Where to find information on steering gearbox rebuild

[GMCsierra06]

I’m looking for a guide or instruction manual on how to rebuild a power steering gearbox on a 2006 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 4x4 crew cab. I ordered a seal kit, but I’ve never attempted this task and want all the information I can get prior to doing it.

 

 

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[Dnt]

Sorry that I cannot provide any instruction but I can relate a previous experience with a leaking steering gear box. Years ago I had a leaky Ford truck steering gear box and found that the reason the seals had gone bad was a bad bushing was allowing slop in the output shaft which damaged the seal. I never could find a bushing for it so I ended up tossing it in the scrap pile and bought another steering gear box for 20 bucks at my local pull a part yard.  Drove that puppy for many years without any more problems. 

[GMCsierra06]

I believe mine has started to leak due to worn pitman arm, creating play in the center link. It just now started leaking, so I wanna fix it while my pitman arm and idler arm are out of the truck.


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[Supreme Pizza]

https://www.amazon.com/ATP-AT-205-Re-Seal-Stops-Bottle/dp/B000NVW1LM/ref=asc_df_B000NVW1LM/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312050280935&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5332328681643588634&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033405&hvtargid=pla-406644660655&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=61716360643&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312050280935&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5332328681643588634&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033405&hvtargid=pla-406644660655

 

 

 

 

[GMCsierra06]

https://www.amazon.com/ATP-AT-205-Re-Seal-Stops-Bottle/dp/B000NVW1LM/ref=asc_df_B000NVW1LM/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312050280935&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5332328681643588634&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033405&hvtargid=pla-406644660655&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=61716360643&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312050280935&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5332328681643588634&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033405&hvtargid=pla-406644660655  

 

 

 

 

I appreciate this idea, but I really wanna do it right. I believe the seal kit comes with a diagram and instructions and I’ve seen a couple of YouTube videos on disassembly, but still looking for some literature on my specific gearbox.

I plan on painting it with caliper paint to make it look new as well.

 

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[Doug_Scott]

The pitman arm attaches to the sector shaft splines, so the play in the pitman arm to cente link via a tapered stud with a ball type joint in the center link itself.  In other words, the pitman arm contains no moving parts, and any play in the centre link cannot create damage or excessive wear to the steering box. 

Every shop I worked in, including 3 dealerships, steering boxes were always sent out for repairs simply due to getting parts like bushings, shims and internal parts would come up as non-serviceable more often than not.  The last 5 different locations I worked in all used the same rebuilder.  They would source the parts they needed from their huge supply of used components they accumulated. 

[GMCsierra06]

Thanks for that information. I may still go ahead and put the pitman seal kit in just so I can stop the leaking long enough to order a new gearbox. I need my truck on the road and can’t really wait for a gearbox to ship. Seal kit should be here by next week.


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[Doug_Scott]

17 hours ago, GMCsierra06 said:

Thanks for that information. I may still go ahead and put the pitman seal kit in just so I can stop the leaking long enough to order a new gearbox. I need my truck on the road and can’t really wait for a gearbox to ship. Seal kit should be here by next week.


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If you mean sector shaft seal, the easiest way to remove it is to take pit an arm off, remove the snap ring from the inside of the steering box, it holds the seal in place. Once the snap ring is out, put the pit an arm back on and just start the nut.  Put an oil pan under the steering box to catch the oil.  Start the truck and turn the steering wheel all the way in one direction, and pull hard on the steering wheel.  The seal should pop out.  There will be metal washers along with the seal.  Pay attention to the order of the parts that come out.  I prefer to do this with the pit an arm on so that it uses the steering stops to pop the seal out instead of running the box to its limits, and then a bit more. 

[GMCsierra06]

If you mean sector shaft seal, the easiest way to remove it is to take pit an arm off, remove the snap ring from the inside of the steering box, it holds the seal in place. Once the snap ring is out, put the pit an arm back on and just start the nut.  Put an oil pan under the steering box to catch the oil.  Start the truck and turn the steering wheel all the way in one direction, and pull hard on the steering wheel.  The seal should pop out.  There will be metal washers along with the seal.  Pay attention to the order of the parts that come out.  I prefer to do this with the pit an arm on so that it uses the steering stops to pop the seal out instead of running the box to its limits, and then a bit more. 

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[Doug_Scott]

That's my age showing.  That shaft used to be commonly called sector shaft.  It appears GM has chenged the name. I have an old workers compensation claim calling it sector shaft seal, kit due to the socket i had my hand wrapped around suddenly split and cut the edge of my palm down to the bone.