Leaky steering box

[Small Block TJ]

Hey Jeepers.. I've got a VERY VERY leaky steering box on a 00' TJ. It is leaking directly out of the shaft (pitman arm) and I was wondering if it can be fixed or does it need replaced. It's lifted 4" and has a drop pitman arm. It works great, just verrrry messy

 

[superj]

i have no idea but i imagine there is a seal in there that can be changed somehow

 

[MattMayTJ]

This happened to my TJ it looks identical to your photo I ended up replacing the whole steering box but it still kept leaking it turned out that the actual power steering fluid holder had a tiny hole in it and was leaking out of that

 

[69jeepcj]

Ha, looks like mine. there is a seal in there but I have never tried to change it.

 

[Turbogus]

When the Saginaw box started leaking on "Betty" I took 'er into a stellar front end shop in Albany, OR and they installed a rebuilt box as mine was apparently too far gone. While they were at it I had them Install an H.D. Steering box bracket and H.D. pitman arm from Sam's,



after they lined everything up "Betty" tracks straight as an arrow even with BFG M2's

 

[Utah_jeepster]

its about 6's here for a replacement gear box to buying a seal kit. around 130$ with 15$ core to a 168$ seal kit plus the time needed to pull it apart.

 

[xt master]

I think the steering box out of 99 Dodge durango fits and matches the bolt pattern.Mine leaks the same,It runs dry all the time,The Jeep is light enough never had any problems,when the squeal bothers me I add some fluid.

 

[superj]

try some stop leak in it, its not like its going to make it worse, ha ha ha.

 

[eric m]

I had a leaky steering box on my gr. Cherokee, priced input (where steering shaft connects) and output seals (at pitman arm) thru my local autozone it would have set me back less than $20. Jeep was totaled before I had the chance to buy the stuff but with some paitence you should be able to do the job.

Sent from my Devour using Jeepz

 

[Small Block TJ]

When the Saginaw box started leaking on "Betty" I took 'er into a stellar front end shop in Albany, OR and they installed a rebuilt box as mine was apparently too far gone. While they were at it I had them Install an H.D. Steering box bracket and H.D. pitman arm from Sam's,

<img src="http://www.jeepz.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=13779"/><img src="http://www.jeepz.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=13780"/>

after they lined everything up "Betty" tracks straight as an arrow even with BFG M2's

That's a nice set up. How much was it?

 

[Turbogus]

For the parts and labor it ran about $350 clams which may seem expensive but given the results I'm very satisfied.

 

[Small Block TJ]

Crap. It's leaking so bad now that I have to refill it everyday now I have been catching the fluid with a oil drain pan and pouring it back in lol. It was a good strategy until it poured the rain and made a REAL MESS.. No I don't have a garage to park it in I've watched a few vids on YouTube on replacing pitman arm shaft seals and it looks like a nasty job. I found seals for about $15 but I may save up and buy a used steering box. The ol budget ain't got much room for jeep parts at the moment if u know what I mean. Or I could remove the power steering belt because I am running an old school 283 ci 4.6 liter v8 small block Chevy motor lol.. It has all the classic Chevy leaks, but in this case, it's the jeep part that is malfunctioning. I thought about stealing my wife's steering box and playing dumb Oh your steering box is leaking now? Huh?? Mine isn't anymore.. Ha

 

[69jeepcj]

I dont know about the spline count on the tj,s steering shaft, but the cj,s and yj,s can use any 70,s f-body (mustang, camaro, T/A, firebird and others) cars steering box, most have a tighter turnin radius and are mounted with 4 bolts instead of 3, they can be identified by a 76 stamped inot them where the sector shaft for the pitman arm is.. You can get them at any junk yard for about 50 bucks. I would google the spline count on your shaft, and the 76 box (as they are know by), you may be able to save some money.

 

[Small Block TJ]

Cool thanx man.. I'm gonna look into that.

 

[69jeepcj]

I believe the correct name for the box is a siginaw 800 box.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Upgrade with a used '99 Durango 4wd steering box. Cheap and easy. I looked at rebuilding one and it looks like a pain.

 

[Small Block TJ]

Hello jeep peeps.. I am glad to say that I replaced my steering box with a refurb box from advance. Holy crap she steers good now. You can drive with one finger now. It steers better than my wife's tj with 70,000 miles on it. My tj has over 150,000 on it. Hers is hardly broke in compared to mine lol.. It was not really that bad of a job. I didn't need help until I had to hook up the steering stem, rod, bar, shaft thingie, whatever it's called lol. Busted a few knuckles and fingernails but it wouldn't be a proper job if I didn't draw blood.. NO MORE LEAKS.!!!
Well excluding diff covers. Next project..