leaking steering box

[pjlhat]

Was working on my 1998 130 in the garage when I turned the steering wheel about a half turn without starting the motor. And with in minutes there was a pool of steering box oil on the floor under the steering box:o. The box todate has not leaked a drop of oil:mad: have not been able to find where it has come from, certainly not out of the pipes or their fittings:( Any suggestions and would turning it without starting the motor cause this:( Peter

[rick130]

Hi Peter.

I'm not sure what's happened there ?

Just keep using and monitor ?

My box has been leaking for years, it's coming past an O ring behind the worm adjusting nut on the end of the box and pretty much gushing now. :(

[pjlhat]

Hi Rick, Thanks for the tip I checked out every possible spots for the leak as there was oil every where and finally found it was the seal on the steering wheel side of the box, I recond it would have leaked an egg cup full of oil on the the floor in a very short space of time and with out moving the vehicle. Refilled the resivor and headed off the the Victorian alps over some pretty rough and dusty roads, down the mountain to McKillops bridge (worth having a look at) and home again and not a single drop of oil lost:(:(:( so I am very :D:D:D Peter

[AlecW]

I was coming out of a carpark a few years back and had to right hand down, looked in mirror and there was a load of red oil in the carpark.

The seal went just under the control arm - steering assist went 5 secs afterwards. BAM had to get the unit refurbed with new seal kit. $1000 dollars.

Good luck with it, the bloke at the steering place said its better to get the existing unit refurbed then to buy a new unit as some of the new ones would not last as long (maybe Chinese knock offs)

Or that could have been him squeezing more money out of me.

Hopefully it doesnt let go in the bush as you could get a real workout

[rick130]

Hi Alec.

I actually have a brand new seal kit and have had it on the shelf for years but will be buying a new Adwest (genuine) steering box one day instead.
Kicking myself I didn't source one 18 months ago while the A$ was still strong, you could get one for $750.

I've heard of a number of these 'boxes having the sector shaft fatigue fail when getting up near the 350-400,000km mark.
I've had a steering box failure in another vehicle once, it's posterior pucker inducing. :angel:

[Jode]

I rebuilt our box with an Adwest kit about 50Ks ago, but it still leaks a bit. I've tried hydraulic stop leak - seems to make no difference. However I think our leak is from the drop-arm seal.