Steering help needed!!

[American84K5]

So I'm loosing fluid from what ever the **** happened here.

How exactly do I go about fixing this?
New steering shaft?
Gearbox rebuild/new gearbox?

 

[Fordum]

You sir, have blown a Seal.

Leaving your personal preferences out of the discussion however....

Your fastest way out is a new steering gearbox.
I'd get some new "O" rings for the hoses and a new flex(rag) joint at the same time.

I have tried to rebuild those twice. With .500 battering average. One is still going, the other had too much hard part damage for the new seals and things to fix.
So, I was out both the cost of a rebuild and a rebuild kit.

I suppose a junkyard replacement is an option, but this is your steering you are messing with here. One of the two most important parts of the truck.
If you can't steer or stop it, it don't matter if it goes.
There is a reason they don't sell used brake shoes....

J.

 

[American84K5]

So I need to be looking for a new gearbox and possibly a new shaft?

Is that damaged piece on the end of the shaft replaceable? Or is it part of the shaft as a whole?

 

[olanchamedic]

I second Fordum's comments. Plus maybe a rag joint orXJ shaft. That rag joint looks a little ruff.

 

[Fordum]

The damaged part is the rag joint. Parts of it are replaceable. You will have to see what you see when you get it off and cleaned up.
Most of the time you don't have to have a new shaft.

J.

 

[American84K5]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Where would be the best place to get all the parts I need?

I've never really messed with the gear box any except replacing the lines

 

[American84K5]

Just getting around to pull the box out

How many bolts hold this bastard in?

I've pulled 3 bolts out, the shaft off and the pitman arm and it won't budge.

 

[4X4HIGH]

There are 4 bolts that hold the steering box to the frame. I rebuild these boxes all the time and would NEVER consider buying another junk rebuilt from a parts store again after what i've seen missing in them.

 

[obijuan]

you got one more hidden bolt buddy! its a bitch to get to!


my experience says a rebuild kit and DIY. swap in an xj shaft, or replace that rag joint. they sell them in the help section at the auto parts stores.

 

[American84K5]

Yeah I found my missing bolt

I'm going to try and put a new input shaft seal in it and see if it helps

 

[ChrisPerry]

While you have the box off check the frame for cracks. Very common and not to bad to fix if caught early.

 

[American84K5]

First thing I checked for when I got the box off.
I didn't have any.

Got the new seals in and the box bolted back up.

Hopefully that will solve my leaking problem

 

[4X4HIGH]

Got the new seals in and the box bolted back up.

Hopefully that will solve my leaking problem

It should if you got the correct size seal kit.