Steering gear gaskets

[dabtl]

I am rebuilding the steering gear and found water inside. Not a great deal of it but still water. It turned some of the oil and dirt into kind of a mud. The steering arm seal was hard as a rock. Replace it if you are concerned about yours.

 

[m-35tom]

but you have to pull the box out of the truck to replace it...........

 

[dabtl]

I am not certain about that, only because I did not try it. But, you would have to pull the steering shaft to get to it. So, I am fairly certain you are right.

But, water and silt can cause major problems.

Had I known of what it took to remove all this, I could probably have done it in one day. But, there is a learning curve involved when you have never done it before.

My suggestion is to lift the engine a half inch or so, it requires taking the nuts off the motor mounts and a two ton hoist. Then the bolts are all easy to deal with. I know. I cut my hands on numerous occasions.