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Topic: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa (Read 778 times) previous topic - next topic

Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Ok...searched the forum and nothing came up on this. My 94 U280 has a Howard steering system on it. It is leaking oil. The company is out of business. Looks like there might be one guy that works on them but it is expensive. I think that they jacked with the alignment when they put it on. Does anyone have any experience with this system? Was there a steering damper that was removed to install this? My thought is ...since there is no mention of this system on the forum....it must not be needed....It surely was not popular. I know that my father had it put on in San Antonio shortly after purchasing the coach. Thinking I should rip it off and have it aligned.
Thoughts...ideas....suggestions?
Karl Shurtleff
Kingwood, TX
94 U280 Grand Villa 36'
Build #4487

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #1 –
Forgot to add pictures....
Karl Shurtleff
Kingwood, TX
94 U280 Grand Villa 36'
Build #4487

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #2 –
Just some random thoughts looking at the photos and the .pdf....

Pretty clearly an "add-on" and not needed. In fact, it says that it's disabled when the "power steering" quits working. It is apparently a hydraulic steering dampening system that is more sensitive and configurable than most.

But it might be a nifty device. It has Parker seals and should be repairable by any decent hydraulic shop if that's all that's wrong with it. As our rigs age we get some slop in the steering. It annoys my DW but doesn't bother me after growing up driving farm trucks (move steering wheel 90-deg just to get to the control spot on the other side).

I'm not sure how to go about an alignment with it in place (and not working, apparently). But you could dismount it, go through an alignment, and then reinstall it (after the seals are replaced).

One of the other guys more attuned to the mechanics of steering should have even better comments.

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Karl Shurtleff –
Ok...searched the forum and nothing came up on this.
Thoughts...ideas....suggestions?

Google it for repairs to the system.
I assume it is just the cylinder that is leaking but you don't say.
Take the rig to a good hydraulic shop that rebuilds cylinders, etc. let them take a look and see if they will be able to fix it. Chances are that all the seal sizes are common and can be replaced. Take the PDF of the manual with you so they can see the construction.
good luck,
Rick

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Rick –
Google it for repairs to the system.
I assume it is just the cylinder that is leaking but you don't say.
Take the rig to a good hydraulic shop that rebuilds cylinders, etc. let them take a look and see if they will be able to fix it. Chances are that all the seal sizes are common and can be replaced. Take the PDF of the manual with you so they can see the construction.
good luck,

I have only seen one success story of having one rebuilt. Looks like it cost $900. If it is not really needed seems like a good time to remove it. Any idea if there was any kind of steering damper installed from the factory.By looking at it I cannot tell, but I am thinking no.
Karl Shurtleff
Kingwood, TX
94 U280 Grand Villa 36'
Build #4487

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Karl Shurtleff –
Any idea if there was any kind of steering damper installed from the factory.By looking at it I cannot tell, but I am thinking no.

Karl,
From the factory your coach didn't have any type of steering dampener.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #6 –
I am familiar with his mod. It is a Howard Center Steering unit designed by the famous Dee Howard of San Antonio TX. Mr Howard is well known in the aviation world for his many first class aircraft mods and inventions. This unit is designed to return the wheels to center and can be "trimmed" to compensate for cross winds,crown in the road or even a blown tire. The alignment  must be set to the Howard specs not the factory Foretravel specs for it to work properly. I had one of these on my first coach and absolutely loved it. It also developed a leak and no one knew how to repair it, but I really think that any quality hydraulic shop should be able to repair it. I traded my coach before I tested this theory however. This thing was about 5K new and uses Mil spec 5606 hydraulic fluid ( easy to find at any airport) If you are willing to take the plunge and try to repair it I think after you have used it you will really like it.
2002 U320 40Ft  MC # 15759
Coach # 5995
Previous coaches
2002 U320 coach  #5941
1996 U270 coach #4808

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #7 –
Should you decide to remove it I will take it in a HEARTBEAT!
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #8 –
Since someone decided to spend the bucks to add Howard, you may find the coach needs some centering help if you remove it.

I think it was a first class device that will give you years of improved driving if you keep it working.  There is a lot of good info on the web about Howard.  Here is one link:
Howard Power Center Steering System - Page 2 - iRV2 Forums

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #9 –
I have the system on my motor home and it doesn't work. I need an air dump reservoir valve, the solenoid doesn't work and I have been trying to find one. My motor home steers great but when the roads are have ruts in them I think Howard Steering system would
help. When bought my motor home the toe in was toeing  out, and I just loosened the clamps that hold the system to the tie rod
and adjusted the toe in and tighten up the clamps again. If you want to sell one of the dump valves I am interested   
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #10 –
What Falcon guy said ^.^d

I have one on ours.. it works as advertised in my book. Do you have a copy? I hit a bump on 55 going N and noticed a firm grip for a few seconds.. guess it thought I had a blow-out.

It is GREAT in any wind or road concave condition.. Love it.. Hope it never fails, when you park turn either way about 3-10 degrees.. stopped my drip, drip 2-3 in a day.

Guess I am lucky..
The selected media item is not currently available.
My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #11 –
Karl,

Reading between the lines there's a lot of love for these systems.  Many folks wish they were still made, might ought to think twice before you pull it off.  If you decide to remove and sell it, add my name to the list. 
"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: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #12 –
I have no experience with that system, but everything I've read about it over the years has been positive. I think if I had one I would do the research and find a way to return it to operational status. I would think that with some diligent searching one could find a lot of information online. Good luck!
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #13 –
Our first coach, a 1997 Fleetwood Discovery, had a failed Howard Power Center on it. We removed it and replaced it with a Safe-T-Plus with trim kit from Henderson's Line Up. The Safe-T-Plus worked well. The "trim" function worked to recenter the steering effort to compensate for consistent road crown or consistent cross winds. It also provided improved stability in general.

I've not had any desire put a Safe-T-Plus on the Foretravel. The 1997 U295 steers better without any auxiliary devices than did the SOB with the Safe-T-Plus. I expect a Safe-T-Plus could be fitted to a FT if you can fabricate a mount for the trim kit.

The Safe-T-Plus is a combination of a damper and springs. The trim kit is a pneumatic clamp that holds the "tail end" of the device. The grip of the pneumatic clamp can be momentarily released with a switch at the driver position to allow selection of the home position of the damper/spring device. The Safe-T-Plus can be installed without the trim kit.

http://www.supersteerparts.com/products/safe-t-plus-steering-control-class-a-solid-i-beam-front-axle.html
Hydraulic Steering Control - SuperSteer Trim Unit for Safe-T-Plus
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Howard Power Center Steering System 94 U280 Grand Villa

Reply #14 –
Thanks for all of the replies! Looks like the general consensus is that it is a good system and probability worth putting the 1000 bucks into it to get it fixed.  Whats another 1000 at this point  :headwall: 
Karl Shurtleff
Kingwood, TX
94 U280 Grand Villa 36'
Build #4487