So I have a 2001 Ram 1500 That was leaking ps fluid out of the bottom seal of the steering box. Rather than buying a seal kit I opted to replace the whole box. Installation went fine and I even installed new ps hoses. About 25 miles later I noticed even more ps fluid dripping from my steering box. I figured the parts store sold me a faulty box so I went back and got a new one (free of charge). Another 30 miles down the road I run in to the same exact problem. At this point I am at my wits end. I highly doubt that I purchases 2 faulty steering boxes. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!!

 

Is it leaking from where the steering shaft attatches? Can you post a pic of where it is leaking?

 

Talk to who you got the steering box from. See if you can get your money back, then, get a redhead, or borgeson box.

 

No it is leaking from where the pitman arm attaches to the steering box.

 

Pitman shaft seal.

As stated before, get a refund, or fix the seal.

Looks like there is also fluid leaking down from where the hard lines connect to the box.

 

Agreed.

Any chance you check the lines to the PS pump. Oring on the high pressure side likes to retire on occasion.

 

Cross threading is also a possibility. The lines should screw in all way by hand first. And yes, make sure new orings are used.

 

The lines are all brand new and I hope I didn't cross thread anything but I will know more when I take it all apart in a few hours. Would a cross thread or faulty o-ring really cause the pitman seal to blow out like that? I'm thinking more along the lines of replacing the power steering pump, but really I'm just taking shots in the dark.

 

Don't just throw money at it.

Do your best to diagnose the problem and fix it as efficiently as possible.

I can't see the pump as causing the seal to go like that.

Could have been defective from the factory.

Let us know what the dealio is when you look at it.

 

Could pump be causing high pressure to build, as in clogged by-pass?