[thornbe]

My power steering gear box has a slow leak on the bottom where the Pitman arm attaches. If I change the seal should I just rebuild the whole box? If so, how difficult is it? Thanks,

- Tim

 

[Guest]

I think if you check around, you can buy a box at a very reasonable price and save all the grief of rebuilding the one on the car.

 

[TK-70]

Tim,

I went through the same thing recently. Mine is a '70. A lot will depend on how corroded and rusty your lower seal pieces are. You can pick up a replacement seal kit for relatively little money.

In theory, the project is a piece of cake. Search for previous discussions on the procedure. In a nutshell, you remove the lower retaining clip and "blow out" the old seal by starting the engine and turning the steering wheel to the far limits. The pressure should blow out the seals. Then you remove the pitman arm and replace the seals.

I say "in theory" because for me it wasn't so simple. My seals simply wouldn't blow out under pressure. Things were just too crudded up I guess. After hours of trying, I wound up removing the box and after more hours finally got the seals out on my workbench.

As for your question about whether you should rebuild the whole thing or not, it depends on whether or not you want to just repair your leak or dig in deeper. If things go well for you, you shouldn't have to dig into the box.

Good luck. Tom

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TC Member #59
'70 Malibu 350/4speed
'90 John Deere SS165

[This message has been edited by TK-70 (edited 08-20-2001).]

 

[406_70_velle]

someone told me that if you put tranny fluid in a power steering box it expands the seals and stops slow leaks, never done it (tranny fluid belongs in trannys) but does anyone know if thats true?

 

[cperrell]

I don't know about stopping leaks, but putting atf in powersteering pump should not cause any problems. Everyone I talked to (at mulitple local auto supply houses, anyway) said that ATF is commonly used as power steering fluid.

I have been using it in mine for about a year w/o any problems. If anyone knows of a problem with this, I would be interested in knowing.


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Charles Perrell
cperrell@yahoo.com
65 malibu SS Convertible
283 2v powerglide

 

[Gandalf80]

I have never used anything BUT atf in my power steering on every vehicle I have owned. Never a problem.



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Chris Dagenais
Saskatchewan
'71 Malibu with a home built 454!
"Salad and vegetables are what food eat!"
My Page

 

[Tom Lasater]

It's not ATF that stops leaks it's good old brake fluid. That's right, brake fluid! It's a temporary fix at best. You'll be miles ahead to replace the gearbox with a freshly rebuilt unit.

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