Steering gear leak

[Briar Hopper]

Finally found the leak in my steering gear box. What a relief, I thought it would be the pinion seals, just above the pitman arm, but instead it was the front 2 bolts of the cover plate on top of the gear. (the big repair manual calls it a "side plate"). They were so loose I could turn them by hand... in fact the manual lists tightening the bolts as the first thing to try if you have a leak... gasket kit is $40 at DC, ouch... .