Fan Drive Motor

[Grimesy]

I placed this thread on the Freightliner site but got no hits so thought I would try here. Found fluid leaking at the left rear of my 2005 Itasca 40 AD and found it to be the Fan Drive Motor which is part of the power steering system The Freightliner shop in Sacramento, CA quoted me $1100 for parts and 6 hours labor. Any one have any kind of a lead to a better price? Thanks!

Don,WIT 70041

You can't fix stupid but you can vote them out

[Shuffster]

I suspect just a shaft seal or body o-ring problem. Seal cost less than $10, why replace the motor? I would remove motor and take it to a hydraulic repair shop. I have spent 30 years in hydraulics and cannot understand why so many motors are replaced because there is a leak. Geeez....

[wagonmaster2]

Excellent advice. I had a slight fluid leak from my steering box around the shaft while it was still under warranty and instead of doing a simple seal replacement they replaced the whole steering box. I was really floored when they explained what they were going to do. A person would think a manufacturer would do everything to save money on warranty repairs. Guess that's why we get charged $110-$120 an hour for repairs when the cost is on us, to make up for what they did under warranty.

Wagonmaster2

[Grimesy]

Great advice and welcome comments, now if I was 20, years younger and 40, pounds lighter I could handle it. Time passes and the iron in your blood turns to lead and you know where it goes.

Don, WIT 70041
You can't fix stupid but you can vote them out!

[EngineerMike]

One reason a professional shop quotes replacement on a part like this is the gamble they would take on seal replacement. If the leak is due to a groove worn in the shaft, then a new seal won't seal; likewise if there is an imperfection in the seal seat that has worked its way to daylight, a new seal won't. If they replace the motor, they get their labor refunded if they get a bad motor.

Which is why shopping around helps, and taking the time to research the options helps. I'll bet if you go back to Sacto F.L. and ask, they'll charge T&M rates to replace the seal only, but they won't guarantee the repair will work.
Also, do a search for hydraulics service outfits (lotta farm equip & some industrial hydraulics still in the Sacto area, tho the industrial outfits are being chased out of state by govt) and tell them your story. I believe there is a Berendson in Sacto that can sell you the motor direct if you have the model#. And of course, you could DIY-remove the old seal and take it to Bearing, Belt & Chain (I know there is a branch in Marysville, don't know about Sacto) for a match. If you suspect a groove in the shaft (use your thumbnail to check), use a shim behind the seal to move the seal lips off the groove and you'll probably get a good seal (no warranty on this method, sorry, but it worked for me on an old outboard gear shaft).