Leaking Steering Box? MCI MC9.

[Kyleayala]

I have recently noticed a leak on my 1982 MCI MC9.
I believe that it's leaking from the steering box that's just behind the front bumper?
Where do I go from here? Looking through my service manual there's a ton of O-Rings in there it looks like, so I'm guessing it needs to be disassembled  and have the O-Rings replaced?

[luvrbus]

Most of the time the leaking is from worn shafts and bearings causing the o-ring to start leaking

[richard5933]

Is it actively leaking or just oozing?

Are there any other problems with the steering?

Any chance the leak is coming from somewhere else and just ending up on the steering box? Maybe a power steering hose or a grease fitting higher up?

My steering box has a very slow ooze, and I was told that all I needed to do was keep it clean and monitor for things to get worse. The oil level was checked when it was first noticed, and even though things looked pretty moist the level was not noticeably down.

[Jim Blackwood]

You might want to wash it down with a good solvent and brush, dry it off to remove any traces of oil and dirt, and then just keep an eye on it. The leak might be slow enough that an occasional rag wipe is all it needs.

Jim

[Kyleayala]

Is it actively leaking or just oozing?

Are there any other problems with the steering?

Any chance the leak is coming from somewhere else and just ending up on the steering box? Maybe a power steering hose or a grease fitting higher up?

My steering box has a very slow ooze, and I was told that all I needed to do was keep it clean and monitor for things to get worse. The oil level was checked when it was first noticed, and even though things looked pretty moist the level was not noticeably down.

I haven't had the time to properly clean everything yet unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any issues as far as the steering goes. She felt perfect on the 100 mile drive home. We knew there was a leak when we bought it, as the driver side panels are absolutely coated in some sort of fluid. Within the next couple weekends I plan to get everything cleaned up to properly inspect.

[Kyleayala]

You might want to wash it down with a good solvent and brush, dry it off to remove any traces of oil and dirt, and then just keep an eye on it. The leak might be slow enough that an occasional rag wipe is all it needs.

Jim

Yeah that's what I am going to do, I won't be too concerned if its a minor leak. There is a buildup absolutely everywhere, who knows how long it has been leaking. I am going to clean it up and just keep an eye on it, go from there.

[richard5933]

Once you have things cleaned up to some degree, it might be a good idea to check for power steering leaks at the steering box. I believe that pressure goes up when turning the wheels while at a stop, so you might be able to see any active leaks by turning the wheel while the engine is running.

Of course, be sure to use proper blocking if getting under the bus to check on this. Never rely on the air bags to hold the bus up while you're underneath it.

[luvrbus]

 Ross Integral power steering has pressure all the time so your leak will show up 

[seafarer]

Sometimes when I'm looking for an oil leak I'll solvent clean the area and dry thoroughly. Then spray some athletes foot powder on the suspected area. The powder makes the leak easy to spot. You have to be pretty quick before it saturates everything. FWIW.