Steering box: what keeps the side cover from leaking?

[Paul7002]

There are rubber seals where the shafts go in and what looks a slim paper gasket for the top cover, but nothing for the side unless the metal shims also serve that purpose.

Just curious as I am working on mine - I actually have two and may be combining them into one (hopefully) good one.

[BLUNT]

i asked the same question after rebuilding mine. i used nothing but the steel shims and i have no leaks or seeping as of 1500 miles and over a year of sitting. its bone dry. i hope it stays like that

[H_Krix]

Mine had about 5 shims of varying thicknesses and leaked like a sieve after I put it all back together and in the car. I eventually used a light skim coat of RTV Gray when I reassembled it a second time and no leaks thus far.

[c.d.iesel]

[Paul7002]

So it sounds like a light skim of RTV would be prudent - I don't want to discover it leaks AFTER it's back in the car. disconnecting the pitman arm from the cent link to get it out was a pain - although AutoZone came to the rescue with a loaner puller that was just barely small enough.