Minor Steering box leak options?

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 · Feb 22, 2016

My steering box has gone from being a little damp, to weeping slightly down the drop arm and a few small drops on the floor.
It's only minor, so I'm wondering what my options are....
1. Leave it as it is, and keep my eye on it and top it up.
2. Add a couple of caps of brake fluid
3. Power steering stop leak or seal conditioner. Any recommendations?
4. Replace the output seal
5. Can a leaking box cause wheel wobble?
Reason for asking is to try and save the box while it's in the early stages of playing up haha.
Will brake fluid or stop leak help for a while but then cause more damage to other seals in the box?

Cheers

Disco1BFG · Feb 22, 2016

From what I have seen on here, doing the seals seems to be a bit of a lottery, and I can see this with the input, where, especially on a 90, access is poor without taking the box off - if you're sure its the output seal, then, try the seal first...

I did the input seal on my D1, and despite being a bit of a **** to get at, it seems to be working, and seal kit was only a fiver, so given its the output seal, I am gonna say do the seal.

I've no experience of stop leak / brake fluid as an extra in the ATF - but I would be concerned about possible damage to the pump seals - a new pump is only £60 ish, but....

waldershelf · Feb 22, 2016

The brake fluid trick will work. If the box is knackered it will only fix it for a while, you have nothing to lose, you are still going to need a rebuilt box one way or another. On the other hand if it's just the output shaft seal weeping a little it will fix it potentially for years. I wouldn't worry about it going any damage.

Mr S1 · Feb 22, 2016

I got mine changed - transformed the steering feel.

tottot · Feb 22, 2016

First check for any side to side movement in output arm,if there is then a rebuild is needed.
If no movement then seal replacement is well worth it. This can be done on the vehicle if you want,in fact removal of the old seal can be simpler.
First the arm has come off [see other forum thread ] then remove circlip. Start the engine and with a bit of luck the old seal will blow out along with some ATF fluid.
If box is off vehicle it can be a little tricky getting the old seal out,some say drill the seal edge to insert a self tap screw but sometimes this results in damage to the shaft. I prefer to punch a hole for the screw with a masonry nail.
Fitting the new seal is straight forward enough,but I find a section of tube helps guide the seal into place.

border · Feb 22, 2016

Mine was leaking slightly too, dropped about an inch from level every couple of weeks and steering went heavy, read about the brake fluid trick so thought id give it a go, put one cap full in about 6 months ago and its never leaked since, steering has been ok. touchwood.

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90 · Feb 23, 2016

Thanks for the replys chaps.
Now you've asked I'm not fully sure it's just leaking from the output shaft, I know the input shaft is fairly dry. But at the front of the box, there's like a fairly big circle recess, can it leak from there? (Apologies I don't know much about the boxes).

james6546 · Feb 23, 2016

Anyone got any experience with rebuilt ones? They don't seem too much money on Paddocks. Mine also leaks, but it is more the massive amount of play that is the problem.

farmershort · Feb 23, 2016

james6546 said:
Anyone got any experience with rebuilt ones? They don't seem too much money on Paddocks. Mine also leaks, but it is more the massive amount of play that is the problem.

I did a bit of research around this before eventually buying a genuine adwest box frm paddocks... £390 inc vat I think. but you can have it a bit cheaper if you send your old box to them. Most reports I found on the web about the refurbed boxes said that they didn't last more than a couple of years.

DiscoPol · Feb 24, 2016

Lucas stop leak. Fecking amazing stuff, I went from losing nearly half a litre a week to 50 ml a year with one bottle, steering feels like new, makes it right again like it should be. Put it in 3 years ago as a temp measure, seals all on the shelf waiting to be done when it's needed.

Minor Steering box leak options?

ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90

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Disco1BFG

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waldershelf

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Mr S1

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tottot

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border

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ONE LIFE LIVE IT. D90

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james6546

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farmershort

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DiscoPol

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