Steering box leak
Hi all,
My 1989 W460 300GD needs to have a steering box leak resolved before it will pass its MOT. Its not a big leak and I didn't notice any problems steering it. I put a dose of stop leak in with the fluid last year but it still seems to take notions of leaking a small amount of fluid intermittently (approx 50ml on total over the period of a year) . The leak seems to be coming down the arm from the box. I think I remember being told that it is possible to replace the seal at fault without having to remove the box from the truck. Is this possible? and if so where do I get the seal from. If its not a case of just replacing a seal is there a reconditioning kit for it or does anyone know of a company in Northern Ireland that could recondition it?
Thanks in advance,
Colm
WBD46033227066252
The seal is dealer item and it is possible to replace the seal with the steering box in situ but you will need a strong puller to separate the drop arm.
Before you change the seal check for any pitting in the tapered shaft; should there be any pitting on the tapered shaft, or more correctly any where, where the lip of the seal will seat, then the likely hood of the leaking still being present is highly likely. You will need to address this issue.
Your options are; replace the shaft, or have these filled either by lead filling or body filler and sanding down. I have not tried either of the filling methods so can not vouch on success of repair.
Hi Colm
Steering Box pictures attached
We keep the seal in stock if you need me to post one out
Gav
having replaced my steering box recently, pitman arm puller needs to be >10T from experience, much easier with a hydraulic puller, off the chassis.
Torque value for nut when putting it back is 400Nm
Good luck
Good luck with removing the drop arm! You may be lucky but even a 10 ton Hydraulic puller wouldn't shift mine, didn't want to use heat for fear of messing up internals.
Are you using the correct PAS fluid? Changed mine to the Green type instead of the Red sort and leak hardly there at all.
Also you could try Forte Power Steering treatment ( trade only) but probably will do some good?
I'd just take it off to be honest. Take it down to a truck engineers and they'll pull it for you (they will likely also have a torque wrench capable of 400Nm to put it back together - you don't want it coming un-done!)
Its not a major job - drain the fluid (replace the filter while you are at it), 4 M12 bolts (10.9s) which I think should be replaced when putting it back - torque value I can look up for you, but its also quite high from memory.
FCP is correct, that bolt holding drop arm is very tight even with a 5ft bar it wouldn't budge though an air rachet at a truck garage did it very very easily!
The seal you can get out is just a dust seal. the next one up is the one that keeps the oil in, if you've adjusted the play out of your box this pulls the rusty section of the shaft into the internal seal which means strippping the box down to replace. I found this out to my cost £250 +Vat
Good Luck
Gordon
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Thanks everyone for taking the time to offer their advice. I have PM'ed Gav to organise a seal and passed on all your experiences and suggestions to the mechanic. Hes a semi-retired lorry mechanic in his 70's and he tells me that once I get him the seal he will take the box out and replace the seal. He has whatever equipment is needed to remove the arm.
Regards,
Colm