Classic/Antique Car Repair/Steering gearbox

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Expert: - 1/29/2010


Question
1966 Oldsmobile Delta 88.  The steering gearbox has an oil leak, but one Mechanic said the shaft isn't loose (it barely has any movement off center) so it's still working correctly.  Even though there's quite a bit of oil (I'm not sure all the oil originates from the gearbox), is the gearbox tough enough to wait until further looseness in the shaft?  

Answer
The first thing that i would do is to clean the gear box and the area around it with Gunk engine cleaner hosed off following the directions on the can. Then run the car and make sure where the oil is coming from and how much. If it is power steering the main thing is to make sure that the PS does not run dry as this will damage the pump and the box. If it is the top seal, it can be replaced without taking the box out of the car as can the lower seal. The main thing is to determine how much fluid is leaking.

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

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