Power Steering Gear Box Leak

It looks like power steering fluid is leaking from my 1999 Econoline. It might be where the shaft from the steering wheel enters the steering gear box.

I found a quote from the CD version of the shop manual that says, "The steering gear input shaft and seals cannot be repaired or replaced separately. Gear replacement may be necessary."

Advance Auto Parts (Parts America) sells a "Power Steering Repair Kit: Steering Gear Input Shaft Seal Kit" for $10.89.


(1) Anybody know if the seal on the input shaft can be replaced "separately"?

(2) Is this the part I need to replace (assuming the leak is around this shaft)?

(3) Do I have to remove the steering gear box to do it?

(4) Any special tools?

(5) Would any alignment be effected that would have to be adjusted later?

(6) Any other potential problems?

(7) Let's see, what else can I ask?.... Oh, anybody want to drop by and do it for me? Just kidding.

Thanks In Advance

PeteCal

Pete,

I do believe that the input (and I know the ooutput) can be replaced. There are two potential problems however;

1) The gear WILL need to be removed from the vehicle.

2) At the 7+ year old mark, replacing the seal may very well not stop the leak due to wear on the input shaft area where the seal runs.

It would be my suggestion, since it is cheap enough, to try. But be aware that it very well may not work. I would also suggest a used gear off a wrecked van before a "rebuilt" one. $50 for used, $250+ for "rebuilt", and I have yet to get a good quality rebuilt gear.

Thanks ModMech,

I have been thinking about this seal. Maybe it is easier and I have a higher chance of success if I replace the whole gear box. Advance Auto has it in stock for $194.88 with a lifetime guarantee. Junk yards are "iffy" around here.

Over night, something else came to me. I have had a shimmy problem under heavy braking conditions. Usually on a downhill when really braking hard the steering wheel, sometimes, breaks into oscillations. Usually releasing then stomping the brake pedal will stop the oscillation. Since I seldom can generate this condition, it is hard to track down. I have had it happen, maybe 8-10 times over the last two years. (I live in a relatively flat area, the problem occurs most when traveling through West Virginia.)


I thought it was the brake rotors even though they were pretty new. I took some measurements. The wobble was within 0.002' while the spec. is 0.003". Still I bought a new rotor and tried it on one side. Some months later it oscillated again. I swapped sides. I haven't had it happen again but I don't consider it a good test yet because I haven't hit the braking condition yet.

I'm starting to think that this oscillation aggravated the seal to leak. So, if it isn't the brake rotors, what could be loose that could cause this? And more importantly, what should I change while I'm there changing the steering gear box?

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Pete