J D,
Rebuilt Sheppard M100 and other steering boxes that are rebuilt and ready for sale are on the shelf at Chalk Truck Parts in Houston right now. I saw them when I was there discussing there rebuild program recently.
Chalk will rebuild your box for about $400.
Before rebuilding any Sheppard M100 box, check out these guys. Steering Gears | Steering Gearbox | Rack and Pinion | Red-Head Steering Gears, (http://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/)
Since there is no "play adjustment" on that box, "blueprinting" is needed to take the play out of them-- even when new there can be more than desirable play.
Both Dick Lorntson owner of Precision Frame and Alignment and Robert Henderson, owner of Henderson's Line-up (two of the most knowledgeable RV suspension guys in the country) highly recommend them for a "blueprinted" Sheppard box.
I had both Dick and Robert involved in the Q&A portion of the Suspension Seminar I gave this summer at the Madison FMCA Convention. When a question about steering play with a Sheppard box came up, Robert even commented that he had purchased a brand new Sheppard box and had Red-Head blueprint it so he would have a blueprinted stock unit available.
Brett
Rudy,
Thank you for the information. I decided to take the very conservative path and let Wayne at FOT do the work. Other folk may refer to this thread and use your information to advantage.
I understood Wayne to say that he will only install a unit rebuilt by Sheppard. I think the issue relates to liability and OEM stuff. He will replace some of the seals on site at FOT. When he inspected our unit, he said the proper repair is to replace the steering gear with a new or rebuilt unit.
The report I received before I left the coach in NAC, is that Sheppard has cores, but no rebuilt units on the shelf. They are scheduled to start preparing a unit tomorrow, Thursday, Dec 15. They will ship to NAC. Wayne will replace my unit and return the core to Sheppard.
He said the unit comes out through the bay that houses the radiator and fan for the generator. The generator does not have to come out. The some stuff in that bay does have to come out.
I visited the Sheppard web site. They have several videos about function and maintenance of their steering gear. Videos (http://www.rhsheppard.com/videos.htm)
Wayne IS the suspension guru at Foretravel. But, he may not be aware of Red-head, since they are at the other end of the country (WA). I agree with Wayne, I would not want to be responsible for any "Tom Dick or Harry's" steering box overhaul either. But, having known and trusted Wayne for over a decade on Foretravel suspensions, I know he would be interested if there is a "better mousetrap" out there for his Foretravel customers.
When you see him, you might suggest he talk with these guys, as between them they have close to 80 years of motorhome suspension experience-- All three of them (Wayne, Dick and Robert) are tops in the motorhome suspension field:
Dick Lorntson Precision Frame and Alignment 866 473-2632
Robert Henderson Henderson Line-up 800-245-8309
He is free to use my name by way of introduction.
I bought some of Henderson's aftermarket parts for our SOB. I was pleased with the results. We did not take the coach to his shop, but I did correspond with him. Implementing his recommendations improved the handling of that coach.
Thanks for posting this, Brett. These guys are only 150 miles west of me and I've bookmarked their web page for future reference. I have noticed a skiff of oil on the body near the front wheels and am wondering what is up. Just enough "black dust" to run your finger through and leave a faint white trail.
Craig
As usual, Brett always has good advise.
I checked with Chalk who has been rebuilding steering boxes for nearly 20 years and they agree you do not want any Tom, Dick or Harry rebuilding your box.
The Sheppard rep was in their shop recently and shared that the piston seal and three valve ring seals are no longer included in the Sheppard rebuild kit. But Chalk's experience says this is not the best rebuild so they continue to include those seals when they rebuild the several hundred sheppard boxes they do the see each year.
I ordered a Shepard reman steering gear when mine failed and have been very happy with its performance.