'63 Steering Box Reseal?

[Aaron65]

I've been out in the garage repairing a thousand electrical problems in my '63, and it decided to leave most of its power steering fluid on the garage floor where it's been parked for a month or so.  It seems to be leaking from the "input shaft" seal, although I didn't jack it up to crawl underneath.  The box has clearly never been touched, but the steering works fine, and I don't like fixing what isn't broken.  Has anybody gone through one of these boxes and just replaced the seals?  Is it worth the effort?  I've read (on this forum) that a newer replacement box is a direct swap, but I don't necessarily need a faster ratio (I'm used to the old car experience - my Dart is something like six turns lock to lock).

Thanks for any advice you can offer!
Aaron

[JZRIV]

Yes fairly easy and inexpensive to replace the input, and output seals. There is an oring behind the domed end cap that can also be replaced. You'll need to remove the box and get it on the bench. Sometimes the pitman arm can be a real bear to get off the output shaft. Usually need puller and heat  

Edited December 31, 2022 by JZRIV (see edit history)

[RivNut]

On a weird note, my 63 would leak power steering fluid only when I would park it with the steering wheel straight up ( horn bar at 3 and 9.) If I’d set the horn bar at 12 and 6  it wouldn’t leak. ??????????

Edited December 31, 2022 by RivNut (see edit history)

[Aaron65]

1 hour ago, JZRIV said:

Yes fairly easy and inexpensive to replace the input, and output seals. There is an oring behind the domed end cap that can also be replaced. You'll need to remove the box and get it on the bench. Sometimes the pitman arm can be a real bear to get off the output shaft. Usually need puller and heat  

Compared the the box on my '63 T-Bird, this will be a breeze.  It's actually visible in the engine compartment. 

[Turbinator]

2 hours ago, Aaron65 said:

I've been out in the garage repairing a thousand electrical problems in my '63, and it decided to leave most of its power steering fluid on the garage floor where it's been parked for a month or so.  It seems to be leaking from the "input shaft" seal, although I didn't jack it up to crawl underneath.  The box has clearly never been touched, but the steering works fine, and I don't like fixing what isn't broken.  Has anybody gone through one of these boxes and just replaced the seals?  Is it worth the effort?  I've read (on this forum) that a newer replacement box is a direct swap, but I don't necessarily need a faster ratio (I'm used to the old car experience - my Dart is something like six turns lock to lock).

Thanks for any advice you can offer!
Aaron

I replaced my steering box and turned in the core for my 63. I had no leaks, but I was tired of the steering like flying an airplane. The ride was like Steppenwolf’s Magic Carpet ride. Replacing the steering box was done because lock to lock turn was 4.+. Any way the thing was 50+ years old and it was time. Tom Telesco sold the rebuilt Saginaw 808 to me and it works great.

I needed helped putting the steering box in, kinda heavy. You will need an extra large socket to take a ginormous nut off in the steering assembly. The socket has a name and I bought the socket at Auto Zone. That’s the deal if you take it off and fix it or buy another one. Good Luck

Turbinator