Can steering gear worm seal be removed in car?

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66fyssh

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1966 Barracuda power steering.

I'm rebuilding my steering coupler and totally removed the steering column so I could press out the pin to install the bottom seal.

As I look through the firewall I can see directly into the worm seal gear. Can that seal be removed without pulling the steering gear?

A couple years ago I did the trick to pop out the pinion seal, but can't do that with the worm gear without exploding fluid all over. With the pinion seal fluid went directly into a bucket.

Hoping I can replace the worm gear while the column is out.

Thanks!!
 
I guess so, but why? Talk about making an already fairly easy job very difficult.
 
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The engine is still in the car and I'm thinking there's no room to get the steering gear out.
 
There is room to remove it. What seal are talking about? The input shaft seal or pitman seal?
 
I did the pitman shaft seal a couple years ago.

I call this one the worm shaft...the one that connects to the steering column.
 
Can you not get the tool that slips over the shaft and screws the old seal out! Likely the same as the one used for replacing the shift shaft seal on a touque flight.
 
At least 25 years ago and my memory sux... but I don't recall a snap ring above this shaft seal so there likely isn't high fluid pressure here. If I'm right, the pump wouldn't blow this seal out like it will at the pitman shaft seal. Quite a mess if it did.
I did replace this seal under the hood. Center punched the seal face and used offset air drill to make a small hole. Sheet metal like screw into the hole. Was it a 1/16" drill and #6 drywall screw? I forget. I did compare my screws form to the new seals height. Might have marked it with piece of tape.
I'm thinking at about depth to my screws full diameter the screws tapered, pointed tip was entering a bearing below. I removed the screw and trimmed its tip to flat and slightly larger diameter. Run the screw back in a bit and tilted it slightly, toward inner bearing race. Then it landed and jacked the seal out a tad. Pulling the screw with pliers pulled the seal.
I saw some shaft wear and there was a little shaft walk. New seal stopped the dripping but I expected some seeping/dampness over time.
So that leads me to a question... Do you have drip, drip, drip, or are you simply looking a 50 years of seeping/dampness you hadn't viewed before?
 
Thanks Redfish. Just got home from work.

When I did the pitman seal it was a mess, but it all went into a 5 gallon bucket I wedged in there. Wasn't sure what to expect but figured it was worth a shot!!!

The thought crossed my mind to drill a hole and use a screw. I like your idea of flatening the screw tip to help draw out the seal.

I'm afraid it's a little more than just dampness. Not a drip, drip, drip, but a drip......drip. I must say though, when I picked up this car about 8 years ago the undercarriage was in tremendous condition. When I replaced the torsion bars a few weeks ago, I was able to pull them out of the lower control arm by hand.

Odometer shows 115,000, but we know how that goes.

Are you thinking scoring in the shaft? I replaced the pinion seal, and the control valve seals a couple years ago.

I'll get out there tonight and look closer at the seal.
 
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I've done it on a B body with a big block and headers.
I used a drywall screw to get the old one out and the right sized socket on a long 1/2" extension to drive the new one in. Make sure you drive the new one in straight, have a helper hold things in position at the steering box while you tap the seal in from inside the car.
 
I just needed a little FABO assurance. I do love a-bodies, just for the fun of trying to get into small spaces.

Managed to get a drill in there, then a screw, but ended up prying it out with a screwdriver. Here's that little bugger!

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I just needed a little FABO assurance. I do love a-bodies, just for the fun of trying to get into small spaces.

Managed to get a drill in there, then a screw, but ended up prying it out with a screwdriver. Here's that little bugger!

View attachment 1715310300
I've got the same thing going on with mine. I plan on taking it out the same way you did. Sheetrock screw and a little prying Maybe with a screwdriver? My question is can you just buy the seal for it without buying a kit? If so did you get one and where did you get it?
 
I've got the same thing going on with mine. I plan on taking it out the same way you did. Sheetrock screw and a little prying Maybe with a screwdriver? My question is can you just buy the seal for it without buying a kit? If so did you get one and where did you get it?
Just about every seal, bushing, or bearing can be purchased individually by dimension.
 
It's tight in there, but with the column and firewall out, there is just enough room.

I got the seal from RockAuto. They list 3 different seals. One for manual steering. One for a 5/8" shaft and one for a 3/4" shaft. Mine is 5/8" (.625). When I started the order, they indicated 2 remaining. When I added 2 to the cart, they said only 1 remaining!!! I quickly ordered it. Less than $8.00 shipped.

There isn't much seal space to drill into, you have to be careful not to mar the shaft or drill into the boss on the outside of the seal.

I've got the same thing going on with mine. I plan on taking it out the same way you did. Sheetrock screw and a little prying Maybe with a screwdriver? My question is can you just buy the seal for it without buying a kit? If so did you get one and where did you get it?
 
It's tight in there, but with the column and firewall out, there is just enough room.

I got the seal from RockAuto. They list 3 different seals. One for manual steering. One for a 5/8" shaft and one for a 3/4" shaft. Mine is 5/8" (.625). When I started the order, they indicated 2 remaining. When I added 2 to the cart, they said only 1 remaining!!! I quickly ordered it. Less than $8.00 shipped.

There isn't much seal space to drill into, you have to be careful not to mar the shaft or drill into the boss on the outside of the seal.
Excellent info. I'm going to try hopefully next week. I'll report back how it goes. I think the smaller size is what I need also for my 72 scamp. Thanks again!
 
Morning

I want to install a new 20:1 sector and worm gear set in my manual steering box, sector shaft is 1.125" and would like to get the bearing and seal before disassembly. Anybody out there have the number for:

Sector bearing #
Sector bearing seal #
Worm gear bearing #
Worm gear seal #

Thanking you in advance, have a great day.

Robert
 
Robert,

I went through Rock Auto for my worm gear seal. It was a perfect fit, but definitely not OEM quality. Thankfully it's not high pressure there.

Might poke around Rock Auto, and also start a new thread under wanted and/or steering.
 
Excellent info. I'm going to try hopefully next week. I'll report back how it goes. I think the smaller size is what I need also for my 72 scamp. Thanks again!
I got my seal from RockAuto today. All went well but not exactly easy. Used a center punch on the seal and an angle drill with a 1/16 in drill bit. Just enough room in there to get everything done. After I drilled the hole and started to screw the sheetrock screw in the seal came out real easy. Getting the steering shaft back into the gear again was a little rough though. Eventually, with a little bit of help it went easily when it was aligned properly. No pounding needed. Fired her up and no more leaking seal. Yay! Bad news is a small leak where the low pressure attaches. I'm hoping I can fix in the car also.
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I used the socket to make sure the seal went in square.
 
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I finished mine yesterday. Took an extra day to paint the column. I ended up using the clip on the coupler.

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