2006 Dodge 4x4 2500 Steering box leak

[Homicide]

... . Yeah, I know, when you buy a used truck, you are buying someonelse's problems... ... ... . #@$%!



Just sprung a leak on the bottom of the steering box where the shaft comes out.



Anyone know if the seal within is an easy fix or a new steering box the way to go?



Anyone have any luck using the Borgenson Steering box along with a new Borgenson Steering shaft? ($700-ish for the two components!; oooch)



Any feed back appreciated.

 

[Andres]

You might get lucky. Take the PS cap off and see if there is pressure in the reservoir. It should breathe. My '06 didn't. Drilling a small hole in the inside of the cap allowed it to breathe and the stopped the leak out of the sector shaft (as you describe) stopped. This was at around 50K miles. It went another 98K miles without leaking - sold the truck a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Cosmo]

Good trick. I'm going to see about doing that to my 08... it dribbles a bit too.

I just figured that's how you know it's a real Dodge, marking its territory with PS fluid.

 

[JCockerill]

the dodge steering suport brace will help this also, there is a lot of force on the sector shaft, the dss bar will support it on both sides. i installed one after i had the steering box replaced under waranty with only 50k on it.

 

[Homicide]

Andres,

yes, there's a pressure. Where do you drill the small hole? I'm presuming, down or near the center, within the 0-ring of the cap, which is extended down about 3/4 of an inch. starting the engine with the cap off and there was no leak!

 

[Andres]

Homicide,



Congrats, hopefully a cap fix is all you need. I think it was on the side of the cap. I didn't know of this problem in '08 <whenever it happened>, but didn't think there should be pressure in the top of the reservoir. I cleaned up the cap and drilled the hole (probably around 1/16"). In the last year I've seen this reported by others. I bought a seal kit and a box, thankfully needed neither. Some guy ws blowing off caps, well there must have been a bad batch, that isn't right.



Later I did a Cummins swap and put a 2003 ISB305 motor in another truck. I used a remote reservoir since the pump ran a hydralic piston for steering assist. (truck ran 42" tires, our PS pump doesn't want to do that. )



looking in the reservoir, you see the fluid rise and fall as it gets hot/cold and is moved by the piston position. Obviously is has to breethe, my RAM didn't.

Hence the leaning, then drilling of the cap.



Edit, I don't think placement was critical, drill it big enough to release pressure, small enough so it doesn't leak out or get dirt in. It's easy.

 

[Homicide]

Andres,

Right on for the reply.

I'm gonna try drilling at the side of the cap, and then if needed, down the center. So much pressure this last time, fluid pushed its way out of the cap and into the engine compartment..... found out where the smell in the engine compartment was originating from.

Steve