Power Steering Leak

My truck has power steering in the worm gear box (as opposed to a slave cylinder or R&P set-up). It's leaking PS fluid from the bottom shaft (sector shaft?) where the pitman arm attaches. Is this seal a part that I can replace with regular shop tools? Or is it time for a rebuilt gear box (Advance Auto wants $170 for a rebuilt gear box)?

Does anybody have a parts break-down for the box that shows the assembly sequence?

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Beegshot
65 'stang, in process
66 'stang, SBF parts donor
79 F150 SuperCab, SBF (new 306!!!), parts hauler
96 Explorer 5.0, grocery getter, kid hauler
Henry Ford said, "If you find you need a tool, you have already paid for it."



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: beegshot on 5/7/04 4:11am ]</font>

JUST DID MINE ON MY 82 4X4. YOULL NEED A PITMAN ARM PULLER TO MAKE IT EASIER OR THE HARD WAY WITH A HAMMER. LOL STRONG SNAP RING PLIERS, AND A NICE DRIP PAN. gO TO NAPA AND GET THE LITTLE KIT, IT HAS INSTRUCTIONS IN THERE ALSO. JUST REMEMBER TO LUBE THE SEALS GOOD GET BOTH HIGH PRES. AND DUST SEAL. FROM THERE PRETTY EASY. GOOD LUCK
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chas319 is correct.

Ford do sell lower seal kit. [ sorry, I don't recall the part number. ]

tips.

once you get the pitman arm and the snap ring remove. You may have tough time to remove the dust seal and the seal itself.
Please don't get too frustrated.
Start the engine and turn the steering wheel lock to lock few times.
enough pressure will blow the seal out.
just make sure you have drain pan underneath the steering box.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Thanks for the info guys. I just picked up the small kit from NAPA today (NPS 7143). They had a "large kit" that included several seals on the top of the box (NPS 7141). Since mine's only leaking from the bottom, this "small kit" should do the trick. Thanks for the heads-up on the seal removal Vracing...that'll save some time and frustration. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_bow.gif[/img]

Oh yeah, I bought a pitman arm puller too ($15.00). See Henry's quote in my signature!!!

_________________
Beegshot
65 'stang, in process
66 'stang, SBF parts donor
79 F150 SuperCab, SBF (new 306!!!), parts hauler
96 Explorer 5.0, grocery getter, kid hauler
Henry Ford said, "If you find you need a tool, you have already paid for it."

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: beegshot on 5/19/04 12:57am ]</font>

Before diving in I would recommend you have someone to turn the steering wheel back and forth at least a quarter turn with the wheels on the ground while you watch for movement in the pitman arm shaft coming out of the steering box. If the bearing is sloppy and allowing the shaft to visibly move then a new seal probably won't stop your leak.
Kywookie

Good call kywookie. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_bow.gif[/img] I'll definitely check the bearing. Even if it's loose (but not kaput) I'll probably just replace the seal for now...NAPA wants $170 for a rebuilt box, and the prices go up from there. Sure, I could go do the junk yard thing. But, my "time capital" is too expensive, and the junk yards around here aren't holding on to wrecked trucks as old as mine.
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