steering box oil

[Tractorat]

Im 69 years old, have had several new cars, and several trucks (current one is the only truck I ever bought brand new). I dont think Ive ever seen anything in any of the manuals that tell you to change the steering box oil. I was wondering if any on the tdr do change that oil and how often ?

 

[fest3er]

I think I changed it each time the steering gear failed.

Some say change/flush it every 75k-100k miles. I would add, "or when it starts to look gnarly." As I recall, it's a simple lube that will last a good long while as long as it stays clean/clear.

 

[Tractorat]

I would be dollars to donuts that a lot of steering box failures are because that oil never gets changed.

 

[fest3er]

I would bet on sector shaft bearing and seal failures causing most of the replacements.

 

[Michaelsloft]

Im 69 years old, have had several new cars, and several trucks (current one is the only truck I ever bought brand new). I dont think Ive ever seen anything in any of the manuals that tell you to change the steering box oil. I was wondering if any on the tdr do change that oil and how often ?

The truck in my signature is the only truck I ever bought new too and I have been pulling/sucking 4 oz of fluid out of the reservoir and adding 4 oz of new fluid once a month since around 2002 when the truck had around 39,000 miles. The original fluid did not look good at that point nor last very long, and ever since doing this the oil looks NEW every time I check it to do the 4 oz process. No leaks, quiet and the steering still operates well and feels great.

 

[Tractorat]

I would bet on sector shaft bearing and seal failures causing most of the replacements.

I used have said "worn out" rather than failure. But I defer to your technical expertise. Mine was just plain worn out, lots of play although not "horrible".

 

[fest3er]

When the sector shaft seal 'wears out', it will likely fail, allowing the P/S fluid to spew out (under pressure from the pump). Without a sector shaft stabilizer, a well-worn bearing will cause lots of wander, allowing detection before outright failure. With a stabilizer, the bearing and seal can completely fail without causing steering wander.
Dodge 4x4s put a lot of lateral pressure on the sector shaft; that's why those bearings wear out (and fail).

 

[seafish]

I had the PS fluid changed when the dealership upgraded the steering box at 75k miles on the truck.

At 125k I drained all of the fluid through the return hose going to the PS cooler and then I fabricated a PS fluid filter from a standard hydraulic filter head, filter and bracket and a few brass pipe fittings. No more PS fluid changes for me...simply close the valves on each side of the filter head, remove and then replace hydraulic filter at 25k intervals!!!

 

[Tractorat]

When the sector shaft seal 'wears out', it will likely fail, allowing the P/S fluid to spew out (under pressure from the pump).

Are we talking about the same thing ? Im talking about the steering box, not the p/s fluid.

 

[NIsaacs]

Are we talking about the same thing ? Im talking about the steering box, not the p/s fluid.

The steering box is fed by the power steering pump/fluid.

I change my trucks every 100k.

Nick

 

[Tractorat]

didnt know that.