Steering shaft universal seal --70 GS/GSX

Is the rubber grease cup seal on the firewall side of the steering shaft universal remade or still available? What is the GM part number?

I do not have my chasis manual here.

 

Jim, GM does not sell it anymore and I have had no luck finding it aftermarket. I'm sure someone somehwere must make it....

later
Tim

 

Would help if you had a pic of an old one.

 

This is a pic of the sterering column seal we need. Or we need to ID the part number for it.

 

That is the same seal through 1977.
I don't have a part number.
Let me know if you find one.
I may have some old intermediate shafts
with a good seal. Will look tomorrow for one.

 

George

So far I have not found an ID on this part number. It does not look like it would be a tough one so far it has got me stumped. Going to have to get a pro like Scott Miller to take a crack at it.

I thought it would be in Group 6.519 but I do not see it.

 

Since it is an assembly, it may not have a part number unless you can find the drawing for that intermediate shaft. A similar item would be the steering column......lots of parts in a steering column w/o part numbers.

 

I think it's made as an assembly. I have dismantled a number of these and they used one heck of a metal clamp to attach the rubber boot to the shaft.(Note: the clamp is "inside" the boot--you remove the wire c-clip that holds the boot into the cup and once you clean all the grease off you will see the rather thick metal clamp). Not the kind of clamp that is intended to be removed--- it's crimped or clamped on with a machine..not by hand. You should be able to find plenty of these intermediate shafts with good rubber boots and refinish one of those.

This is another part people need to start "collecting" unless someone comes up with a good part number for the intermediate shaft. For comparison--S10 Blazers, circa late '80s have a similar shaft and when I checked about replacing it with the dealer we went through the parts books, pics and sure enough....to replace the boot you have to buy the hole shaft.

BTW--Jim that faucet in the picture looks like it may be dripping...tighten it up. :3gears:

Patton

 

Patton,
They are not the same. See the article below!

http://www.buickperformance.com/BBBshaft.htm

 

George--forgot about the big block Buick difference!! Doesn't make these so easy to find after all. I was concentrating on the rubber boot end which is the same on all of them. The other problem with removal is the the rubber boot end has a perpendicularly oriented smaller shaft in it(the square cap u-joints slip on each end of this cross shaft) that would prevent someone from slipping the clamp off. Hard to see how this clamp could be removed without destroying it or bending it to the point of distortion.

Even if you managed to remove the clamp I don't know that you could stretch another good, used rubber boot over the perpendicular smaller shaft without tearing the boot. Could probably find some other sort of clamp to hold the rubber boot in place since it's hidden--just make sure the whatever kind of clamp you use does not have any protruding parts that would cut the rubber boot from the inside. The original clamps sit down flush against the rubber boot and shaft---no protruding "ears" etc to tear up the inside of the rubber boot.

Hmmmm.

 

Patton,

The pivot pin can be removed from the shaft, with a shop press.. but I typically, in the case of a BB shaft, just work the boot over the other end of the shaft, when restoring one of these.

And Jim,

I have what appears to be a serviceable used one here, let me know, and I will take it apart and inspect it, and if your still in need, can include it with your "care package".

JW

 

Yes JW I will take it if it is OK with you. Ours looks like it is close to giving up and I was planning on threading a new one over the lower end. I never taken one off Is there something other than the recessed clip that has to be removed?

 

Nope, get a pick or small screwdriver and work the clip out..

The end will then come off, watch the orientation of the two small blocks with the retainer clip, so you recall how it goes together.

I will send the boot down, have to get it off the shaft here, and make sure it's good, but the rubber is nice and pliable.

Also a good time to blast that assembly, as it should not be painted. But you prolly aready know that.

JW

 

Are you referring to the intermediate shaft from this boot to and including the top coupling above the rag joint?

 

Photo

 

Scott

Yes that is the piece to which I am referring. Does it appear that the flange itself on the far right of your pic was never painted?