Steering gearbox problems

[OdaiV10]

Hi everyone,

Few months ago I changed my power steering pump for my truck (Automatic Transmission). Now I have an oil leak and mechanics have said its from the steering gearbox. Also I have a cruel steering play that freaks the hell out of me when I'm driving.

My questions are does the steering gearbox has any solution at this given state or should it be replaced with a new one?

Also my truck this september will be parked for at least a year. I will be using it during the next couple of months then will be parked for a year. Is it worth it to change the gearbox now? and if I did, will it be damaged or anything by the car being stationary for a year? Because I heard a lot that leaving a car parked for a long periods of time damages it in a way?

So what do you advise me to do?

 

[Bigtman07]

Well leaving a vehicle sit for prolonged periods will cause problems. But it sounds like after putting in the new power steering pump it may have raised the pressure in the steering box exposing a leak. Its not going to hurt it to be replaced now as long as it has fluid in it it should be fine. But if you don't replace it before you leave and the gearbox leaks all the fluid out you may have a hard time replacing it. But this is all speculation. Time and weather act differently on many things.

 

[OdaiV10]

I always check the fluid levels and I keep it full at all times, but even though the fluid is full the steering now is a bit hard when I turn left or right, not like when I installed the new pump it was very smooth. Do you know what is causing this? And I've been told that at some point the steering gearbox could stop functioning and I wont be able to steer the car left or right? is that a possibility in my case?