pryed out and a new one pushed in. This won't solve the leaking problem if the shaft has pits but maybe it's just the seal.

The shaft has special splines so the arm only fits on two ways .. the correct orientation and 180 degree off. If you don't move the steering wheel it will be easy to see how the lever gets mounted correctly.

You might try Penrite steering box oil first. It is very thick, something like STP oil treatment (which would probably work too but I didn't tell you!) It needs to be heated first so that you can pour it in. Might be all you need.

Cheers,
John
 
A thing to check is if the oil is weeping along the threads of any of the bottom plate bolts. I seem to recall that at least two of the bolts go through to the oil bath. I found that oil was leaking out one of the bolts. Some thread sealant fixed the leak.
 
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