[A1D05]

Greetings fellow auszookers, long time lurker first time poster. I'm a n00b to these parts so please be gentle
I have just recently noticed an oil leak from my Steering Gear Box on my Sierra;

Just a few questions;
Can the oil seal be replaced and then it's all fine and dandy?
Or do I require a replacement Steering Gear Box? If so I noticed new ones go for $425, is it easier to get one 2nd hand to save some money?
If 2nd hand sounds good, what places in Sydney (possibly online) would hold said part? I've been googling with no great results except for places in the U.S.
With driving around with this leak, will it affect steering performance in the car?
My apologies that was 4 questions

[31zook]

welcome to AZ

Just open the top of the box drain the oil, and fill it with grease. The oil in the pretty much just stops it from leaking.

[31zook]

2000 posts, sweet.

[A1D05]

The manual says to use SAE90 oil. Has this a high viscosity? Any particular good quality grease you could recommend?

Apologies for all the questions, just want to make sure this steering gear box will last

[squizzytaylor]

Try this, has the ep property of a heavy grease but has enough "slump" to keep the drive wet at all times, will probably have to get it ordered in though.

http://www.penriteoil.com.au/products/g ... uid_grease

[steak_knife]

31zook wrote:

welcome to AZ

Just open the top of the box drain the oil, and fill it with grease. The oil in the pretty much just stops it from leaking.

X2, except that look's more like rust leaking..

[A1D05]

I'll give that a try tomorrow, thanks squizzytaylor & 31zook.

[A1D05]

steknig wrote:

31zook wrote:

welcome to AZ

Just open the top of the box drain the oil, and fill it with grease. The oil in the pretty much just stops it from leaking.

X2, except that look's more like rust leaking..

It's definitely a murky brown oil - just wondered when I took it in for a regular service from licensed mechanics if they ever bothered to change this out. May have to check my diffs, gearbox and transfer case too.

[Crunched]

Did you just recently give the thing a wash with a gerni or high pressure car wash sprayer by any chance? Looks like rusty water to me.

[A1D05]

Unfortunately Crunch it is of oil consistency. I noticed it before
I degreased the under carriage of the engine bay as I'm trying to spot another oil leak - either from my sump or the rear main seal.

[Crunched]

A1D05 wrote:

Unfortunately Crunch it is of oil consistency. I noticed it before
I degreased the under carriage of the engine bay as I'm trying to spot another oil leak - either from my sump or the rear main seal.

Check the dizzy - there is an o-ring at the base of the housing that I've seen leaking in most Sierras I have come across. In fact, I just replaced mine the other day. Can often look like a rear main seal or sump gasket leak.

[A1D05]

Cheers Crunched, will do.

[steak_knife]

A1D05 wrote:

steknig wrote:

31zook wrote:

welcome to AZ

Just open the top of the box drain the oil, and fill it with grease. The oil in the pretty much just stops it from leaking.

X2, except that look's more like rust leaking..

It's definitely a murky brown oil - just wondered when I took it in for a regular service from licensed mechanics if they ever bothered to change this out. May have to check my diffs, gearbox and transfer case too.

There is no service interval for the steering box, if it leak's you fix it, if it has excess play, fix it.
when the top is off be sure to clean the breather out to, good thing about grease is it won't leak out again, even if you don't replace that seal.
I use graphite grease in steering box's, nice & smooth operation..

[A1D05]

[shandy92]

all this the same for a vitara non P/S box? mine has just started leaking in the same area. i need to know, if its safe to drive for 1 week? (was planning on going 4wding tomorrow, also need to drive to work next week about 400k total)

p.s how do i unblock the breather? prob the reason for mine leaking.
cheers