Missing nut on my steering gearbox?

[Fitzydog]

So after my lift, my steering got worse. I'd assumed it was just worn suspension parts and in need of an alignment, but apparently not.

I've been trying to diagnose my problem for the past couple of weeks, narrowing it down to TREs or a gearbox rebuild.

I took a glance at my gearbox just now, and it looked... Wrong. Brought up a diagram, and I believe I'm missing the piston guide nut that's on top of the box.

There's just a hole, no threads above the bevel and very dark. No nut.

So my question is: is this bad?

 

[LFD2037]

Yes. There should be a threaded 'shaft' sticking up through the top of the gear box & it should have a nut on it. I don't know how it'd be missing but it's not right. I'd think your steering would be insane!

 

[bloc]

Yours doesn't look like this?

Seems like it'd be puking power steering fluid EVERYWHERE..

 

[nukegoat]

Are you referring to the power piston guide on the side of the box? If it were missing, you wouldn't have any pressure anywhere. It's a recessed internal hex (allen key) fastener, not something sticking up out of the box.