Leaking steering box - quick fix with brakefluid?

[86mud]

Hi all

I have just noticed that my steering box in my 1998 Defender 130 is starting to weep around the input shaft.

I mentioned this to a mate of mine....and he mentioned using half a cup of brake fluid into the power steering fluid as this will "swell" the seal and fix the leak. He reckons he has done this to his disco and the leak stopped.

Anyone done this?

I am heading to the Gregory River (near Lawn Hill) at the end of April so I am trying to work out now what to do with it.

Cheers
Andrew

[PhilipA]

Well in an RRC you can replace the seal "in situ".

The biggest problem is getting the circlip to seat with the new seal and you make a special tool by finding a bit of steel tube with an OD smaller than the ID of teh housing and an ID bigger than the shaft, or grind to suit.
There are commercial power steering stop leaks available BTW. The Wynns AFAIR cut down my output shaft leak enough for me to get home from Cape York. In fact it eventually stopped the leak .
I wouldn't put brake fluid in as the pump is very expensive.
Regards Philip A

[Spel1]

The LUCAS Power Steering Stop Leak has worked well for me, doesn't drip at all now. Takes the pressure off doing the seals, at least till I get the time.