leaky 200 steering box...

After getting out the car today I noticed just behind the car that there was a large puddle of oil, assuming it was someone else car I carried. Noticed the steering was then heavy as fook and on closer inspection I can see power steering fluid leaking out the bottom of the steering box. It seems to be coming out where the steering arm arm is and running down it. I have a feeling that a seal or gasket will have suddenly gone.

Any thoughts?

Cheeers.

I get that intermitently... usually if it's been stood unused for a few days... also happened half way down Stanage Edge... that made steering hard work!... I can go for months and then suddenly no fluid... I just keep a bottle of 'juice' in the back all the time just in case.

My 200 TDi had/ has the same problem. I read somewhere that Brake Fluid made the rubber seals expand.:crazy:
After using several gallons of Steering Fluid,:5bnopity:
I then switched to Automatic Transmission Fluid (cheaper):drum:
Then after a few gallons I bought a pint of Brake Fluid:5bparty:.
Well I haven't had a leak since and I thank the Lord for miracles.raise:

Fair enough then, so what you're saying is to try using brake fluid instead? DOT 4? Or is it worth trying to fix the problem? Big job? Anyone here done such a thing?
It does explain why there was a bottle of ATF in the car when I bought it then. (It's a manual).

jmattley said:

Fair enough then, so what you're saying is to try using brake fluid instead? DOT 4? Or is it worth trying to fix the problem? Big job? Anyone here done such a thing?
It does explain why there was a bottle of ATF in the car when I bought it then. (It's a manual).

Click to expand...

ATF is also used to top up the LT77 gearbox as well

If the spindle that the drop arm bolts to is not too worn then a repair kit is about £15.00 however, as is the normal way of things you might be better off getting a recon unit for around £100.00 and be done with it. The brake fluid trick can work for awhile if you are lucky, also make sure it is the bottom seal and not coming from the top of the box or steering pump. If it is the top of the box then the top seal (in the above mentioned kit) takes about 15 minutes to fit and is an easy fix.

regards

Dave

I'm pretty sure it's coming out the bottom where the drop arm is. How much of a job is that? Does the steering box have to come off?

Will one of these do to fix it? If so, how big a job to replace a drop arm seal?

STC2847R Seal Kit for PAS box

Plus, going on a bit, but still, can i can i change the bottom seal without removing the steering box. I don't want to get a new box since it's pretty tight, (similar to me ). If so, any tips etc on doing it? I'm also very sure it's the drop arm seal.

It can be done in situ but is awkward and sometimes you may need a puller to get the drop arm off, when you put it back do the drop arm nut up real tight as they have a habit of coming loose, then bang the lock tab over nice and tight too.

regards

Dave

would be best to get a new lock washer as well

I think the plan is then to change the output shaft seal tomorrow then when it ain't raining and if I can I'll do it in situ. Anyone got any tips on actually taking the thing apart that I should know before I go at it or is it fairly straight forward?

The drop arm can be a sod to get off,
I have found by accident if you drive around a bit with the nut loose the drop arm frees it self