Topic: 88 4runner steering box fluid levels??

[Fisch_Taco]

How do I check the fluid level in the steering gear box? Do you take out one of the four bolts on the top that are around the adjusting nut? The fsm doesn't help much, just says how much gear oil is needed.

[OOPS]

I assume you are asking about a manual steering box and not a power steering box. There is a fill plug on the box. PS does not use gear oil, the PS fluid is the lube.

[Fisch_Taco [OP]]

No the steering gear box for 88 4runner the one you showed was from an 85 and earlier 4x. The FSM says to check the gear oil level, just doesn't say how to do it. Check out page SR-1 in the 88 4runner fsm. Theres no oil fill plug on the one I have.

[OOPS]

Sorry about that!

Looks like the only way to check it is to remove that top plate and measure it. I think the four bolt holes that hold the cover on are blind holes. Why do you think it is low, is it leaking?

[Fisch_Taco [OP]]

yeah there's a leak...I've got grease building up on the back of the pitman arm and bottom of steering box. I think its the oil seal on the bottom of the sector shaft. I was driving the other day, took a turn and had no PS.

Yeah the only way to check is to take that top plate off, thx

The res. was full of ATF so I don't think I was low on fluid. Didn't hear the typ. noise associated with low fluid either. This was a friends truck and he did have power steering fluid in it for a few  weeks before I told him that thats no good and he needs to put in ATF. I hope the pump isn't F'ed. Belts are tight too.

[OOPS]

Power steering boxes do not use gear oil, the PS fluid is the lube for the box, you do not fill it, it fills itself in the bleeding process.

[Fisch_Taco [OP]]

I'm confused ...Didn't your previous post show the steering gear box and then say add gear oil if low?? I'm not saying your wrong, I just want to understand.
Are they actually talking about ATF??

[OOPS]

The picture I posted was a manual steering box, not a PS steering box. Toyota's use ATF instead of power steering fluid, which is basically the same thing; it is a hydraulic type fluid. For some reason Power Steering, fluid may make the power steering on a Toyota start leaking at the seals on both the pump and box, but it does not always do it.

Toyota power steering boxes are lubed by the ATF, not gear oil. If the system is full and bled, the steering box is full of fluid (ATF). Air does and will be trapped in the PS box and needs to be bled. The way you do that is to loosen the adjusting nut 3-4 turns, move the washer up under the nut to the nut (the washer has a built in O-ring on the inside hole), start the engine and let it run until the bubbles stop coming out around the threads of the stud. While it is still running, tighten the nut and washer down to the box housing, hold the stud in place with a screwdriver. Some years of the IFS steering boxes have a bleeder nipple like the brakes have. My 90 had one.

[Fisch_Taco [OP]]

Thx for clearing that up for me