I had my steering gear box rebuilt by Corvette Central a couple years ago, and it has been installed in the car but otherwise unused. I just recently noticed it forming a drop every couple days just in front of where the shaft exits the box. The end of the box has tabs or tangs that appear to be crimped flat, and the leak is happening near them.

Is there an easy fix I can do, or will it require sending back to CC? And, if I leave it, will the leak get a lot worse under actual usage? I thought CC filled the box with grease, not oil, so I'm not sure what's happening.

Thank you for any help!
Patricia/'75

It should be oil in the gear box. The leaking seal can be replaced in the car without a big problem if you have a pitman arm puller. This is far easier with air powered impact tools, but can be done with a breaker bar. Remove the nut holding the pinion arm to the pinion (output) shaft. Pull the arm off with a puller. There is a snap ring holding the seal in. The seal is more than one piece, so pay attention to how it comes out. Insert the new seal, replace the snap ring, and install the pitman arm and nut. Torque the nut. Done.
It may not get worse for a long time, but sooner or later it will. If this is under warranty from CC, I would talk to them before replaceing the seal. Doing so may void your warranty. The other possibility is the seal is not the problem, and the shaft is misadjusted or has surface damage, causing the seal to leak.

Ken Styer

Actually, it's leaking up at the other shaft-where the steering column connects to the steering gear box. The pitman arm shaft is not leaking at all.

Actually, the procedure is similar. Snap ring retainer. But now the column needs disconnected and the rag joint connector removed from the input shaft. You don't need a puller, but it is more work overall.
You still have the same failure posibilities causing the leak. I would still talk to CC first, and see how your warranty stands. They may pay for the repair, or want the box returned. You don't want to void the warranty.

Ken Styer

Thanks for the help, Ken. I will have to check with Corvette Central. I do not have the steering column or rag joint coupler assembly installed at this time, so getting at the box's top end is pretty easy right now.