-
Power Steering Leak
Help does anyone know who can work in my coach around San Antonio. I would normally drive to ETLC for this but I don’t think I can buy enough power steering fluid to get me there. I have a bad leak coming from between the front tires.
-
24 Replies
-
I just had this happen two weeks ago. I used the Prevost app to locate a repair facility in Salt Lake City (Volvo big truck shop). I called the shop and with my VIN they ordered the hydraulic steering ram on a Thursday afternoon. It arrived on Friday. I topped off the hydraulic fluid (ATF) and drove 4 hours from Moab to SLC without any issue, arriving Sunday night.
First thing Monday morning I was in line for repairs. They had me fixed up and on my way after lunch. This apparently is a common repair.
-
You might call Roger Unger Star Shuttle & Charter Yard Supervisor
Cell: 210-336-2174 see if he can help you. They are the largest charter fleet operator of Buses at the airport exit.
Johnny Rivera JR’s Hydraulics is a hydraulics sales and service guy who can rebuild lines and cylinders in New Braunfels cell: 830 660-2811. He has done work for me on rebuilding all lines and cylinders on tractor.
-
Thanks for the help, I’ll try and get under it in the next few days and see if I can see what’s leaking. I talked to Stewart Stephenson yesterday but they wanted me to tow it to them.
-
I would strongly suspect the hydraulic cylinder to be the problem, but before committing to a repair shop, if you can verify it is that and not a failed hose or fitting.
-
Here’s a PC thread from January 2019 about PS and leaks
-
Greg,
That is a power steering assist cylinder that is added to MH shells to make them easier to steer. They are NOT placed on seated coaches. You can cap the lines that go to it and keep driving , You will still have PS. I talked to an old Prevost Tech at PASS that told Me there was a bulletin at one time to remove the cylinders because they have such a high failure rate. I drove mine with the lines capped while my cylinder was in the shop for rebuild and it done fine. The late Peter Campbell made some posts about this that you can find by searching the archives here. Has your PS filter and fluid ever been changed ? Now is a good time…
-
What Rocky says about driving without the power assist is true, it is dangerous. The physical effort required to turn the steering wheel on an XLII is considerable and making a sharp turn quickly is likely impossible.
Unless the leak is such that the system empties itself in minutes I would stop as often as required to refill the system. That is why I asked to verify the leak source. A blown hose may make that impossible due to how quickly the system is drained in which case you need to determine if you can safely move the coach.
It may be OK or at least possible to manhandle earlier models, but an XLII with a steer axle of about 18,000 pounds is going to be a problem.
-
Rocky says he’ll still have power steering?
-
Look closely at the picture and you will see drops of red ATF from the steering hydraulic ram.
-
Les
My leak seems to be farther back almost dead center of the front tires.
-
That is where the ram is, Greg.
-
Tom,
Hoses from the power steering pump go to the steering box in the drivers bay. There is a smaller set of hoses that go to the auxiliary ram on the front. My hoses to the ram were capped and I still had power steering. And I was still able to turn the steering wheel with one hand at a full stop.
-
Based on Rocky’s experience, my plan is to make a short bypass hose that can be easily installed at the gear box for when/if the ram ever leaks.
-
Who from New Braunfels was at the Maintenance Seminar at ETLC a few years ago… Ed & Dee or Greg & Cindy? I remember the faces, not the names.
-
I’ve been to a couple
Log in to reply.