I have a 59 Olds Dynamic 88 s dr post car with a 371 and automatic,power steering and power brakes. The steering gear box is leaking fluid and it appears to be coming out a very small hole at the top of the gear box at the front. I have searched everywhere as to what this might be and what the fix would be. I can find nothing on this subject anywhere. Does anyone know why it would be leaking fluid here and what the fix would be. Thanks Jim
on an integral power steering box like that, grease would probably not be a good thing. Pictures? Is it at the front of the little valve thing on top, or the the main lower unit? The little valve thing has a steel ball plugging a pressure hole at the top front. It also has an O ring sealing a larger diameter plug below that.
Hi Jim I would say it is on the main unit at the front (towards front of car).But I need to look at it again to be sure of what you are asking. It is a very small drilled hole. It is hard to get a legible pic because of where it is at.
If it is the small steel ball that is supposed to stop it from leaking,I am guessing it may have gotten stuck open from the car sitting?
The steel ball I'm thinking of would be pressed and staked into a hole, used to seal it. Could have gotten rusty and started leaking...it would have to get pretty rusty though, I think. here are some scans from the 57 cadillac manual, I think it's the same unit?
I have the steering box out of my 59 wagon, I'll go take a look and see if I can figure out what your looking at, when I get back to my house.
That does not appear to be the same unit. This one does not have that valve unit on top. The lines go into the unit at the back,on top,by where the steering shaft from the column goes into the box. There is a large metal cap in the front end of the unit that appears to be held in by a sanp ring. You can actually see the side of the cap through the hole where fluid is coming out. It almost seems like at some time the unit built up pressure to the point that it may have pushe the cap out far enough to open the small hole on top. It does not make much sense in that a snap ring holds the cap in place-so how could it push the cap out? Jim,when I ook at your pic on the end of the valve body,there is a cap,oring and then a snap ring Even tho this is not the same unit nor does the whole unit look the same,I am wondering if maybe it is sealed at the end by the same type of parts?
That would be great if you could see what you see through that hole on top. Like I said,it looks like I can see the side of the cap that seals off the front of the unit.
Sounds like you have the more modern steering gear, like the 800 series used from the 60s-90s. The cap in the front is sealed by an O ring, and held in place with a snap ring, and the hole is there to use a punch to remove the snap ring. If the cap is worn where the snap ring fits up against it, you'll need a new cap, otherwise just replace the O ring. Messy fun job, but might fix your problem.
I do not want to take this out unless i Absolutely have to. I am getting a manual for this car but it will be a week or so before i get it. I have not taken a gear box apart before-usually it is rack and pinion. I ***ume you hold the snap ring still with a punch so as to pry it out? I do not see any holes in the snap ring that you could use a pr of snap ring pliers on.
You use a pin punch, thru the hole, it pushes the end of the snap ring out of the groove, then you can pry the ring out the rest of the way. If it's like the later ones I'm familiar with. http://www.selectric.org/manuals/sag800 page 3 specifically
Not sure exactly where you think it's coming from, but I took a few pics and maybe they,and someone smarter than me, can help you out.
Guys,thank you. Damelot,if you look towards the front of the unit,on top,there is a nub sticking out. If the unit was installed and you were looking at it from driver's side,it is to the left of the nub that would be farthest towards the front of the car. I don't see a hole on yours but I am sure it is there. It would be the top pic that you posted here. I am probably going to pull gear box from car but I think I will try and find those parts before I do. O ring,cap and snap ring-just to be on the safe side so i am not stuck with a car that I can't steer. Any idea as to who might have those parts? The oring must be bad for it to leak like it is and possibly the cap as well. Anyway,thanks guys for taking the time to get me this info. It is greatly appreciated and I hope to be able to return the favor sometime. Jim
Ok that explains why I couldn't figure out what you meant. Mine is from a wagon but I don't think that would make a difference. I don't know where to get the rebuild parts but if you find out let me know as I need to do this one.
boy i dropped the ball on this one,didnt pay any attenion to the power part. thanks for bailing me out guys
In case it's any help, a '72 Cutl*** p.s. box will bolt right in... If I remember right, you still have to use the '59 pitman arm, but the splines are the same...
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