Cant find the snapring

[Uncle Gump]

I was thinking that to... just degraded to the point of you taking the dust seal off it just disappeared or became one with the dust seal and you think the dust seal fit in the groove.... when in reality it's a snap ring groove.

Like I said... I've experienced a few that didn't give up without a pretty good struggle. I've always managed to get them out in vehicle though.

Here is the bad part... new seals don't always fix the leak. The shaft may be worn and not provide a good sealing surface.

If I had to pull one out to fix... it would probably get a reman or new steering box.

 

[kpritchett70]

Well last night after work I took the box out of the truck and got it on the work bench. I was able to get the rest of the dust seal out and there was a metal spacer a little over an eighth inch thick and once I took it out the snap ring was under that. I removed the snap ring to find the oil seal. Both seals appeared to be aftermarket. The seal kit I bought did not have any spacers in it and the picture in the instructions did not show ant spacers.

So now my question is does all boxes take spacer? Or should I put it back the way the pic shows?

 

[Uncle Gump]

The link I posted I think some said not to use the spacer... thats the trouble with someone being in there before you. You just don't know how it came from the factory.

Get a good look at the sector shaft... someone before you may have changed the seal location due to wear on the shaft hoping it would seal better in a new position.

 

[kpritchett70]

Well I put the new seals in taking extra care to inspect the shaft and housing every thing fit as it should triple checked the snap ring to make sure it was in the groove. Put it back on bleed the air out of it started the truck it seemed fine. Let it down off the jack stands and with the weight of the truck on the tires did not even make it from lock to lock and the box is leaking worse than before. So I guess its time for a reman box.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I've had a couple success stories when doing these... but have also had them go the other way like yours did.

At least you've had the box off already... putting a reman on should be a breeze.

 

[Dirtman]

Last steering box I tried to "fix" ended in a nightmare disaster and shot fluid out like a fire hydrant so don't feel too bad. Sometimes the shaft is just too worn for the seal to work.

I've also bought remanufactured boxes that leaked like hell for the same reason so don't keep your hopes too high that a replacement box will work any better.