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Topic: Leaking steering box on 99 U270 (Read 1726 times) previous topic - next topic

Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Just noticed that my steering box (Shepard M100) on my U270 is leaking fluid - enough to wet the bottom of the front bay.  Anyone else have this problem, and is it something that a good truck place can handle?  If you had it repaired/replaced, what was the cost? 
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #1 –
Quote
My steering box (Shepard M100) on my U270 is leaking fluid
I have not experienced it but here is some info on it that might help.
http://www.beamalarm.com/Documents/sheppard_steering_M100PDP1.html
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #2 –
Thanks Barry!  The article says that the particular M100 box we have is specific to Foretravel, but I'm assuming there are places that rebuild Shepard steering boxes for trucks, since they are in a large percentage of long-haul trucks on the road.
The procedure for replacing the seals in the Shepard bulletin looks like it would be hard to do properly outside of a shop (which I don't have any more :()
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #3 –
Dave, the seal on the output side of my steering box went on our 96 U295. Took it to the Foretravel dealer in Clearwater, FL. (Parliament Coach). They said my Steering box was no longer manufactured, and the local company that rebuilt them was belly-up. So, $2500 later, I had a newer model steering box from NAC installed, and was on my way. I still think they should've kissed me afterwards.

You're also right that it is a bear to perform this repair. Parliament had a devil of a time. I had no quibble with the labor charge, just felt they didn't try hard enough to avoid replacement of the box, but I have to believe they were right. They've always been fair with me on everything else.
Steve & Ginny Hill
96 U295 36'/Wrangler
Tampa

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #4 –
Gary O recently rebuilt his steering sector in the coach by cutting away some parts that restricted access, if he is monitoring he can give you a lot of info. He has a U320

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #5 –
Dave, you're also right that it is a bear to perform this repair. Parliament had a devil of a time. I had no quibble with the labor charge, just felt they didn't try hard enough to avoid replacement of the box, but I have to believe they were right. They've always been fair with me on everything else.
Steve & Ginny Hill
96 U295 36'/Wrangler
Tampa

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #6 –
http://www.rhsheppard.com/home.htm

We had the box rebuilt locally. Part kits are widely available. Believe the labor cost was $600. Kit was not expensive but no longer have invoice as we sold that coach. 

We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #7 –
Thanks to all!    Nac is a bit too far for us now (we are now in SoCal), so I'll look in this area to see if there is a truck/RV place that can handle it.  Wonder whether Freightliner frames use Sheppard?    Reason to consider it is that some Freightliner places do RVs also and would have facilities (we are fulltimers, so need to stay in the rig where it is being worked on.)
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #8 –
My local Cummins could also do the work..I had a seal leaking and just rebuilt the whole box instead of replacing just the seal...about the same$$
We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #9 –
Sheppard: 717 637-3751.

http://www.rhsheppard.com/products.htm

They can tell you who works on their steering boxes in your area.

Brett Wolfe
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #10 –
We're scheduled to take it to Redlands Truck and RV on Weds.  They will remove the box and take it to a rebuilder.  Will let everyone know how it went.

Thanks for all inputs/suggestions!
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #11 –
Make sure they know how to get at the front drag link end to remove it. A truck stop wanted to cut off the end of the frame to get to this. I left there and took my 2001 U270 to MOT two weeks ago and they accomplished the same thing by removing the left headlight assembly. They also slid the generator out and cut a section out of the fiberglass sidewall to access the box.

MOT said they had problems with the seal kits (leaking soon after) and strongly recommended going with a brand new one.  Cost of around $850 for the part and $600 for labor.

Robert
Rob & Di
2001 U270 34'

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Rob & Di –
Make sure they know how to get at the front drag link end to remove it. A truck stop wanted to cut off the end of the frame to get to this. I left there and took my 2001 U270 to MOT two weeks ago and they accomplished the same thing by removing the left headlight assembly. They also slid the generator out and cut a section out of the fiberglass sidewall to access the box.

MOT said they had problems with the seal kits (leaking soon after) and strongly recommended going with a brand new one.  Cost of around $850 for the part and $600 for labor.

Robert


Thanks for the tip!  I'll tell the tech about that tomorrow!  Is yours one of the quiet diesels?  Mine isn't and it didn't look like it was going to be too hard to get the box out, since the basement compartment under the driver is empty.
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #13 –
Dave,

Our generator is a 4 cylinder Kubota 10 KW Powertech unit. They removed the exhaust pipe and slid it out about a foot or so. The basement compartment under the driver's area contains the radiator for the generator. They did all of the work from underneath so I could only observe what was being done from the front. To loosen the drag link end they used a large fork ended tie rod remover with about a 3 foot shaft welded to it for extra leverage. As that was not enough they also used what looked like a bearing removal tool and an air hammer to drive it. Two people worked together to get it off and had a hard time of it. I believe they charged me for 8 hours labor but it seemed it took most of 2 days and two people working on it a good bit of the time. All of this was done two weeks ago and you (or your mechanic) might call MOT for more info as they are always helpful.
Rob & Di
2001 U270 34'

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #14 –
Dave,

Sorry that I don't frequent this forum often enough to answer you in a timely manner.  Six years ago, I too had noticed my steering box leaking on our 96 270.  We were backing into the camphost site where we planned to be for the next three months, leaving a small trail of oil.

This was a very rural area and truck repair shops wanted zillions of dollars to come work on it.  I bought a seal kit and a 5-pound, short handled hammer (both delivered by UPS as we did not tow) and attacked the job myself.  No steering problems since this repair, except that I did not get the pitman arm back on properly: I can steer left sharper than to the right.  This is often an advantage....

During this repair, I quietly complimented Foretravel on the foresight on having this component so assessible for repair.  I am not a truck mechanic and still marvel at the fact that I was able to accomplish this fix.  Reading your note and replies, it sounds like I was lucky and did not have to replace the steering unit.

andy
Carolyn and Lewis (Andy1) Anderson
1996 U270 36'

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #15 –
Thanks for the feedback!  The tech has just started working on it, so I'll report the progress & conclusion.
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Leaking steering box on 99 U270

Reply #16 –
Steering box is out and off to the rebuilder.  The exciting part of the job was getting the pitman arm off.  Secret was to slide the generator tray out to its stops, take the bottom panel off the gen compartment, and then install the puller through the radiator cooling hole in the side of the gen compartment.    This makes it sound much easier than it was (the pitman arm is really tight on the shaft and had to be heated!), and clearly wouldn't work for the later generators with the quiet box around them.

I'm really impressed that Andy was able to get his off with a hammer!
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM