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Topic: Leak in driver front side compartment (Read 258 times) previous topic - next topic

Leak in driver front side compartment

I just detected a leak, a slow drip, from my front driver side compartment from the circular plastic cover plate on the steering gearbox.  It's definitely coming from under the circular plastic cover.  It is either not been dripping for very long, or intermittently or not very much because I haven't detected it on the ground, but it is a steady drip every 10 seconds or so.
Dave G.

Re: Leak in driver front side compartment

Reply #1 –
I see rust...
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Leak in driver front side compartment

Reply #2 –
That would be the shaft seal leak that has been discussed here a bunch. Some just replace the seal and others have the unit rebuilt. Some DIY others have the job done by credit card.  Do some searching and reading so you can figure out which way you will want to go for repairs. Look up Shepard M-100 here and you will find lots of stuff.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

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

Re: Leak in driver front side compartment

Reply #3 –
There's a place up in your neck of the woods that rebuild these steering boxes.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Leak in driver front side compartment

Reply #4 –
Quote from: rbark –
There's a place up in your neck of the woods that rebuild these steering boxes.

That would be Redhead: Red-Head Steering Gears

Very good reputation for actually blueprinting as well as sealing the Sheppard box to reduce play.
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: Leak in driver front side compartment

Reply #5 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
That would be Redhead: Red-Head Steering Gears

Very good reputation for actually blueprinting as well as sealing the Sheppard box to reduce play.
So as many skills in life, Blueprinting is more than most understand. In these gearboxes there are large ball bearings that take up the free play in a worn box. They come in different size sets. Too loose and there is too much free play in the steering. Too tight and the is steering is tight and bound up. A good technician with learned skills can install the correct sized bearings to take up the free play and make steering smooth as silk. I you were happy with the steering currently you may not gain much. But if not you may be amazed at the improvement.

Re: Leak in driver front side compartment

Reply #7 –
Dave, You have the leak on the "lucky side". That seal is fairly easy to change on the drivers side of the steering box..  You can buy the seal from Red Head as well as others on line.
That plastic cap is magnetic. It'll pull right off and you can seal what your facing. The biggest issue I had was prying off the plate after removing the bolts.  It was a bear to pop off. I used a hammer and metal chisel to LIGHTLY pry it off.  Then just a matter of pulling the old seal, clean up, and install the new seal. I put a catch can under the unit and only lost a couple of cups of fluid at most.
It's a pretty easy DIY job.
Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad