Steering failed

[spud murphy]

Blimey o'reily, what a fun way to start the week! Drag link ball joint failed at the drop arm end this morning on the way to work. No major drama apart from mounting a pavement and ploughing some poor ******s front lawn!
Managed to wrestle all the joints into submission with the aid of stilsons, blowlamp and good old WD.
However I've now got brown 'oil' weeping out of the bottom of the steering box and running down the drop arm and all over the new ball joint.
The pwr steer reservoir is full of red ATF, this stuff seems thicker. Is the box lubed with something else or does the ATF lube as well as push and pull things inside??
Should this be the start of a box leak, stale goo 1st, has any one fitted a seal kit to theirs (I notice paddocks sell 'em for about £15).
Any one got any info regards fitting a kit?? I've got plenty tools but work best with a noddy guide
Cheers for any help or pointers in advance, John

[TEMPL4R]

The ATF moves the piston in the box and fills it completely. If it is a brown colour, it will be rust in the shaft and bush.

Chris

[spud murphy]

Cheers Chris, I'll have a good look in the morning. This could well be something that was rusting in peace, and after this mornings trauma has let rip. It may be me but the steering does feel a bit looser at the wheel, not as much effort as before, I was attributing this to the new ball joints all round.
I can tell you this was not the only only thing dribbling brown fluid this morning after crossing the pavement!.
If anyones got any tips or guides to fitting a steering box seal kit it'd be much appreciated.
Cheers again

[rbm]

never had much luck with the seal kits - at work we will not fit them as they very rarely last any length of time. and if your shaft is showing signs of rust then it is unlikely that putting a seal in will solve the problem.