Power Steering Leak

[Mr. Land Yacht]

So I got a major PS leak.
it started out small...few drips a day or so...leave the car for a few hours and you got a small puddle about the size of a playing card.
I went out to get stuff for my intake swap(coolant, oil, etc) and I picked up some stop leak.
that was saturday.
On Tuesday, I came out from a 8hr work day and saw a big puddle of fluid coming from underneath my car...I figured maybe it was water or something...I dab it with my finger...red.
so when I drove home I was driving with the feeling of no power steering, so I know it's from the pump.
a little more leaked out last nite so it's prolly all gone by now.

here's a pic taken last year with no leakage, but it's to show where it's coming from.
the REDarea is where I think the leak is directly coming from.
the BLUE area(the whole arm there) is covered/saturated in fluid.


Am I gonna need a new pump? Should I get a better stop leak like Lucas? Should I dry it off, throw gasket maker around it and pray?

[88grandmarq]

the part you have circled is the pitman arm and where it attaches to the steering gear box. you can replace the seal, but it requires some special tools.
Personally, I have never had good luck with repairing steering boxes.

Late model (98-02) steering box from a Police or HPP car is great upgrade. it really firmed up steering on my car.

[Mr. Land Yacht]

so the pitman arm needs to be removed, the seal replaced and then put back on. yes?
does this kit look right? it's listed as a PS pump seal kit

http://198.208.187.182/internet/PartImage.jsp?mfgname=&prodlinecd=&acpartnbr=36-351210

is this the special tool?

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=WMR%2DW142&N=700+115&autoview=sku

[Pirate]

Well, you need a basic pitman arm remover....and an impact gun, or a large 1/2 breaker bar to pop the nut off.

If you want my opinion?

Lose the stock box and upgrade, the original is a POS.

[Mr. Land Yacht]

just get a steering pump for a 98-02 Vic to upgrade?
does it just bolt right up or what?
Do I need to swap the pulley from my stock pump?

[Nathan in MI]

You want the steering gear, not the pump. The pump is the part that has an engine-driven pulley on it; the gear is what the steering column goes into and actually steers the car.

[88grandmarq]

just get a steering pump for a 98-02 Vic to upgrade?
does it just bolt right up or what?
Do I need to swap the pulley from my stock pump?

Colin... you need the steering GEAR BOX, Not the pump.
gear box is mounted on the frame and connects the steering linkage to shaft from the steering wheel.

pump is mounted on the engine and belt driven. these parts are NOT the same.

[Mr. Land Yacht]

ok then.
so even tho the pump has no fluid in it, it is not the problem..I need to get a gear box?
or is the gear box for an upgrade?

but as far as fixing this to get my power steering back, I just need to replace the seal and fill back up the pump right? (provided it's not broken already)

[Tiggie]

Alternatively, you could just carry a case of Ford Type-F in your trunk. My wagon leaks at the same place. I just keep putting fluid in. It keeps the undercarriage nice and greasy for the winter season.

No seriously, if it's leaking that bad, I would look into an upgrade to a '98-'02 box like the others said.

[Mr. Land Yacht]

I don't really wanna spend any more money than necessary.
it works fine...if I can stop the leak, it will be great.

[KING BIOHAZERD]

This happen to me and it was my power steering gear box. Its not that hard to do you will need a pitman arm puller. Make sure that the new one or reman looks good i made this mistake and had to redo it a couple mouth later .

[KING BIOHAZERD]

i tried to get the leak to stop it will not!! You sound like your pretty hand with tools just replace the the gearbox. Putting new seals will fail again cause the shaft in there is worn save the time and money and replace it now or just keep filling it with fluid but it will get messie the link will grow to the point that when u start the car it will just dump it all out

[Mr. Land Yacht]

so I gotta replace the gearbox and pitman arm gasket?

[KING BIOHAZERD]

Just ask for the gear box i should come with ever thing u need

[85crownHPP]

there is no gasket - the seal is new inside the new/reman gearbox already. Replacing this seal is not like replacing a gasket or an o-ring - but if you feel brave, go for it!