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Topic: Steering gearbox leak (Read 1924 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #25 –
I discovered a leak yesterday in the same spot on my steering box as Flatfisher53.  I called Redhead today and spoke with the counter sales person (shame on me, I already forgot his name), He was super helpful. He spoke with the " builder" a few times after looking at the picture I emailed him. Identified the model and part number of what I needed.  Gave me some install information, and got the parts shipped out to me.  If there service is person is as good as there service over the phone, I highly recommend them !!!

Thanks to everyone for the information here, all very helpful.
Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #26 –
Look at there contact info, I did after my experience.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #27 –
I had an outstanding experience with them for my airbags so I hope this will be the same way
Darren and Chris
2000 Foretravel U270

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #28 –
We like Finditparts and have used them.

I think Finditparts is one of a new breed of online sellers that use technology like Uber.

Finditparts may not inventory anything. I think they are a computer system that hundreds of parts sellers can connect to, list parts, get orders and ship parts. And everything looks like one operation.

And they are not the only parts seller using this method. It makes sense.

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #29 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
As I have said before, changing from the recommended fluid to anything else is something I WOULD NOT CONSIDER.

The engineers at Foretravel speced a specific fluid for a reason.  One would need to delve deeply into all the valving, pump, fan motors and power steering to determine what affect a change would make.  Past my pay grade!

Foretravel is an OEM that buys components and puts them together into a larger system. They hardly dig into valve, pump, fan package. It's more likely the marketing people chose a specific fluid (motor oil) for the reason of convenience (owners do not have to source another fluid type). The system consists of a hydraulic pump, hydraulic control valves, hydraulic motors, and a power steering box. Every hydraulic system I've ever used was best filled with Hydraulic fluid, with other fluids being acceptable, but not optimum.

Said another way, it makes the most sense to me to use hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic system, since that is what the fluid (hydraulic) is designed for. But everybody is free to do as they please.

Quote from: D.J. Osborn –
How do you know "it can't hurt"? What research and testing have you done to reach that conclusion?

About 30,000 miles, 1000hours of run time, 4 years, and I also did look at Shepard documentation that lists hydraulic fluid as acceptable (you can find my post with Shepard documentation somewhere back in foreforums history).  I think they weeping around my hydraulic fan motors may have slowed down a little bit when I installed hydraulic fluid, but it also could be placebo effect.
1998 U270 34'

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #30 –
Well Finditparts pulled through again for me with overnight part into the middle of nowhere...changed seal in a matter of 15 minutes cleaned it up and so far so good just got onto ALCAN. Wish me luck lol
Darren and Chris
2000 Foretravel U270

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #31 –
Also thanks again for all the help. The part number was correct and I still may end up getting a readhead unit once Tim drops them off and I arrive to AK.
Darren and Chris
2000 Foretravel U270

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #32 –
Happy days!  Keep on truckin bro, nice fix. 
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #33 –
Well I made it safe and sound to Alaska where I will now reside. Thanks again for all the help. Overall the U270 pulled through great. I have some things to work now that I am here. Need new AC and fridge shrouds (bad cross winds on old shrouds), I have to order a solenoid for front 6 pack on air ride system, I have what I believe is intermittent alternator (or very inaccurate voltage gauge, I pulled out the meter to test it while on the ALCAN and discovered that it needed new batteries so more to come now that meter has fresh batts, also a very pesky intermittent generator overcrank fault. Otherwise a great test for the coach. And she pulled the steepest grades at 38-40 MPH and overall got 7.5-8.5 MPG pulling trailer weighing 7500 pounds. Safe travels and thanks again for all the help
Darren and Chris
2000 Foretravel U270

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #34 –
C man that address is shown under the  Contact us at bottom of their Web page.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #35 –
Well I'm sitting here at Disney's Fort Wilderness and discovered the same leak out of my gear box. Darren, you are saying the Shepard kit 5545221 on Finditparts was the correct kit to fix this problem? Thanks in advance!

Robert
Robert and Josie Parker
2003 U320 40' Build 6132
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Oakwood, Texas

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #36 –
Based on my experience of stopping for the evening and seeing oil all the way down the side of the coach, and reading this forum over the years I think any coach that is 2003 or older needs to have the gear box rebuilt with all new seals.  What I am seeing is the seals are failing with age, not miles.  When someone replaces just one seal it is not long before other seal let loose.

My opinion is that need to be added to the check list of anyone buying a coach or that owns one that has not had this done.  If Coach is 16 years old, replace the steering gear seals.  I feel that the question is when, not if.  Lot easier to fix on your time instead of being on the road. 
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #37 –
I took two cores to Redhead. They should have rebuilds in stock at all times. There will be a core charge, refunded when your rebuildable core is received back at Redhead Auburn Wa

I will post more at a later date. I dropped off the two cores a week ago.

Tim Fiedler
Gen-Pro.biz
630 240-9139
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #38 –
Just got off the phone with Daniel at Redhead. They are shipping me the seal kit so I can at least get out of the park.  Hopefully it stops the leak like it did Darren's. Regardless, will being getting a rebuilt one in the future. Thanks for the input.
Robert and Josie Parker
2003 U320 40' Build 6132
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Oakwood, Texas
 

Re: Steering gearbox leak

Reply #39 –
Removed and sent my box to redhead before winter (I think). Figured to have it done on my terms than to have to figure it out on the road... No leaks or issues at that point and wanted ti for peace of mind in the future and to help narrow down any issues in my steering.