Oil leak at front of van? Help please

I'd be tempted to leave well alone and in the meantime look out for a good decent quality new one. I.e. a VW one.

 

You could undo the nuts and bolts and take it out and inspect it. Bend it and see how deep the cracks are. See if you can twist it.

 

Turn the steering wheel back n forth and see how much free play there is in the coupling, needs a new one eventually

 

When you coming , soon, should I put the tea pot on?

 

It needs replacing


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I'd also be leaving that, but looking out for a good one. It will fail MOT eventually, but a typical replacement will be worse than what you have.

 

You can't get genuine vw ones any more


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I'm sure one/a batch will turn one day. One of those 'parts find' or someone selling one that they brought and never used.

Do you know the part number

 

I would top the oil up and see what happens. If it leaks out probably best to get it fixed. If it's a slow drip maybe take some oil with you to top up.

I was asking the part number to stick it in VWH classic parts to see if any turned up in that warehouse find.

 

Fill the steering box to the top and then you will see it. Its probably dry or low due to the leak. Top it up with the 80 GL4 gear oil.

After doing that and you have checked the rubber coupling as we suggested, by getting someone to turn the wheel and get underneath to see how much it flexes, you could view it also from inside the van. You want to stress it a bit so you can get an idea how bad or good it is.

Then only you can decide if its ok to take it on a long journey.

 

I'd drive it ,you start looking closely round your bus you would lose sleep...

 

If your steering box won't hold any oil that's your biggest concern
The steering coupling May last a while longer
I've seen worse ones on busses before
If it were me I'd play it safe and not drive it till both problems are sorted


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Top it up with oil until it starts to overflow.

Driving? If it's leaking oil, you'll slowly grind your box to bits, so the seal will need fixing. The great peril would be if the box starts to bind up due to lack of lube...you'd end up in a hedge. Unlikely, but I'd watch out for the steering becoming stiffer as you drive.

 

just try not to turn....

My ball came off my axle and I had virtually no steering control ,but made it from Alton towers to Cornwall...

I did end up on the otherside of the road a couple of times ,just made me wake up a bit...

 

Had a proper lol...