We have just replaced the steering box on our 1996 U320 due to a blown Pittman arm seal. After much research, I replaced the Sheppard M100PDP1 that was built only for Foretravel and cost over $1700 for a rebuilt unit with a Sheppard M100PGW1 box that I purchased rebuilt for $549. The swap out was done by Motor Homes of Texas last week. We now have over 400 miles on the new steering box and it works great! No problems at all. The PGW1 is a bolt in replacement M100 box with the lines and all other things fitting exactly. The difference between the boxes is some internal valving and the fact that the plungers on the PGW1 do not have to be manually adjusted. We are very satisfied with the result.
I spoke with Sheppard and their tech department confirmed that the box would interchange. A much less expensive alternative for those with steering box issues and having the "Foretravel only" PDP1 box
Labor cost to remove the old box, reinstall the rebuilt box? How does this compare to having the old box removed, rebuilt by redhead gears, and then reinstalled?
The labor cost will depend on what coach you have. The job is more difficult on some coaches such as my 96 model. It took 9 hours for the R&R on mine. Foretravel had estimated 14-16 hours for the job. I have no idea what the remove, rebuild, reinstall cost for the original box would be, perhaps others can advise. I did not have time for that option due to a pending trip.
Where did you buy the rebuilt Sheppard M100PGW1 box?
I have had three gear boxes changed by Josams in Orlando Fl. All were Red Head rebuilds. All three were 2000 320's. I first remove the cooling fan for the generator to give them much better access to the box. I take the coach to them along with an already rebuilt core. Their shop time has been 2 - 3 1/2 hrs. $218 - $385. I bring the coach back to the house and reinstall the fan. It is only six bolts but it is helpful to have some help in getting them out and back in. Total labor has never run over 6 hrs.
Yesterday, I sent another core to Red Head to be rebuilt. It will go into Dave Head's 95 320 in the near future. At that time he will have a good rebuild able core . Red Head charges about $499.
When we bought our 2000 42' 12 years ago, with only 34K , it already had sloppy/loose steering. I lived with that too long.I have been VERY happy with the way our coach drives now.
If you already have a gear box to put in, most major truck repair shops will be able to change them Gary O
Would like to get into this if possible.
Mine has 130k and seems fine but I bet it's not perfect inside. Not sure if my 97 is the same core?
How can I tell?
Vincent probably knows but I thought the friendly folks here might have the info also.
He services several others here including beam alarms coach. Sorry I asked
I am sure someone will chime in with pertinent information on that subject .. usually pretty helpful bunch of regulars "usually"
If it is going into a 1995 and has been in a 2000 I am sure yours being in the middle would be the same.
Two questions:
1) Where did you buy the PGW1 box?
2) What is the difference between the two? Obviously, the external attachments are the same.
Mike,
The remove and replace costs should be the same no matter what you do.
It boils down to do you want a Red Head gears and a rebuilt box or do you want
a new one from Sheppard that drops in place as an exact replacement? Some
things rebuilt are better than what is new that is out there.
Good luck in your repair,
Carter-
Just to clarify..................the OP said the Sheppard M100PGW1 is a rebuild for $549.00, not new.
I got two labor estimates on changing out the box I was furnishing, one from Foretravel and one from Motor Homes of Texas. Foretravel estimated 14-16 hours to do the work, and MOT estimated 6 1/2 hours. On my coach they had to drop the generator in order to access the Pittman arm shaft to remove it --- this apparently varies depending on what year your coach is. MOT did the work, and the labor came in at 9 hours. I'm sure that I could have gotten it done cheaper, but schedule was important for me due to a planned trip.
You can google Sheppard M100 steering box and down load the service manual for the boxes that has a wealth of information about the steering, boxes.
Never saw exactly how the 320 is situated but on my 270 it looks like a whole lot less labor.
The problem is that the box is heavy, almost 100 lbs, and it takes two people to manage it. In addition, it requires a special Pittman arm puller due to the generator side wall being so close. A standard puller is too deep (all of this based on a 96' U320). I also thought that the estimates were high but I actually watched MOT do the work, and that is the time it took for them. It was painful, but now it's done.
I did mine, and it probably took 2-3 hours including the head scratching and planning. I slid the generator out to get space. U270 doesn't have the radiator and fan in the storage compartment, so that makes things go faster. Also, there is a hole in the wall for the airflow for the generator radiator that allows easier access to pull pitman arm with the generator slid forward.
Use a small floor jack in the storage bay to do the brunt of the lifting and then line it up and get a bolt or two started. Don't attempt it without some sort of impact (I have IR cordless impacts).
I loosened the steering column to allow some wiggle room. If I had to do it again, probably 1.5 hours as long as nothing is stuck.
One thing to be cautious on is get the pitman arm fairly centered in the travel of the box. Easy to do...turn left and right on the wheel...count turns, put it in the middle and make sure front tires are in the middle before bolting pitman up.
Thanks for this information. Twelve years ago, I replaced the easy-to-get-to seal while camphosting in a very rural area of southern Missouri. With the help of UPS delivering parts and tools (5-pound hammer) and the info of this website, I got that leak fixed, although I replaced the Pitman arm one spline off from the original position. So I have lived with a "tighter" turning radius going right than when turning left, and the steering wheel arms blocking some of the instrument panel. For two years now the top seal where the steering wheel inputs has been leaking and makes a mess of the storage area, generator muffler, box. (No detectable lose of oil from reservoir.)
This new steering box may be what I am looking for. Again, thanks.
I emailed Red Head the other day and here is their reply which is considerably more than $499.00;
I have a core on the PGW1 that I can have built up and sent out by Wednesday. We don't require the exact same core so as long as the core is in buildable condition you will be fully refunded on it. Price is $796 exchange with a $600 core deposit. Freight charge depends on your location, but I would count on at least $50 each way and possibly a bit more if you are on the East Coast. Thanks!
What's the coupon code??
OK, I guess I'm on my own with this.
I had my steering gear rebuilt at Red Head a couple of years ago. I knew I was going to be in the PNW that fall so planned the rebuild around that. Pulled the gear, took it in and picked it up 2 days later. Total: $543.12. $47.12 was tax, $1 Hazmat disposal. :(
Maybe they have a surcharge for an exchange? or maybe just a price increase? Almost $200 bucks is a heck of a price increase...
BTW: On my 92' Grand Villa I was able to removed the pitman arm without an impact. It did require a 3 foot break over bar. The Grand Villa's are easier to access since the genny is on the side. Yes they are heavy! Be careful.
see ya
ken
Before we had ours done at MOT I had checked into Redhead and really wanted to have them do the rebuild. Unfortunately the option to have the coach sit at MOT with no steering box for at least three days, pay the overnight charges on the box each way, etc. was not able to be done. So MOT had their folks in Houston do the rebuild.
I still wish I had the Redhead. At that time the box that FT used was not a common box, so there were no "on the shelf" units to have sent. If the possible replacement is a more widely used unit, perhaps Redhead will have some of those on the shelf that they can send out before removing it from your coach (while holding a core charge). That would allow one to have MOT (or anyone else) to pull the box, replace with the Redhead, and be out the same day.
I for one am glad there might be an alternative.
Len
Straight Line Steering Home (http://www.straightlinesteering.com/)
Seemed to be redheads parts source and sub contractor for the steering boxes from others posts
Coupon code - tell them it's for a trash truck, or show up in an old beater pu wearing greasy bib overalls. Has worked for me.
Running the box one tooth off from the initial setting, runs the gears on a new place and may last longer /weave less on center. Down side is there may be a little powersteering valve tug one way or the other.
Good idea but if I don't tell them it's for a MH the sector shaft will be protruding wrong after rebuild.
Tell them to build it the wAy it came in.
The alternate box that is being talked about is also used in a 2000 Kenworth.
2000 SHEPPARD M100-PGW1 (Stock #1329108) | Steering Gears | TPI (https://truckpartsinventory.com/parts/details/81638623)
I am going to get to this soon I hope..
If I send in my steering box to redhead will I still need to worry about stops or adjusting them? Or is that only with a new box that did not come out of my Coach?
David,
If I remember correctly when I talked with readhead on the phone while mine was being done, they said they did not mess with the stops during rebuild. You could call them to verify that.
Mark
David,
I would always check stops-- certainly of steering box has been overhauled. Agreed, they MAY NOT have been adjusted, but 5 minutes under the coach will VERIFY.
Do not assume that it is even optimized (max cut angle) from the factory.
David, I had my steering gear rebuilt by Redhead two months ago. I asked the same question and they said it would be returned with the same adjustments that it came to them with.
After I reinstalled it and checked the stops, I found that the drivers side was perfect. The passenger side needed a lot of adjustment to get it to stop before hitting.
Unfortunately, I never thought to check the stops before removing it and sending it in to be rebuilt. So I don't know if it was not adjusted properly before I removed it.
Compared to the rest of the job, adjusting the stops is really easy.
I am getting ready to install a new steering box from r h Sheppard m100pdp1 any tricks on bleeding the lines? there is just enough room to get the pitman arm off I think. I have the low profile puller. my coach is a 2003 gv320 . Also any ideas on getting the box in and out other than the floor jack ? any help will be appreciated.
Thanks, Karl