Steering gear box leaking

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Oscar the KW, Jan 27, 2013.

  1. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    05 W900L, the steering box is leaking around the the shaft that comes out of it that the drag link is hooked to. Is there a seal that can be replaced, and how difficult is the job?
     
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  3. SL3406

    SL3406 Medium Load Member

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    I've done it a couple of times without any trouble. The seals install from the inside. You have to remove the cover on the back side of the box. Remove the sector shaft and you will find two seals. One facing out to keep out the dirt, and one facing in to hold in the oil. Mark the pitman arm before you remove it, and mark the sector shaft so you reinstall everything the same. There is an adjustment screw that sets the back lash for the the sector shaft gear teeth. You set that with a torque wrench. It's not really difficult, just be careful you don't make any mistakes :biggrin_25525:
     
  4. Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    I know my kw dealer won't touch a steering box, except to bolt on a reman one. Because of the liability .

    There must be a seal kit for it...... Is it a trw?
     
  5. daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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    First feel if there isn't any free play on the shaft.
    If it is too loose ,the new seal will wear out fast.
    In which case better replace the whole box.
     
  6. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    These jobs are like anything else, if you have the right tools and the service manual it is a piece of cake. If you don't, this isn't the job a diy'er. Most of the time the seals leak because they have worn a groove into the shaft. A new seal will only work temporarily, then it will leak again, then you have to remove it a second time and replace the whole gear anyway.
     
  7. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    I grabbed the drag link and cannot feel or see any movement side to side or up and down, twisted the steering shaft and see no play that way either.
     
  8. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    If I'm going to replace the two seals for the sector shaft, is there anything else I should replace while it is off the truck?
     
  9. GrapeApe

    GrapeApe Road Train Member

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    If it is a TRW box, you're best bet is to get a reman box and replace it. A leak there is usually too much play in the sector shaft, replacing seals will be a short lived fix. The seal right behind the pitman arm is just a dirt seal, if you're getting power steering fluid leaking from it, then the inner seal is leaking, which means the sector shaft has to come out. Replacing the seals is not too hard, but you may find more problems than just a few seals. If you have no play in the input or sector shafts, I can probably get you a manual on rebuilding/adjusting it. Get me the model Number. Just please be confident in your abilities that you can do the job, there's no room for error with steering.

    If its a different type of box, like a Sheppard, let me know.
     
  10. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    Not sure what type of box it is, is it marked somewhere? It is the original one.
     
  11. GrapeApe

    GrapeApe Road Train Member

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    The easiest way is to call a dealer with the VIN and ask them what box it was built with. I think TRW is a standard for Kenworth, but the original buyer could spec what he wanted. They also may have used something different if there was a parts supply issue when they built the truck.

    The most common is TRW and they usally have TRW cast int he side. Does it look like this?
    http://products.powersteerinc.com/onlinecms/upload/POWER/1/11/1.jpg

    They come in several variations of mounting, but all look very similar to that pic. Most are 3 or 4 mounting bolts

    Sheppard's look like this:
    http://phoenixex.lawrencemg.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Shepard-M100Series.gif

    Identifiable buy the bolts around around the output shaft where the pitman arm bolts on.

    There's also Saginaw, Vickers and a few other not so common ones.
     
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