2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Pitman arm shaft seal Leaking

[heliopilot]

Has anyone had good luck just pulling the steering box out,pulling the pitman arm and replacing the seal on the shaft?

The complete seal kit for the whole steering gear is less than $25.

 

[TBrown]

not too bad of a job to fix

I replaced the bearing and seal in mine about two years ago and it is still fine. Reason I did mine was that my pitman shaft had some side play in it. The bearing is a Torrington SCH 2020, available at a bearing supply house. When I did mine I remove the steering box from the truck. I couldn't get my pitman arm off with a puller, even the heavy-duty one I bought. Had to put the whole box into a 60 ton press to get my arm off. The rest of the job is pretty easy, the instructions come with the seal kit. Two weeks ago I replaced the seal in a friends half-ton, very similar box, looks exactly the same. This time I got the arm off with my puller and replaced the seal with the box on the truck, about 20 minutes of work. After you have the arm off you have to remove the dust seal. I punched a hole in it and hooked it with a hook and pulled it out, then remove the snap ring and washer holding the main seal in. Slide the pitman arm back on, start the truck, just barely turn the wheel and the seal should blow out, along with about a pint of power steering fluid. Messy but easy. The rest is easy, and refill with Valvoline synpower, makes cold weather much easier on the ps pump. Checked back a week later and his was dry, no leaks. He was adding oil every day for a few weeks.

Tony

 

[illflem]

The seal is probably leaking due to side to side movement of the shaft. In order to make the new seal last suggest you invest in one of Darin's Steering Stabilizers.

 

[heliopilot]

Thank you, I was under the impression i had to pull the pitman arm shaft out through the top of the box; which then entailed

replacing all the gaskets and preloading the gears.....