Newbie with a Steering box leak

[BnGDad]

So I'm a bit of a newbie with the Jeep. My steering box is leaking fluid pretty bad. Had a local shop quote me about $500 to replace. Is this a fair price or should I try and tackle it myself? Thanks.

 

[Torxhead]

I think my rebuilt Cardone was about $175. If you examine how your box is mounted in, you can see how to replace it. It might even came with a set of instructions, otherwise there should be info out on the net on how to replace it, like on Youtube.

 

[IOPort51]

It is more than likely a fair price to have it done in a shop. Most of us do our own work but this is not something to do with a pair of vice grips and a hammer. Just pulling the Pittman arm can be quite a job.

So I'm a bit of a newbie with the Jeep. My steering box is leaking fluid pretty bad. Had a local shop quote me about $500 to replace. Is this a fair price or should I try and tackle it myself? Thanks.

 

[dunebuggy18]

Don't know about the 81 CJ's but the 70's versions are notorious for leaking from the PS pump fluid lines. It will crack where it bends under the front crossmember. Found that out taking mine apart...

 

[Scooter402]

I wouldn't give $500 to any shop to do anything to mine...Just depends on what kind of time, patience, and experience you have. Swapping out a steering box isn't really that hard of a job. Like IOPort51 said, removing the pitman arm can be a chore, especially if you don't have all the right equipment. A pitman arm puller and a BFH usually get the job done for that, but sometimes the smoke wrench (little heat from a torch) needs to be employed here. If you do decide to tackle the job yourself, and you have all the proper tools, once you get past the pitman arm you're golden. If you're a little leery, I'd shop around to see if there's another shop that might be less. I don't know what their hourly rate is, but $500 seems a little steep for an hour+ long job.

 

[IOPort51]

$500 does seem like a lot but with warenty mark up and such, not so much. I don't see doing this in an hour or two even with all the right tools at your disposal.

The easiest way I have found is to remove the mount from the frame which requires you take the pressure off the axle and remove the spring hanger. Of course when I replaced the steering actuator I also replaced the mount and the shackles so it was part of the plan from the beginning.

I think I would be sure that I knew where it was leaking. If it is just the pittman shaft seal you can find a seal kit at NAPA. after the pitman arm is off you should be able to replace the seal and be done with it and never remove the box. If it is the hose, replacing the box won't help.

start by cleaning it up real good and look for the wet spot.

and just for the record, Nobody works on my Jeep but me, with the exception of things requiring special machinery like boaring blocks and installing differentials.

 

[Petescj]

80s versions use lines with o-ring seals for that reason. They can still be loose and leak though.

Don't know about the 81 CJ's but the 70's versions are notorious for leaking from the PS pump fluid lines. It will crack where it bends under the front crossmember. Found that out taking mine apart...

 

[jb8376]

Mine was leaking from the seal where the steering shaft goes in. I bought a rebuild kit from west Texas off road who specializes in heavy duty steering boxes. It came with all the seals and bearings. It was a litte complicated but with all the knowledge on the internet and calling west Texas a couple of times I got it done. My jeep is not my daily driver so I was not in a rush. You can also just get the seals too. You just have to fiqure out what box you have.

 

[steveno]

Mine had at the pitman arm side leak, bought a kit from autozone for about 12.00 dollars and fixed. While it was leaking found another 76' box for 30 bucks and put that in, and now use other for backup. The 76' box I picked up was an older one which used flare ends and my resovior used o-ring style. So had to get a hose made with two different ends. Just the one hose, the other hose I bought with both flairs. So I will have to get new o-ring hoses if I switch back to other box. what I'm saying it was a pain when I did it, but now I know what I have and felt good I did it. A couple of times I felt like kicking everything I could but when done I couldn't feel better. And just think I was ready to trade my 76' box for a core on an autozone box, at the time I didn't know any better, glad I did it myself researched a little bit.