weld steering box?

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Hi has anyone ever done welding on a power steering box?1995- f150-  5.0 on the top of the case a very small crack  1/4 inch long at the most and hairline.the pump started to whine today and when i filled it that is when i noticed the crackit must have been leaking for some time i never noticed it is a very small leak and puddleson the top and mostly dries.pumps are expensive and tough to get out of a 14 year old truck.i have a 220v ac stick welder and want to give it a shot any tips ?drain the fluid first!thanks JR
Reply:I know that p/s fluid is pretty much the same as automatic transmission fluid. That in mind; I would not advise welding it without removing it. Any remaining fluid is GOING TO catch fire!! I was in a vehicle that caught fire from a transmission fluid leak that sprayed onto the exhaust system while going 60 mph. I would not recommend what you are thinking about doing.  Not saying it CAN'T be done, I just wouldn't do it by draining the fluid and leaving the steering box in the vehicle.Last edited by papabear; 11-19-2009 at 09:33 PM."SOUTHPAW" A wise person learns from another persons mistakes;A smart person learns from their own mistakes;But, a stupid person.............never learns.
Reply:don't, this is a vehicle control item and any type of accident you may be open to a lawsuit.Life is tuff,so be sharp  lincoln sp 100  cutmaster101  miller bobcat  miller 250 mig  $thousands in snapon
Reply:HiI will have to agree with you guys not a good idea welding it  in the vehicle.and if the heat weakens or damages something in the steering box!its a very small leak i believe its been leaking for quite a while year + there was a build up ofgunk ( fluid with dirt mixed in)  hiding it. i may try some stop leak for steering systems even though i have not had much luck with those most are made to swell seals and such.Thanks JR
Reply:I would do JB weld before i would use actual weld, with that said if i found a crack IN ANYTHING steering related it would get replaced immediately.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:i would have to agree,JB stuff or that two part putty in a sticklots of spray cleaner  would my first try. then if that did not workreplaceor maybe check into some DEVCON puttyidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Devcon, JB Weld, same stuff - different pile.You can find one at a local scrap yard.Gordie -- "I believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Reply:Hi again,its already out of the trucki am  going to the scrap yard they want $20 for the gear box!i couldn't find my tie rod tool and had to buy a new one otherwise  it would have been less than an hour to get it out not  bad.i put a small amount of stop leak in  that i had in the garage and within 5 seconds it went from small leak to a small high powered spray i guess it thinned the fluid out.thanks for the help JR