Steering box leaking

[Daveo91Burb]

I'm 95% sure it's leaking at the input shaft seal. It's getting worse too - there was probably a quarter cup of fluid on the concrete after I drove it yesterday. I've tried stop leak a couple of times now, doesn't help a bit. So I have an extra box from a '90 3/4 ton 4x4 burb laying around. That rig only had about 105K on it when I parted it out. Long range plan was to rebuild that unit myself and swap it in to my burb, but now I'm thinking about some other options for the short term. Some questions...

1. How tough would it be to just replace the input shaft seal? Do it w/o pulling the box? I've read some posts on other sites and some say yes, others say don't bother trying to do it on the rig.

2. How bad is the full rebuild? I've watched some you tubes on it, looks pretty involved, but I've rebuilt other things before with generally good luck.

3. I'm wondering if I could "test" my extra box for leaks? If it tests good, I'd just swap it in as-is and rebuild the original at my leisure.

4. Do you need an alignment after a box R&R?

 

[spanky55amg]

In for the first question. Mine is leaking like a stuck pig too and I was just about to ask this.

 

[HotRodPC]

@Vbb199 is probably the go to guy on this one since he's tore these boxes down.

 

[Vbb199]

I'm 95% sure it's leaking at the input shaft seal. It's getting worse too - there was probably a quarter cup of fluid on the concrete after I drove it yesterday. I've tried stop leak a couple of times now, doesn't help a bit. So I have an extra box from a '90 3/4 ton 4x4 burb laying around. That rig only had about 105K on it when I parted it out. Long range plan was to rebuild that unit myself and swap it in to my burb, but now I'm thinking about some other options for the short term. Some questions...

1. How tough would it be to just replace the input shaft seal? Do it w/o pulling the box? I've read some posts on other sites and some say yes, others say don't bother trying to do it on the rig.

2. How bad is the full rebuild? I've watched some you tubes on it, looks pretty involved, but I've rebuilt other things before with generally good luck.

3. I'm wondering if I could "test" my extra box for leaks? If it tests good, I'd just swap it in as-is and rebuild the original at my leisure.

4. Do you need an alignment after a box R&R?

Go over to my post in the 4x4 lifted steering and suspension page, I have a write up on rebuild. Front input shaft seal is nothing. Just a snap ring away basically.

Could also be leaking at the aluminum cap, but usually the input seal is destroyed and tattered, and it'll be spewing out everywhere because of that

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[Vbb199]

I mostly covered rebuilding, like I said In my post, you just replace everything that's an o ring or seal lol.

No realignment necessary, unless we're concerned with 1/16 or less of turns. Just bare in mind your replacement box might have a little play in it, which can be adjusted at the Allen head set screw and nut.

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[Vbb199]

Righty tightly, left loosey,

Go all the way clockwise and it'll feel like a 1950 manual steer, go all the way left and you're suddenly riding in a jeep with 4 link except there's no link bars in it. Lol

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[BBCfan]

Chance you can supply us technically challenged characters with a link? I was just looking at mine last week lying on the barn floor wondering what the nut/allen screw combo does do and if I should replace or rebuild. Alls I need is info on where to buy a rebuild kit and how do do it. Can ya help a fellow square out? Thanks, Rick.

 

[K201979]

Ive posted some links to utube vids on this subject in the past. Ill look for that and a link to the rebuild kit. I did it by watching the vids. Not too bad if u can pay attendtion to detail.

 

[Vbb199]

Chance you can supply us technically challenged characters with a link? I was just looking at mine last week lying on the barn floor wondering what the nut/allen screw combo does do and if I should replace or rebuild. Alls I need is info on where to buy a rebuild kit and how do do it. Can ya help a fellow square out? Thanks, Rick.

https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/short-little-tutorial-on-porting-for-hydro-assist.25405/

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[K201979]

Cant figure out how to share a link but u can search "saginaw steering gear rebuild". Theres a 2 part video by "chris craft thats unprofesional but good info. One by BleepinJeep and a whole series by hutchhiperf that are good. These are the ones i used. If you decide to do it id be happy to share my experience with u. Good luck!

The hutchhiperf series is 5 vids. Part one is the adjustments u can make. Then he releases the box is leaking and rebuilds it in the next 4 parts.

Heres the posts i made about it. Still dont kno how to post a link

 

[K201979]

Heres the kit i used. I had to buy another seal kit because i messed up the big cap oring trying to beat the cap on(use a big screwdriver and pry it on) and i didnt seat the sector shaft bearing deep enough so i boogered up the seal trying to beat it down(measure). In other words, not too bad if you take ur time and use fineness.

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[roundhouse]

In
Mine is leaking bad at the input shaft seal

You just remove the rag joint and the seal comes out ?

 

[Daveo91Burb]

https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/short-little-tutorial-on-porting-for-hydro-assist.25405/

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Awesome write up. I'm not going to convert to hydroboost any time soon (who knows maybe some day) but the tear down and rebuild sections will be huge for me. Thanks! Your write up basically convinced me to replace just the leaking input seal now and then rebuild my spare box another day when I have more time. But I do have a full rebuild kit on order.

 

[Daveo91Burb]

Heres the kit i used. I had to buy another seal kit because i messed up the big cap oring trying to beat the cap on(use a big screwdriver and pry it on) and i didnt seat the sector shaft bearing deep enough so i boogered up the seal trying to beat it down(measure). In other words, not too bad if you take ur time and use fineness.

You must be registered for see images attach

Thanks. I just bought the same Edelmen kit on Amazon.

 

[4WDKC]

I'm 95% sure it's leaking at the input shaft seal. It's getting worse too - there was probably a quarter cup of fluid on the concrete after I drove it yesterday. I've tried stop leak a couple of times now, doesn't help a bit. So I have an extra box from a '90 3/4 ton 4x4 burb laying around. That rig only had about 105K on it when I parted it out. Long range plan was to rebuild that unit myself and swap it in to my burb, but now I'm thinking about some other options for the short term. Some questions...

1. How tough would it be to just replace the input shaft seal? Do it w/o pulling the box? I've read some posts on other sites and some say yes, others say don't bother trying to do it on the rig.

2. How bad is the full rebuild? I've watched some you tubes on it, looks pretty involved, but I've rebuilt other things before with generally good luck.

3. I'm wondering if I could "test" my extra box for leaks? If it tests good, I'd just swap it in as-is and rebuild the original at my leisure.

4. Do you need an alignment after a box R&R?

When the time comes or maybe even when you replace that seal you should flush the ps system to get all of that stop leak out. I used that stuff in a radiator when I was younger and it stopped the leak, it also severely reduced flow through the radiator and heater core.