power steering leaks after being parked.

[racsan]

Think Im at the start of a pitman arm seal failure, if I drive the ranger every day there doesnt seem to be a problem but if it sits for a week or more a small puddle starts right below the steering box, let it sit long enough it will all leak out. But once I start driving it regularly the leakage stops. Ive tried that thick lucas p/s fix (I know its a band-aid, but what the heck) and have the same results. Still have the p/s box as well as a manual box Ive considered putting in. (less crap under hood, no hydraulic leaks but not sure Id like manual steering) . Anyone else had a strange issue like this?

 

[franklin2]

The steering box would be the last thing I would suspect, unless the top of the box is dry. I know some of these trucks are so crowded, you can't even see the top of the steering box.

The reason I say this, I had a leak on mine, I thought for sure it was the high pressure line/fitting on top of the box. Replaced it, still leaked. I messed with it for several days till I realized the pump was leaking, and dripping down onto the line fitting.

Same truck a couple of years later, I had oil again around the steering box dripping off the pitman arm. This time all I had to do was tighten the hose clamp on the pump suction line.

Oil leaks are hard to find sometimes.

 

[Rimjam]

Had a similar leak on my '88. Hard to pin down due to radiator fan blowing the p/s fluid around. Wiped area down with a rag a couple of times but couldn't get it really clean. So, got a 1 1/2 gal pump up sprayer & put about a quart of gas in it, sprayed the area top and bottom (engine cool of course), waited until everything was dry then watched closely while truck idled. Sure enough, saw fluid start to seep from return line at the hose clamp. Replaced the line & both clamps - problem solved.

 

[Dirtman]

Have you considered maybe your truck is just crying from not being driven?