where is it leaking....around the shaft......its not that hard to take the box out just unhook, steering in and out, fluid hoses in and out, then there is 3 bolts holding it to frame, seal is real easy theres only three that need to be done the sideplate cover, dust seal and oil seal

the oil seal is the important one and has a spring in it. I would clean up the shaft and make sure there is no burrs on it

 

Its leaking where it connects to the pitman arm. Good news is that its not making a mess of the engine bay, just leaking straight out onto the drive way.

Not knowing until I get it apart, is where it connects to the pitman arm, the "important" seal with the spring?

 

Yep, that would be the one. You can do it in the truck, take the fan shroud out of the way to make seeing what you are doing easier.

 

Put my 99 on the hoist today and it looks like my steering box is leaking at the lower pitman shaft seal too. It started to leak after sitting all winter. Going to try the dealer for the seal kit... It was cheap the last one we did.
I seem to remember removing the pitman arm, a snap ring, back up ring, then working the steering wheel left and right with engine running to pop out the seal. Memory not so good anymore...

 

Thanks for that tip, knowing me I'd have forged ahead without doing that and cussing all the way, lol.

ABS sensor and steering box seal on the agenda for the weekend... Geez this truck has kept me busy the last year.......

 

Do you remember having steering fluid pump out all over the garage? lol.

 

I am sure he is blocking that particular memory.........

 

LMC truck sells the gear box for 250

 

Is that a new unit? or a Reman? Reman's have a tendency to have the exact same problems as the box you are replacing.....

 

does anyone have a how to step by step on changing the steering box with pictures?