A little over a year ago, I randomly started leaking power steering fluid... ended up being a power steering pump seal. Took it to my usual garage, an hour later and about $50 it was fixed. He said he wasn't sure if it would hold, but it did.

Fast forward to now. I got a new car, so I hardly drive the old F150. I started it up today, and after letting it run for a few minutes, I pull out of th eparking lot and its whining like crazy. Turns out I blew the seal again.

Question is... has anyone dealt with this? Is it worth it to try to replace the seal, or just do the pump? If you have done the seal, how hard is it to do on your own? Always open for suggestions.

 

Personally I would just change the entire pump. They aren't that expensive and either way the pump has to come off.

 

It doesn't have to come off. Last time I had this seal replaced, they were able to do it in less than an hour with the vehicle on a hoist. They said it had about a 50/50 chance of working, but it ended up holding anyway.

Changing the pump is considerably more expensive. Though if the seal replacement doesn't work, I'll end up going for a new pump.

 

My apologies. Its not the pump, its the gearbox that's leaking. Very different.

 

From what I have read here seals on the stearing box can be replaced but more often than not they don't last like your mechanic told you and you have now experienced. The real fix seems to be replacement of the stearing box.