Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

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Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

September 16, 2020, 08:25:39 am

Need to get steering box rebuilt. Is Redhead the best place to contact? It is my understanding a core and pitman puller tool are floating around amongst members. Are they available and how does one get the process started. Thx in advance.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #1 – September 16, 2020, 09:00:47 am

Quote from: Spiderhitch – September 16, 2020, 08:25:39 am

Need to get steering box rebuilt. Is Redhead the best place to contact?

YUP.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #2 – September 16, 2020, 10:54:04 am

Redhead has cores, call them to discuss. The cost to rebuild at RedHead is less if you send in your steering box vs. use one of their cores. (I don't make the policies, I am just reporting, I suspect it is a "convenience fee" since they did actually buy the cores, at least two of them from me.) There are other sources of the steer boxes, but the Foretravel unit is not widely used and available - in most cases it is a "PDP1"

Redhead is in Auburn WA, Google it and when you call ask for the sales person that handles the Foretravel Sheppard PDP1 - one persone there is the most knowledgeable.

there are Pitman arm pullers in the hands of the membership, I suspect they will chime in

Are you new to the forum? if so, welcome!

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #3 – September 16, 2020, 10:57:35 am

Quote from: Spiderhitch – September 16, 2020, 08:25:39 am

Need to get steering box rebuilt. Is Redhead the best place to contact? It is my understanding a core and pitman puller tool are floating around amongst members. Are they available and how does one get the process started. Thx in advance.

You need to use the search function and read how forum members have done it. This is only a DIY if you have the right tools and the ability to use them. Some tools are above the level of most mechanics for example 5/8" hex socket 3/4" drive or 1/2" drive and adaptor to 3/4" A torque wrench that goes to 350 lbs. or the ability to make a device to get the torque. Also needed are devices to lift and lower the box or a strong helper. Different models can be done different ways.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #4 – September 16, 2020, 12:47:35 pm

I had my oil changed and the chassis lubricated at Cummins.
They told me that the power steering gear shift box was leaking.
So I took it next door to WW Williams.
They told me I need an input shaft seal at the steering box.
So FT sells a kit of 12 seals or so.
I'm not sure what to do.
Do I need a whole new box or just get the seal or seals replaced. It steers fine.
I'm not too confident with Williams. Even though the have a good reputation nation wide and they have replaced gearboxes I'm sure they have never done this on a Foretravel.
I came down to Florida where I am at now.
I keep an eye on the fluid level and add when needed.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #5 – September 16, 2020, 12:50:22 pm

Biggest question--how much play is there in the steering gear (when steering straight)?

RedHead blueprints the steering box to remove the play as well as new seals, bearings, etc.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #6 – September 16, 2020, 12:53:55 pm

The input seal may leak now but the sector shaft seal will leave you stranded as it has others if it fails on the road. Lots of opinions but I had Redhead rebuild mine even though there was no play as the labor to do the box is enough to not want to have to do it again for 20 years or so.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #7 – September 16, 2020, 01:36:11 pm

Quote from: craneman – September 16, 2020, 12:53:55 pm

The input seal may leak now but the sector shaft seal will leave you stranded as it has others if it fails on the road. Lots of opinions but I had Redhead rebuild mine even though there was no play as the labor to do the box is enough to not want to have to do it again for 20 years or so.

X2 rebuild it.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #8 – September 16, 2020, 02:30:02 pm

I have one of the nomadic pitman arm pullers.
Yell at me and I will ship forthwith.

Tim

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #9 – September 16, 2020, 04:19:24 pm

I have an appt. For Nash RV Service in Athens Ga. It was on a list of FT services places.
Had anyone used them. Or is there another service center I can take it to on the way to Ohio from Florida.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #10 – September 16, 2020, 04:33:29 pm

Question for those in the know: Does red head machine any part of the steering box to achieve this blue printing status ?

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #11 – September 16, 2020, 04:43:31 pm

Quote from: opelgt327 – September 16, 2020, 04:33:29 pm

Question for those in the know: Does red head machine any part of the steering box to achieve this blue printing status ?

My understanding (no first hand information) is that they work with much closer bearing tolerances than OE to remove play.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #12 – September 16, 2020, 04:44:43 pm

Thank you

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #13 – September 16, 2020, 04:47:43 pm

Primarily a fitting of a small ball into a race for an exact FOT. I saw about 10 different size spheres an observed the trial and error fitting to minimize " play" in the output shaft That hand built approach to closer tolerances on those two parts are the primary difference I am told I visited Red Head I have not seen the process at other shops

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #14 – September 16, 2020, 04:51:34 pm

Quote from: Spiderhitch – September 16, 2020, 08:25:39 am

Need to get steering box rebuilt. Is Redhead the best place to contact? It is my understanding a core and pitman puller tool are floating around amongst members. Are they available and how does one get the process started. Thx in advance.

Your sig doesn't say where your at but there's a place in Houston that has a good reputation too. I live outside Houston and they rebuilt mine, they did a good job and no shipping charges.
Truck Services - Houston - Chalk's Truck Parts

Keith

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #15 – September 16, 2020, 04:59:02 pm

In the past MOT had Chalks rebuilds on the shelf They now offer RedHead on request.
Best is DIY, send in your unit for rebuild to Redhead. Cheapest and best quality. I'm not a DIY guy, I brought the Redhead to MOT 2+ years ago and they installed.
Then I got the Redhead core thing going with my two cores ( don't ask why I had two...) Any good rebuild will work, but I have beat zero play I. My wheel. Some front end parts, tie in reset and a new steering box did it I did not wait for seals to fail, did a proactive swap

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #16 – September 16, 2020, 06:43:13 pm

Redhead gave me the + size of the balls they used to rebuild mine.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #17 – September 16, 2020, 06:45:37 pm

If you go with the Redhead and by chance they are out of the PDP1, I am sending my old core back to Redhead tomorrow. NMS just finished my install. As soon as FedEx picks up the core, it will be on its way back to Redhead. I replaced mine as a preventative measure and am anxious to see if I notice the difference.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #18 – September 16, 2020, 08:01:17 pm

Spoke with the Foretravel expert today at Redhead they have 2 units on shelf ready to go. They are $300 more than rebuilding mine. Granted if mine is really bad it could be more but steering is very tight and probably would be $200-300 less than their inventoried units. So it boils down to how soon do I need. I thought I had read on posts that a couple spare cores were floating around was hoping to find one and get everything set so rebuild could be done and install set when it shipped back.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #19 – September 16, 2020, 08:20:31 pm

What is the estimated cost for Redhead to rebuild your unit.?

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #20 – September 16, 2020, 08:21:04 pm

One Spare core was in my possession, I ended up with a fair amount of money in it and bought a second one.
Sold:gave them to Redhead so there could be PDP1's on shelf ready to go for members.
If you have a place to do the work yourself, their turnaround is 1-2 business days plus the two way ground shipping time

Tim Fiedler
Gen-Pro.biz
630 240-9139

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #21 – September 16, 2020, 08:57:11 pm

From one of your earlier posts deduced you were the one that got that set up so there were some already rebuilt and on shelf. Sure could help someone out of a jackpot on the road where time is of the essence. I've got a little time and have someone to install was hoping to save the extra dough. May just have to pay the extra $2-300. For the convenience of remove and install in 1 day. Afraid if I get mechanic to pull it out of coach he may not show back up to install. He's used to working on trucks and equipment and no crawling under a coach, lol.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #22 – September 17, 2020, 11:59:35 am

I have read many posts on removing the Shepard steering box. Most of the posts recommended Redhead and a few and used local shops to do the work, but I not recall anyone posting about doing the actual seal replacement and/or rebuild themselves.

Mine is not leaking, but based on all I have read, it is just a matter of time. In preparation for that day, or if I can get to it ahead of a failure, I have been reading as much as I can, but have a couple questions:

1. Does the typical job just involve replacing the seals or are there other "wear" components that are checked and replaced as needed. Based on info from Redhead's website, seems like they might verify some measurements, possibly replace the needle bearings and possibly replace the balls with upsized balls if needed. For those that have used Redhead or other shops, what parts other than the seals were replaced?

2. Has anyone completed the seal replacement and other repairs (if needed) themselves? If so, please share your experience, part numbers, etc.

3. Anybody have details on the required seal kits? Is the steering box serial number visible while installed (coach is in storage) that I can use to call the manufacture and determine the required seal kit/parts?

Google found a couple service manuals which appear to provide pretty detailed seal replacement instructions and generically list available repair kits. I have only glanced through them, but does not look like a complicated job....removal and installation of the box appear to be much, much more difficult. Shepard also has some videos that look helpful.

Amazon (and other sites) have seal kits, but not certain if they are the correct ones or if other parts might also be required.

Possible source for bearings

Shepard Instructional Videos

Thoughts?

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #23 – September 17, 2020, 12:08:57 pm

I believe I have the seal rebuild kit in my shop. I bought it thinking the same as you that I would reseal it myself. Then decided to have Redhead rebuild it incase it had any other issues that I wouldn't have noticed. I will check later and give you the information off the package if I can find it. My round tuit list has me backed up on spare parts.

Re: Rebuild Sheppard M100 Steering Box

Reply #24 – September 17, 2020, 03:47:59 pm

My understanding is there is 7 different size ball bearings that may be needed. If the races themselves that are in the sector arm are worn that maybe required. As the biggest expense and work is the removal and reinstallation you might find the best outcome is to have a pro that does this everyday do the job?

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