TJ Pitman Arm Leak

It is 'usually' the seal under the adjuster plug where the steering column goes in that leaks from what I have heard and seen. That will run down and drip so you should see if it is wet above the pitman seal.

If it is this seal, you can get the old style adjuster plug if you are lucky at steering rebuilder shops and use that. It is a Saganaw box that the GM's also use so parts are easy to find. The old style one is a one piece adjuster plug and apparently takes years before it will leak according to the shop I was at.

Makes sense, my 86 seal is only weeping about 1/4 cup a season or every half year after all this time.

The seals are not hard to put in and I always recommend a new bearing or bushing to go with it seeing as the bearing must have enough slop to mess up the seal....

Getting the pitman arm off can be a real SOB, so if it isn't that leaking, I leave them alone and just do the adjuster seal. That can be done by just dropping the box and only unhooking the steering column.

You can get the individual parts or just buy a kit with everything.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Dave wrote:

Thanks for the link(s) Bill.. My only issue is that this seal-kit doesn't seem to include the bearing/bushing that Mike mentioned. It makes sense that something is worn out to make the seal leak?

I'll do more looking around tomorrow when I'm not sleep-typing....