Have a question about as to how i need to go about fixing my power steering leak. I have a 97 1500 4WD 5.2L 5Spd SLT and i've been leaking power steering for a couple of months now, and its starting to get worse. I add fluid once a month or every two weeks now. Anyway, it looks as if its leaking right out of the Power Steering Box itself.

I dont know much about cars, but i do know that my money is limited, so i am trying to do it right and affordable. Somebody said i need to buy a whole new power steering box and have it installed. That will run a lot. Do i have other options? Is there a seal that just needs to be replaced? Is there a good place where i can buy a rebuilt power steering box and have them install it? Autozone or Advance? I'd like to keep the whole thing under $400 if possible (with install/rebuild).

Please advise. Thanks.

 

they sell rebuild kits, but if you are not the worlds best mechaninc, your best bet is to just get a new box.

my box was $130 from advance auto (that was with a company discount, figure like $170-180 otherwise).

you can do the install yourself. get some basic handtools together, go rent a pitman arm puller from autozone (its free just put down a deposit and you get the money back when you bring the puller back), and if you have an impact gun it will help, but not necessary.

make sure you dont run your power steering pump empty in the mean time. running empty will damage it, and then you will have to replace that too.
i had run mine empty for a few days before i got around to changing the box. now, at idle, i have intermittant power steering outages, due to a bad ps pump.
there is the 2001 ram service manual floating around on this site somewhere, that should give you any other info you may need for the fix.

 

was your box from advance brand new or a rebuilt box? I'd probably buy a new one, if its 170-180 like you said. I always keep PS fluid in my car and if i hear that its low, it gets filled right away. Any suggestions on where to buy a new box, because all i see are PS pumps online, whats the correct name for a power steering box?

 

it's called a steering gear. a new one will run you $600-800 I replaced mine with a rebuilt one from advanced auto about a year ago.had good luck with it so far.

 

mine was a remanufactured box. everything is gone over, all the seals are replaced, nothing wrong with a reman box.

go on advance auto website and search for your truck, they will give you prices right there.

 

Reman on mine from advance going on a year now with no problems. Could hardly hold her in the road had so much play but no leaks. Box and labor 225.00.

 

It depends on where its leaking from, so don't ge replacing it yet. If its coming out the bottom of the box its the pitman arm seal which is replacable and pretty easy to fix. If its coming out the top or where the sheering shaft goes in then you have two options. Either buy a new box like said above, or try what I did for way less.

I picked up a bottle of Lucus Power Steering Stop leak and kept toping it off everytime it needed to be filled. After a few monthes bam, no more leak. Cheapest and easiest are always where I start Since its so cheap if it doesn;t work then you can always buck up for a new box.

 

do these leaks tend to get worse over time or could i just keep filling it up as need be, until i come up with some cash flow? I dont know where it is coming from yet, top of the box or pitman. I'll have to check again. I saw a part on autozone. com . ATSCO Part 7533.

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...%7ENONE%7C%7EW

This is the box right? 97 ram 1500 318 4WD 5SPd Manual.

 

The steering gears sold at Autozone are made by AGR, and Atsco and are exactly what is on your truck now. They make a standard replacement, and they make a Superbox 1 & a Superbox II. They are heavier duty, and designed for higher line pressures.

There is a rebuild kit, and they are easy to do if you have basic wrench skills. You are positive that you hp and lp lines are not what leaking? The kit has all the gaskets you need. I will say it is almost impossible to replace a gasket while on the truck. They have 2 fluid lines, the steering shaft, and the pitman arm that have to be removed. Then it's three bolts and off the frame you are.


I know the standard replacement at Advance auto is 148.00 and a core. (I just called)


Autozone has the Atsco standard replacement for 168.00, and the Superbox 1&2 are 375.99 each...lol


Rebuild, or replace with oem specs.

Go to the AGR Performance site. I know they sell a heavy duty replacement that's inbetween standard, and super.


Good luck, my man.

 

Mine was leaking very bad from around the pitman are seal, I used some of the lucas and it stopped almost immediatly...give that a try first...if it doesnt work..then look for a new box.....especialy if thats the only problem...if there is excesive play in the box AND its leaking...I would suggest getting a new box.