Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 08, 2025 ...

Steering Assembly ?

October 12, 2017, 08:27:59 pm

Hi All

Have a 1987 Grand Villa. Wondering if someone can tell me what is the brand of the steering gear assembly? Thanks!

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Re: Steering Assembly ?

Reply #1 – October 12, 2017, 10:42:41 pm

I have zero personal knowledge on this subject.  Looking through old Forum posts - found some info.

Is your '87 GV a rear engine diesel coach on a Oshkosh 917 chassis (ORED)?  If so, it might have a Spicer (Saginaw?) 710 steering box.

Oshkosh 917 Chassis data?

Steering Rebuilders & Truck Parts, Inc. - "SAGINAW" POWER STEERING GEARS /...

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Re: Steering Assembly ?

Reply #2 – October 12, 2017, 11:48:40 pm

The GV is an OshKosh chassis, rear gas. Thanks for the link! I'll call the factory tomorrow and see if they have record of our coach's build, as well. Appreciate your help!!

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Re: Steering Assembly ?

Reply #3 – October 13, 2017, 02:36:57 am

Dana spicer

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Reply #4 – October 13, 2017, 08:04:34 am

Mornin' Bob,

The reason I had the question mark in my reply (above) is cuz my Google search for "Spicer 710 power steering gear box" doesn't find anything about "Spicer 710...", but lots of hits on "Saginaw 710...".  So I wasn't sure if they were the same thing, or two different products with the same numerical I.D, or what.  Like I said, I don't know anything about this subject...just curious.

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Re: Steering Assembly ?

Reply #5 – October 13, 2017, 12:48:25 pm

Possible it's the same thing.  My memory says Dana spicer 710.

All the biz used the same box.  Giliig. Crown. 

The shop manual was with the papers from Oshkosh new.

Requires recentering the "spool", whatever that is, then reinstalling the box

Otherwise 1500 psi will push you off center at times going down the road

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Re: Steering Assembly ?

Reply #6 – October 13, 2017, 01:54:44 pm

Unhook the draglink, start it up, see where the wheel wants  to be. Mark the wheel at center, work it back and forth through the travel, recheck the center.    Hook the drag link up without moving the steering shaft.

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Re: Steering Assembly ?

Reply #7 – October 13, 2017, 02:27:39 pm

Those are the final steps to reinstall a recentered spool steering box. 

No idea if yours is off centered or not.  Symptom was the coach would head for the road edge by itself at times.

Fixed a lot of coaches for this.  Manual says to do this after the first 3 hours use

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Re: Steering Assembly ?

Reply #8 – October 17, 2017, 09:05:43 pm

Took a good look at my steering box today.  There seems to be a slack adjuster screw  on the case cover . This is right up against the frame . You would have to dismount it to access it.

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Re: Steering Assembly ?

Reply #9 – October 17, 2017, 10:04:36 pm

Dana spicer 710

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Re: Steering Assembly ?

Reply #10 – October 17, 2017, 10:04:46 pm

No idea really. Matches the Oshkosh book for late 87, 88.

Looks like this; Power Steering SpecialistsIntegral 710 Gear | Power Steering Specialists

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Re: Steering Assembly ?

Reply #11 – October 19, 2020, 11:24:09 am

Has anyone else needed a new steering box for the ORED? 

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Re: Steering Assembly ?

Reply #12 – October 22, 2020, 11:17:37 am

FWIW. My 88 GV has a Saginaw 710 steering gearbox. I have about 3 in of steering wheel edge travel before engagement of the drag link.  I have reduced the sector shaft slack  as much as the adjustment lets me.  BTW the lock nut is left hand thread.
 Anyway. The box is about a 1986 vintage  probably due to parts  supply  to Foretravel . 
    I have found a few rebuilders but also found some interchange  notes that says that the Shepard 100 is direct fit. I dont think that it is. 
  For info ;http://www.pss1.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/pss-catalog-2015.pdf

 I will swap this box for a rebuilt /with core. for about 500$ or a little less.

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