which power steering box do I have?

[1979C20]

I DESPERATELY need to reseal my power steering box. Its gotten bad to the point that it leaks ALL of my fluid out driving a quarter mile. Oreilly's lists seal kits for the first design 7802644L and the second design 7802644. I have no idea which one I have. Can you tell by the year of the vehicle or anything? Its a 79 C20 with 350 and 4spd mantrans. And, I would love to just buy a remans, but I dont have 120 bucks to spend on my truck right now. the seal kit if only 40.

[beastie_3]

you have to pull it off to look at the model number.

[1979C20]

THAT is depressing. Looks like I've got a night of work ahead of me.

[jaredts]

If its just leaking at the pitman shaft a new seal for that is like $3--and there's only one regardless of casting number.  I think you're looking at a complete rebuild kit--which I highly recommend you do not buy.  For the cost of that kit and the work it would take and the shady results you'd probably get doing a complete rebuild yourself the $120 is a steal.

[1979C20]

Well, I think the leak is coming from where the column goes into the gear box. It might be the pitman shaft. Would it be better to do both of those seals instead? I would absolutely love to just replace the gear box, but I don't have the money right now. 17 and my parents wont front me.

[Irish_Alley]

The seals should Be the same on both shafts the only difference I see is if its a hydo boost

[Irish_Alley]

Input shaft should be 7095 10  bucks at autozone

[VileZambonie]

Go to the bone yard or look on craigslist for a used one.

[1979C20]

Okay guys. Craigslist to the rescue! Found one for 35 from someone who lives a half mile from me. Went and picked it up for 30. Its of an 87 burban. He said he bought it as a parts truck for the axles and that it had no grease or grime on it, just dirt. And he hosed it off and threw some paint on it. So, now I just have to do the swap. Any advice on how to go about this fiasco?

[zieg85]

Red flag here.  You said something that might be a problem.  "He bought the Suburban for the axles" Does that mean it came off a 4X4?  I thought they were different than 2 wheel drive.

[slammed79]

No bueno! If the burb was a 4wd and you're running a 2wd they ain't gonna jive. Best bet at that point is to see if a junk yard might be willing to swap ya

[1979C20]

Just finished the swap at 3am. There is a LOT of slop in this box. And I still need o buy fluid

[VileZambonie]

Slop where? It's probably the wrong box as already stated. The 2wd and 4wd boxes are different. They also have different diameter shaft splines which means that your rag joint coupler will not be the same.

[1979C20]

It works fine, its just sensitive as heck. And, there was slop when i turned the wheel before the tires would turn. I think the pitman arm is longer, so it pulls slightly to the left. But everything bolted and meshed together just fine. This box leaks slightly, so I am going to reseal my original one and swap them back out again. I thing the gears in the new one are going bad, because when I turn right holding the wheel in one spot its really jerky.

[1979C20]

So, I found out, the power steering model number is NOT stamped on the side against the rail. It is stamped on the top of the box to the right of the plate where the adjustment nut is, under the fluid lines. Just for future reference if anyone needs to know.