Messages in Safarifriends group. Page 11 of 11.

Group: Safarifriends Message: 42191 From: Paul Cella Date: 7/19/2019
Subject: Steering box
Group: Safarifriends Message: 42193 From: fountking Date: 7/19/2019
Subject: Re: Steering box
Group: Safarifriends Message: 42194 From: ondaflore Date: 7/19/2019
Subject: Re: Steering box
Group: Safarifriends Message: 42196 From: W Taylor Hudson Date: 7/19/2019
Subject: Re: Steering box
Group: Safarifriends Message: 42207 From: fountking Date: 7/20/2019
Subject: Re: Steering box
Group: Safarifriends Message: 42216 From: mel96safari Date: 7/20/2019
Subject: Steering Column U-joints (was: Steering box)
Group: Safarifriends Message: 42217 From: Colin Caldwell Date: 7/20/2019
Subject: Re: Steering box
Group: Safarifriends Message: 42220 From: fountking Date: 7/20/2019
Subject: Re: Steering Column U-joints (was: Steering box)
Group: Safarifriends Message: 43053 From: johncochran1954 Date: 9/17/2019
Subject: Loose steering column
Group: Safarifriends Message: 43057 From: W Taylor Hudson Date: 9/17/2019
Subject: Re: Loose steering column
Group: Safarifriends Message: 43059 From: johncochran1954 Date: 9/18/2019
Subject: Re: Loose steering column



Group: Safarifriends Message: 42191 From: Paul Cella Date: 7/19/2019
Subject: Steering box
My steering box has 5 to 10 degrees of play in it. Causes wander.
It is my understanding it is not adjustable. I think it is made by Shepard but don’t have a part number. Anybody know that? Anybody know who rebuilds them? Pete, ‘99 Sahara 30’, Cat 3126
Sent from my iPad
Group: Safarifriends Message: 42193 From: fountking Date: 7/19/2019
Subject: Re: Steering box
No Shepards can't be adjusted. Yes they can be rebuilt but no guarantee they will get the slop out. If it is the m80 no direct or close cross to an adj. TRW. 
I replaced my steering column u joints and that actually took most of that out. 

If you hold at each joint with chanel locks and have some one move steering wheel slowly you can check for slop in joint.
In the wheel I could only see about a1/2" of movement that is with some one holding joint w pliers

I did tiger traks, new and added 2nd panard rods, koni shocks  and all helped.

But the u joints made the big difference . On a 1000 mile trip now to and back from Maine and wife really noticed no back and forth

Bob 96 Serengeti
Group: Safarifriends Message: 42194 From: ondaflore Date: 7/19/2019
Subject: Re: Steering box
Pete,

Where is this play? Steering wheel or pitman arm?  That much play at the steering wheel is not excessive.  Have you checked alignment?   If your toe in is neutral or towed out, you will be sawing the steering wheel all day long.  I have read discussions on Roadmaster forums complaining about the Shepard box not being adjustable (for over enter preload,presumably)  Apparently there is a TRW box available that is adjustable.

Bo2001 Zanzibar


---In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, <nanandpete@...> wrote :

My steering box has 5 to 10 degrees of play in it. Causes wander.
It is my understanding it is not adjustable. I think it is made by Shepard but don’t have a part number. Anybody know that? Anybody know who rebuilds them? Pete, ‘99 Sahara 30’, Cat 3126
Sent from my iPad
Group: Safarifriends Message: 42196 From: W Taylor Hudson Date: 7/19/2019
Subject: Re: Steering box
Bob, 
What mileage were at when you replaced the steering column U joints?  

Mine has all those upgrades and even replaced king pins at 15K miles. Can’t imagine those wearing out that quickly?  At 20K now, but something could be tighter, or else is that as good as the rubber block suspension can get?
v/r,

Taylor Hudson
‘98 Serengeti (4060), CAT 3126

On Fri, Jul 19, 2019 at 7:16 PM fountking@... [Safarifriends] <Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

No Shepards can't be adjusted. Yes they can be rebuilt but no guarantee they will get the slop out. If it is the m80 no direct or close cross to an adj. TRW. 

I replaced my steering column u joints and that actually took most of that out. 

If you hold at each joint with chanel locks and have some one move steering wheel slowly you can check for slop in joint.
In the wheel I could only see about a1/2" of movement that is with some one holding joint w pliers

I did tiger traks, new and added 2nd panard rods, koni shocks  and all helped.

But the u joints made the big difference . On a 1000 mile trip now to and back from Maine and wife really noticed no back and forth

Bob 96 Serengeti

Group: Safarifriends Message: 42207 From: fountking Date: 7/20/2019
Subject: Re: Steering box
Colin, I just did the u joints before the trip I am currently on.
Coach has about 108,000 miles (about 50,000 my miles)
It made a big difference replacing them.
And NO there is no easy direct bolt for the Shepard M80. If you have an m100 yes probably is.

Bob 96 Serengeti
Group: Safarifriends Message: 42216 From: mel96safari Date: 7/20/2019
Subject: Steering Column U-joints (was: Steering box)
Bob
Did you have handling problems that caused you to over exercise the steering column U-joints when traveling.
My steering column U-joints are the original at 150,000 miles, (and show no sign of wear/play/looseness).
Mel
'96 Sahara 3530

---In Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com, <fountking@...> wrote :

Colin, I just did the u joints before the trip I am currently on.
Coach has about 108,000 miles (about 50,000 my miles)
It made a big difference replacing them.
And NO there is no easy direct bolt for the Shepard M80. If you have an m100 yes probably is.

Bob 96 Serengeti
Group: Safarifriends Message: 42217 From: Colin Caldwell Date: 7/20/2019
Subject: Re: Steering box
Bob, I got a full plate for now. If I check those steering ujoints I might have to change them as well. my coach seems to steer ok, but I’m sure this will be something that will need attention down the road.
Colin
97 Sahara 3126 Cat

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 20, 2019, at 3:12 AM, fountking@... [Safarifriends] <Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Colin, I just did the u joints before the trip I am currently on.
Coach has about 108,000 miles (about 50,000 my miles)
It made a big difference replacing them.
And NO there is no easy direct bolt for the Shepard M80. If you have an m100 yes probably is.

Bob 96 Serengeti

Group: Safarifriends Message: 42220 From: fountking Date: 7/20/2019
Subject: Re: Steering Column U-joints (was: Steering box)
Mel ,the coach had a wondering problem from the time I bought it 50,000 miles and 8yrs ago. It was not severe but after I had a detached retina 4 yrs ago the vision in that eye is slightly distorted. That seemed to make it more noticable. It was not a white knuckle thing but something I wanted to make better.
If it was just me looking and checking I would never have thought The u joints were bad. My friend is a mechanic for Kenworth and a really good . He also reset the poppets on the stearing gear a few more % after checking turn radius to stops

On the irv2 manaco site there are 2 threads on handling and swap outs to trw steering gears going back 4-5yrs. 

Bob 96 Serengeti
Group: Safarifriends Message: 43053 From: johncochran1954 Date: 9/17/2019
Subject: Loose steering column

I have just gotten my first motorhome, a 1993 Safari Kalahari 30 Diesel.  The steering is good, but the steering column is loose and moves more than an inch in any sideways direction.  I have not brought the coach home yet but suspect a supporting bracket is loose or broken.  Just seeing what knowledge my new friends might have on this site.  Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Group: Safarifriends Message: 43057 From: W Taylor Hudson Date: 9/17/2019
Subject: Re: Loose steering column
I am not sure if you mean an inch of rotational play in the wheel, or an of horizontal lateral play in the upper steering shaft. The following paragraph addresses the rotational play.  The third paragraph address the lateral play.

If you able, get on a creeper and with someone inside with the engine running, have them turn the steering wheel back and forth within the “play zone”, watch the movement in the steering linkage from the steering box arm to each steering knuckle. Any worn linkage joints should become evident.  If the inch of steering wheel play does not cause any real movement of the steering box arm, the wear is in the steering box.  An inch of rotational play is not extreme in a truck chassis.  The steering will not be sac tight as in passenger car.  A competent mechanic should be consulted at this point to determine if there are any adjustments in your steering box to reduce that play. 

Lateral play of an inch is a problem.  Have someone push and pull on the steering wheel while you lay on the coach floor with a good light looking up the steering column. An inch of play should be evident whether it is the top bearing, the tilt wheel mechanism, or the framing of the steering column. 
v/r, 

Taylor Hudson
‘98 Sahara Serengeti (4060), CAT 3126
acquired 2018

On Tue, Sep 17, 2019 at 8:06 PM johncochran1954@... [Safarifriends] <Safarifriends@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

I have just gotten my first motorhome, a 1993 Safari Kalahari 30 Diesel.  The steering is good, but the steering column is loose and moves more than an inch in any sideways direction.  I have not brought the coach home yet but suspect a supporting bracket is loose or broken.  Just seeing what knowledge my new friends might have on this site.  Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Group: Safarifriends Message: 43059 From: johncochran1954 Date: 9/18/2019
Subject: Re: Loose steering column
Thank you Taylor. Your information is helpful. Luckily I’ve found another owner with same model Kalahari and we working together to find the problem. I’m confident a supporting bracket is loose or broken which I can fix. Again thank you for your help.