Blew input seal on steering box

[DValentine]

Anybody have any knowledge of seal replacement on a 4x4 steering box? I was on a really badly rutted road the other day and the box is now leaking out the input shaft. I think the box is the same as the older GM trucks-the 809? I have some old boxes but wondering if a PSC rebuild would be better in the long run.

Thanks



Dave

 

[Greenleaf]

Yes. If the seal is the onlyt problem, you can remove the shaft coupling to expose the stub. Then clean really well. You will find the snap ring. The seal will pull out. Use a very small drill bit and sheet metal screws and thrad the screws into the steel body of the seal. Use side cutters and pry out. You will loose oil.





Therer is a mopar seal repair kit. I have the part number here some place. Same as the GM box.

 

[JZellers]

If your steering box is good other than the seal leaking, it's pretty easy and inexpensive to fix. I did mine a couple years ago. It started leaking shortly after I installed a Borgeson shaft, perhaps a result of banging that roll pin out of the original coupler. I was able to do it without removing the box in less than an hour. There is a regular seal and then a dust seal over it held in by a snap ring. You'll probably find a lot of dirt and gunk packed in between the two. I picked up the kit at Advance Autoparts for $12. The only problem I had is that Dodge changed to a slightly different box in 1980 and the seals are different - slightly larger in diameter on the older box. One of the previous owners must have changed the box at some point because I had the older casting on mine.



Joe

 

[DValentine]

Thanks Scott and Joe,
Funny you mention the steering shaft. I just put mine on. I will call for parts today.

Dave

 

[DValentine]

Not having luck finding seals for the box. Inland Truck Parts laughed when I leaned up on the counter and asked for a seal kit. Hummmm. Will try Dodge.

I have some old GM boxes, but the pitman shaft is different, one looks like a tapered shaft with a large nut holding the arm on the shaft. The Dodge has a straight splined shaft and the pitman arm pinches the splines with a through bolt and nut.

Dave

 

[dpuckett]

Dave, your pitman shaft has a slight taper to it where the pitman arm attaches, or mine does.



If you have a spare Dodge box to send in, I'd highly recommend the PSC rebuild. Made a new truck out of my 91, even with a bad coupler. Too bad it was 15deg for the high the week I sold it, or the 92 would have it now. I wore out a parts store reman in 2 years, and had enough.



Daniel

 

[Budpwr66]

Does anyone have the info for PSC? I have the original box off my 92 that I would like to have rebuilt.

 

[AKimmel]

Tell Advanced Auto Parts you want part number 8525. Here's a link if you want to mail order it.



http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=PWR&MfrPartNumber=8525&PartType=22&PTSet=A

 

[DValentine]

Yippie, Found a seal kit. Thanks, AKimmel. Didn't even think about Checker Auto. I went to our local heavy truck parts man.

11 bucks... . for the kit. I was thinking of a PSC box but have other things to spend money on right now. The Borgeson shaft helped the situation but there is still some play in the box. I tightened up the box last year but it has 200k on it so I am sure it is worn in the center third of the worm.

Thanks again guys..... spring has sprung here in the Big Sky state..... sorry for those in the Eastern seaboard.

 

[DValentine]

Thanks guys..... got her fixed. I was about to tear into her... . and re-read Scott's reply... . I didn't think I could pull the seals out without taking off the adjuster plug.

Happy sailing... .

Dave