Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Topic: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320 (Read 1785 times) previous topic - next topic

Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

March 17, 2014, 03:33:48 pm

Does anyone know if Foretravel stocks a rebuilt or new Sheppard M100 PDP1 Power Steering Pump? I was unable to obtain this information from Foretravel.

Here is my story with the wrong info I got from Foretravel:
Currently in a shop "Rick's Diesel Group" in El Centro, CA having Sheppard power steering pump rebuilt in Los Angeles. It was leaking a steady stream of oil when we arrived at NAF on Wednesday for the Air Show. We left NAF and came here on Thursday. Now, rebuilt pump may not arrive until Wednesday at noon. I phoned Foretravel for advice, got a return phone call from Jim who told me that I just needed a Sheppard M100. How wrong that advice was! I need a Sheppard M100 model PDP1 (exclusive to Foretravel) and there were no cores available. Power steering pump was sent to Los Angeles for rebuilding, meaning we may be camped in this shop for a week.

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #1 – March 17, 2014, 03:38:58 pm

Sorry to hear of your problem. Can I be of any help?

best, paul

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #2 – March 17, 2014, 05:26:19 pm

Try this link; They helped me total parts less than $ 100.00 -- Power Steering SpecialistsPower Steering Specialists | We Steer You Right also real good people

P.S. after re=reading your post, when I rebuilt mine the arm was on the opposite side of the gear box, I still had the correct parts (Seals) and re assembled the original unit, works just fine my parts cost $ 67.00 as I picked them up in Columbus, OH

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #3 – March 17, 2014, 06:55:08 pm

Wyatt,

The Sheppard part number you listed may be the number for the steering gear box instead of the pump. I'm not even sure Sheppard makes the pump, but they may be the manufacturer. I hope to get my steering gear box replaced tomorrow, locally. Thought I was going to have to make a long drive to Houston or Nac. I made the mistake of ordering a rebuilt unit from Sheppard, and most shops won't work on a vehicle with customer supplied parts. They want to make some money on the parts. I probably could have saved some money too by having a shop rebuilt the old unit. M100 PDP1 is the part # on my steering gear box, although they add an R for a rebuilt unit. I believe rebuilt units are the only box available now. If the pump is Sheppard and you need to call them the number is 717-633-4107 and ask for Kimberly Runk.

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #4 – March 17, 2014, 10:14:06 pm

Wyatt, we had a steering gear (M100) seal failure about two years ago. FOT said they could fix it in a day. After 10 minutes of inspection, Wayne reported that he could not fix it in a day. It would require a rebuild and FOT would only use Sheppard to do the rebuild. They stock no units. Normal turnaround is about two weeks. He managed to get an exchange because Sheppard had another M100 for a customer who was not in a rush.

We drove about 1800 miles with a moderate leak. I was adding a quart of oil about every 200 miles. It made a big mess down the side of the coach and on the towed vehicle, but it allowed us to get the work done at FOT.

My understanding is that seals other than the one on the pitman arm can be changed without rebuilding the steering gear. I have observed that replacing the input shaft seal can be performed without removing the steering gear from the coach.

There is are good pictures, brochures, videos, and information here:
Beamalarm - Sheppard Steering Gear Troubleshooting
R.H. Sheppard Company - Service

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #5 – March 18, 2014, 12:44:32 pm

Wyatt,
A few years ago I saw several steering gear units at Encore in the parts they bought from Foretravel.
Don't know if they were new or rebuilt.
JD

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #6 – March 18, 2014, 09:55:48 pm

Wyatt said he had a leaking pump problem, but I guess I am the one who turned this thread into a steering gear thread. Let us know what happened Wyatt.

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #7 – March 19, 2014, 03:51:09 pm

Thanks for the offer Paul.

I drove to "Ricks Group Diesel" on 2nd in El Centro Thursday afternoon. Pump was send on Friday to Los Angeles and was rebuild on Monday. It arrived at 2pm yesterday and was installed. I returned to the Slabs just before dark yesterday. Rebuild cost was $780 including shipping, and total cost was $1650.
The pump is not a standard Sheppard M100 as I was told by Jim at Foretravel. The pump is a Sheppard M11, model PDP1 which is excluse to Foretravel.

Wyatt

Quote

Sorry to hear of your problem. Can I be of any help?

best, paul

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #8 – March 19, 2014, 04:55:12 pm

Thanks to everyone who listed information here on the Sheppard steering gear box.

I stand corrected, the Sheppard M100 PDP1 which I had rebuilt is not the pump, it is the steering gear box.

The leak was about 20 or 30 miles per quart. I put a container in front of the generator fan and used tin foil to direct the leaking oil into the container so it did not make a mess when driving 10 miles to the shop. I had noticed a wet spot under the generator fan compartment and investigated finding the floor of this compartment covered in oil. I started the M11 and there was a steady stream coming out of the plastic cover over the blank end of the pinion shaft. The oil level in the reservoir was about a quart low, and there was no oil on the ground where I park at the Slabs so the leak seems to have just suddenly started.

I did request information from the rebuid shop about how much the bushings were worn but did not receive it. I do wonder if just replacing the seal would have fixed the leak!

Does anyone know how many miles the Sheppard M100 steering gear boxes go in tractor trailers before replacing seals and how long between rebuilds?

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #9 – March 19, 2014, 06:21:15 pm

Wyatt, you may want to verify that your mechanic properly set the "relief plungers" after they installed the steering gear. There is information on the Sheppard site regarding setting the relief plungers. My wife, Marilyn, and I set ours in the driveway. We had a failure of the input shaft seal about two years after a rebuilt unit was installed at FOT. An RV shop in Billings, MT, replaced the seal, but would not check the "relief plungers." A rapid total failure of the top seal is likely a result on excessive internal pressure caused by improper adjustment of the relief plungers.

FOT will replace the seal on the side opposite the pitman arm without removing or rebuilding the steering gear. The top (input shaft) seal can be replaced without removing the gear.

Our coach was about 14 years old and had about 90K miles when the first seal failed. It was on the pitman arm side. FOT installed an M100 that had be rebuilt at Sheppard. My recollection is that the cost was just a bit higher than you reported for your repair.

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #10 – March 21, 2014, 05:25:58 pm

I stand corrected again, careful inspection of the ground under where I park at the Slabs revealed some slightly wet spots, so leaking had started on the previous trip.

J. D.
Thanks for a heads up on adjusting the "relief plungers". Instructions came with the rebuilt pump, but Rick (Owner) told me that there was no need to adjust the "relief plungers". I did not believe him, because I read the online instructions before and noticed the instructions sent with the pump.

Do you have any tips, it seems that a 3000 psi pressure gauge is required, or can it be done by ear?

When FOT replaces the seal on the side opposite of the pitman arm, how long does it last before it starts leaking again? If the bushings are worn and the shaft is moving around, a seal will not last long. I wonder if just replacing seals without replacing bushings is worth the cost.

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #11 – March 21, 2014, 06:56:45 pm

No gauge is needed.

Just make sure that there is at least 1/8" clearance between the stop (axle to steering knuckle). 1/4" is safer.

Brett

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #12 – March 21, 2014, 07:15:48 pm

Wyatt

With the steering box out, a rebuild $545. So how much extra is that over just seals?

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #13 – March 21, 2014, 09:39:47 pm

Wyatt, Marilyn and I adjusted the relief plungers in the driveway of our home. Steps included:

Put the coach in a relatively level location. Use of chocks is prudent. Set safety stands in front suspension.

Use radios or some means of communication from the "clean person" in the driver position to the "dirty person" under the coach. Make sure you can communicate before going further.

"Dirty person" gets in a position to see the wheel stops on one side. The stops are adjustable bolts on the wheel/axle assembly aft of the kingpin that will strike a "hard part" on the axle to limit how far a wheel can turn.

Coach remains in neutral with parking brake ENGAGED. "Dirty person" instructs "clean person" to turn steering wheel toward side that "dirty person" is watching. If the stops touch metal on the axle STOP TURNING. If the driver can't turn any more and there is 1/8" to 1/4" clearance from the hard stop, no adjustment is need. If clearance is more than 1/4", unscrew setting for relief plunger (or just leave it). If clearance is less than 1/8" screw IN the setting screw for the relief plunger that controls the side you are adjusting. Test and adjust to your satisfaction. TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHILE ADJUSTING THE RELIEF PLUNGER. I don't remember whether top or bottom adjustment controls right side. You can probably figure it out by figuring out which way the guts of the gear move with respect to the wheels turning.

Repeat for other side.

That's my recollection of what we did. My recollection is also that the right side had no clearance before we made the adjustment. I expect hitting the stop without relief of pressure by the "relief plunger" led to a blowout of the input shaft seal on our steering gear.

Refer to documents on the Sheppard site for more information. You might also want to review Steering Gear Seals.

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #14 – March 22, 2014, 01:40:52 pm

Rudy:
Elsewhere on Foreforums, I saw estimates of under $50 for a Sheppard M100 seal kit, and I found Sheppard complete rebuild kits for under $200. If I had been at home in Canada, I may have done the rebuild myself, but I live in my Foretravel when in USA and have limited tools.

The cost of the rebuild done for me was $630 plus $150 for shipping.

J. D. & Brett
Thanks for the information, I will check it out when I get back to California next week (in Canada doing taxes).

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #15 – March 22, 2014, 03:10:19 pm

Just as a point of information; The Steering Gear Box seals go bad from sitting in one spot over a period of time. I think the weight of the pitman arm and the rubber seal being compressed over a long period of time causes it to leak. On my coach once I noticed the leak I parked with the steering turned slightly to the right or left and I found that did slow the leaking down considerably until I could find time to rebuilding the Sheppard Gear Box. ( it's not a hard job but you need heavy truck tools to remove and replace the box). Once the seal starts leaking it must be replaced. Allowing your coach to sit unused takes a toll on all of the seals that are used to control Oil leakage from bearing points.

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #16 – March 24, 2014, 05:07:42 pm

I had just confirmed a rebuilt unit at RH Sheppard. Spoke with Kim Runk. only had one unit available that day to ship out. Cost is/was $1116 with a core exchange refund $350 netting= $766. Shipping is about $100. This is the unit that goes in the Foretravel exclusively. Local installation found for labor of $250. Most places did not want to do the work. Some for parts mark up, some because lack of tools.

David

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #17 – April 01, 2014, 09:08:25 pm

Good luck with that $250 install quote. It cost me close to $1,000 before they were done.

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #18 – April 03, 2014, 12:54:09 pm

Dave,

That was lucky. NAC is just too far for us. I am obtaining the rebuilt unit direct from Sheppard. Local Cummins dealer can swap out at this point. Most of the locals just don't get involved in the rebuild part.

I was hoping you might explain further what the 'additional caster' means?

Thanks,

David

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #19 – April 03, 2014, 02:46:38 pm

Additional caster likely means setting front end caster to high end of spec. If involves using wedge-shaped shims between axle and sub-frame.

It helps with tracking and return to center after a turn.

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #20 – April 03, 2014, 03:12:17 pm

Brett, if you have an Independent Front Suspension unit, then this does not apply?

David

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #21 – April 03, 2014, 05:01:23 pm

Yes, IFS suspensions have caster and most have caster adjustment, but the method of adjustment is different.

Re: Rebuilding Power Steering Pump on U320

Reply #22 – November 22, 2014, 09:48:10 am

The Sheppard unit desired is M100PDP1R, reported as the upgrade gear box from Sheppard with much tieghter / less slop assembly with extra cost. Unsure of this but that seems to be the story. Brighter minds can resolve it.

Affiliate Notice