Power Steering gear box problem - Help!

[finall]

Dropped the skid plate, and did a lube on our H2 yesterday.

Noticed that power steering gear arm connecting to the steering linkage (=pitman shaft?) has exposed metal that looks splined at the connector. There is a small black rubber seal around the top of it (looks black and green in photo), but the seal does not cover the bare metal. There is grease on it, so it has not corroded. Light green marks visible on left side of nut and pitman arm show that nut has not moved.

It was worked on by the dealer a year ago, for repairing a power steering fluid leak described as "replace cover and o-ring seal on steering gear side". They used bearing part #26077989. Is this related?

Is this connection how it is supposed to "normally" look or has something become loose and needs to be repaired? I am guessing it is NOT normal, but do not have another H2 to compare to.

Any advice? Help!

[twr]

Hi that is the dust seal and should be up in the bore. To fix it the pitman arm has to come off. In the picture that looks like the snap ring above the dust seal is it? Has the snap ring came out? You should get that checked asap.

[finall]

Great info. Thanks!

So there is a problem, as suspected. I just booked an appointment with the dealer to get it fixed.

Thanks for the fast help!

[twr]

Hi Is that the snap ring above the seal???? If it is you are very lucky it has not pushed the seal right out and pissed steering fluid all over and lose your power steering. Also if that is the snap ring i would tow it to the dealer because you will lose your power steering if it blows right out and could be dangous if your not ready for it. So go back under and have a look if that is the snap ring.

[finall]

Not sure if there is a snap ring in there. Made an appointment to get it fixed this afternoon ASAP!

Thanks for the great help.

[twr]

Hi glad i could help, I just don't want you to have a problem driving if it is the snap ring. After being a mechanic for a long time. I have never saw the snap ring come out unless it was broken or not installed correct or the bearing screwed up and let the shaft move around.

[finall]

Hummer dealer checked it out. Took me all afternoon sitting at the dealer waiting for someone to look at it. They said all is OK. But the exposed metal does not seem right to me.

Any forum members that can take a pic of theirs for comparison?

Mine is an 07 H2 model, but I imagine that the gear box did not change much between years? It would be interesting to compare photos.

My closeup photo is of the pitman arm bolted to the steering gear box.

[twr]

Hi gm sometimes used a rubber or foam peice between the bottom of the box and pitman arm but that doesn't look like that piece to me in the picture. That looks like the dust shield and maybe the snap ring in the picture. Also if someone has put a sector seal kit in before it never used to come with the foam peice and usally the old one is garbage so it doesn't get put back on.

[twr]

Hi here is a hummer box with the foam peice.

[twr]

Here is one more pic with the foam peice look at how wide the foam is. Its put their to keep dirt and crap from the sector shaft. Yours looks like the dust seal and on top the snap ring to me not the foam. Take it to another shop close by you and have them look at it because it doesn't look right to me and i have been a mechanic for a long time.
I am only thinking about your safety.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/tracy588/hummerbox1.jpg

[finall]

Great. Thanks for the photo of the steering box. Yup, mine is definitely missing something. Is the dealer wrong telling me that everything is normal?

Did some more checking with the dealer's parts dept. There is a dust seal that appaears to be missing!! Unless it recesses fully into the steering box bore, which I doubt. Looks like maybe Part #27 in the attached diagram.

I got a call into the H2 certified GM Dealer (only H2 dealer for 600 miles in the area), and I am just waiting for them to call me back and explain.

[twr]

Hi George, i tried to find that diagram. Here is what those part # are. Also that is for sure #26 sitting on the shaft not in the bore where it belongs. That dealer is full of chit. Number #27 is missing likely because someone did a sector shaft seal kit in your truck to fix a leak before and #27 never got reinstalled. The old one was likely garbage and didn't get reinstalled and #27 never used to come in the sector seal kit from GM. Even if that is not the snap ring sitting on top of the dust seal it still should be up in the bore and the foam peice should be there. Hope this helps.

28- pitman arm
27- foam or rubber seal to protect the seals and shaft from dirt {missing on yours}
26- dust seal that is to be inside the bore {yours is sitting on the shaft}
25- snap ring {that maybe sitting on top of the dust shield on yours its very hard for me to tell in your picture}
24- washer
23- Main hyd seal {yours looks in the picture to have moved down because i think the snap ring is not in the grove, but its hard to tell in the picture, this is also why i said it could be dangous if the snap ring has poped out of its grove and their is only a press fit holding the main hyd seal in the bore.}
22- bearing