Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 14, 2025 ...

Steering Gear Box Maintenance?

December 14, 2011, 04:14:31 pm

What is the recommended inspection/maintenance for the steering box?  Is there an oil level to check?  What spec is the lubricant?

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Re: Steering Gear Box Maintenance?

Reply #1 – December 14, 2011, 04:31:51 pm

Peter,

The steering box is a part of the hydraulic system that includes the side radiator fans.  My coach has the reservoir in the engine compartment on the upper driver's side and is filled with Rotella 40 weight engine oil.

Brett will be more knowledgeable of any maintenance for the box other than checking for leaks from time to time.

The clue to my leaking pitman arm shaft seal (side facing out, other side from the pitman arm) was a quarter size dark spot on the concrete below the box.  Three hours labor at $80 per hour and no more leak.

If the shaft seal on the side where the pitman arm is located starts to leak, the box will be pulled, rebuilt and re-installed.

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Re: Steering Gear Box Maintenance?

Reply #2 – December 14, 2011, 04:35:09 pm

Peter,

At least on our 1993 U240, the smaller of the two hydraulic reservoirs is for the power steering.  And on mine, there is a label saying what fluid to use-- Delo 400 15-40. I don't know if your newer coach has the same two reservoir system or the larger single reservoir system.

Changing the filter and the fluid in the reservoir which must be drained to properly change the filter is all that is normally required. I change mine every 3 years/30,000 miles.

On the two reservoir system, there is a dipstick for fluid level checks.  As I remember, there is a sight glass on the large single reservoir.

Brett

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Re: Steering Gear Box Maintenance?

Reply #3 – December 14, 2011, 04:53:31 pm

Thanks guys...I've never noticed a small hydraulic reservoir in the engine compartment, just the large reservoir that uses Chevron Delo 400 15W40 oil.  I'll have to check next time I go to inspect the coach.  In a couple days I should have the auto belt tensioner to replace.  I'll check then.

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Re: Steering Gear Box Maintenance?

Reply #4 – December 14, 2011, 10:54:03 pm

Peter,

I don't believe that the '97 U-270's had 2 reservoirs. I think they only had one large reservoir that contains 3 filter cartridges, unlike most of the Grandvillas, that have a large one on the left and a smaller reservoir on the right.. Barry Leavitt (aka Barry and Cindy) will be able to say for certain, as they have a '97 U-270.

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Re: Steering Gear Box Maintenance?

Reply #5 – December 14, 2011, 11:23:29 pm

Thank you, Don...Perhaps Barry can confirm here.

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Re: Steering Gear Box Maintenance?

Reply #6 – December 15, 2011, 12:09:22 am

Peter,
I've never seen a Unicoach, '96 thru 2000, that had other than the single hydraulic cannister, 3 stacked filter, mounted streetside, aft of the engine.
Neal

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Re: Steering Gear Box Maintenance?

Reply #7 – December 15, 2011, 12:22:53 am

Thanks Neal, I thought so.

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Re: Steering Gear Box Maintenance?

Reply #8 – December 15, 2011, 09:07:43 am

After I bought my 95 and did the initial service I decided to use Rotella 15/40 in everything, Engine, Generator, both hydraulic reservoirs.  Saves on keeping multiple types of oil on hand.
Gary B

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Re: Steering Gear Box Maintenance?

Reply #9 – December 15, 2011, 10:45:42 am

My coach just has the one reservoir for fans and steering.  After reading about steering box and fan motor leaks, I replaced the 3 filters and oil in the reservoir and added two 15 oz bottles of Bar's Engine Oil Stop Leak.  I didn't have any leaks to start with and don't have any at the moment.  No idea if adding the Bar's helps, but I hope it prevents a future leak. 

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Re: Steering Gear Box Maintenance?

Reply #10 – December 15, 2011, 01:10:04 pm

We had the oil and filters changed in the hydraulic system right after we bought the coach in April, 2010. Everything was good until our recent trip during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. We had a bit of seepage from the fan motors, but I saw no drips anywhere. At the end of the first day of driving, I saw a puddle of oil about 3" across when we parked to check in at the campground. We had only driven about 200 miles. During the remaining 1400 miles of the trip, I added about eight quarts of Delo 400 to keep the oil level up. The driver side of the coach and the toad have been lubricated!

I am not aware of any actions we took, or didn't take, that may have caused the leak. As I shared our travel plans with my progeny, I commented, "Old people driving old vehicles can make for some adventures."

The information in the thread may help other folk decide how they wish to handle a similar problem.

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Re: Steering Gear Box Maintenance?

Reply #11 – December 15, 2011, 03:30:45 pm

I have two tanks on my 95 U280SE.  The tank on the pass side is for power steering with the pump driven off of the back of the compressor. 

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