Turning Radius

[R Shomo]

Hello,
I have a 2006 W22 chassis with 8.1 engine. Yesterday, my local WH Service center replaced the Power Steering Pump due to a leaking seal (warranty issue). During the drive back home, the MH doesn't seem to have the same turning radius as before. Is this possible with just a pump change, or is it just my imgination? Now the steering wheel is 3 turns, lock to lock, don't know what it was before.
Your thoughs please.
R Shomo

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Shomo Your thoughts please.

R Shomo, The cut angle on your rig is 50° and this should provide you with some pretty good manouverability. Perhaps your pump and steering gear are working as it should (normal) and you may need a little adjustment time to feel that out. Give it a few more days to see if it is as big of a problem as you might think it is.

If you have the time put the machine up on its front jacks and have someone go lock to lock on the steering wheel and observe the results from the ground.

[Daysu47]

Quick question on the same line Driver.

Is it possible to change out the steering box on my RV (See Sig.) to the new 55 degree box now in use???

I have the 266" wheelbase and it sure would help in the turning.

Thanks,

[R Shomo]

Thanks Driver,
It just seems to not turn as short now. What year did WH go to a 55* pump? I was just wondering if the put the wrong pump on it. I will try it on the jacks to see what I find.
R Shomo

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daysu47 Is it possible to change out the steering box on my RV (See Sig.) to the new 55 degree box now in use???

The ONLY chassis that uses a 55° wheel cut is the Workhorse UFO and the R-Series RDP.

The wheel gear/cut for the W-Series 20 through 24 is a ZF Variable Ratio steering gear, ratio 18.1 -24:1 : 1 of 50°.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Shomo Thanks Driver, It just seems to not turn as short now. What year did WH go to a 55* pump? I was just wondering if the put the wrong pump on it. I will try it on the jacks to see what I find.

In my post I wrote that the W Series does not have a 55° steering. The pump has nothing to do with the wheel cut. The cut is determined by the steering knuckles, their placement, the drag link, possibly steering arm & box and the tie rod.

[Daysu47]

Sooooo, are you saying I can have the steering boxes changed out OR do I need to change more front end stuff, OR, can't do it?

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daysu47 Sooooo, are you saying I can have the steering boxes changed out OR do I need to change more front end stuff, OR, can't do it?

Daysu47, If I failed to say it directly, 55° steering gear is not available on 2001- to 2011 W Series 18 through 24 chassis.

A bit of history. The wheel cut started at 45° then it went to 47° and today we see where it's now 50°.

[RJay]

R Shomo,

If you're really concerned about the turning radius you can check it this way:

With the tires pointed straight ahead, draw a 12” chalk line from the center or the tire(facing the tread and as close to where the tire meets the ground) straight out. At the end of that line draw a 24” line perpendicular to the first line. Now turn your steering wheel in the direction of the perpendicular line until it stops. Next, draw another line like the first line, directly out from the center of the tire until it intersects the perpendicular line. Measure the perpendicular line between the intersection points and it should measure about 14.5” for a 50 deg. turn angle.

[dieselclacker]

Like DriVer said, changing only the power steering pump will do absoloutely nothing to change the wheel cut. Wheel cut, (steering radius) is a part of the mechanical geometry of the front end, the power steering function only serves to move the parts of the front end with less driver effort on the steering wheel.

Dieselclacker

[R Shomo]

RJay,
Thanks, I try that and see. It is probably just my imagination (I would really like to upgrade to a Phaeton DP, maybe just looking for a reason). I appreicate the info.
R Shomo

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Shomo Thanks, I try that and see. It is probably just my imagination (I would really like to upgrade to a Phaeton DP, maybe just looking for a reason). I appreciate the info.

R Shomo, The 55° wheel cut you will get from the FCCC XC Chassis is nice but it won't overwhelm the 50° that you already have on the Workhorse. I have done very well with the 47° degree cut that I have and I believe since 2003 I have only had 2 occasions where I wished I had a shorter WB and greater cut.

The Phaeton is a nice rig and I'm sure that you will enjoy that.

[gg]

The power strg pump provides assistance when turning the strg wheel. The Front strg geometery /Strg gear defines the strg radius.

Now for the million dollar question? What will 45 deg, 47,50,55 wheel cut tell you- shorter turning radius with a larger number?

Depends on what is the Wheel base of the chassis and the wheel cut angle.

What is needed in the RV world is a table provided by the chassis mfg as to the turning radius of the chassis with a defined wheelbase. The coach mfg would add the body and then define the smallest turning radius with the combination that the total asm would clear. This is the info that would help a novice select a coach.

I ask the dealer/ and Workhorse to tell me the turning radius of my unit and got - don't know respose

I will have to use the wet tire/ stick cauk and measureing tape method in the parking lot to define the chassis and coach.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gg Now for the million dollar question? What will 45 deg, 47,50,55 wheel cut tell you- shorter turning radius with a larger number?

Don't forget about FCCC's IFS 60° wheel cut! Yes the larger number indicates a shorter turning radius.

I'm sure what you are suggesting is already a known fact to automotive engineers. Other than in Marketing Campaigns, wheel cut doesn't seem to be that important of a statistic since the technology has progressed to a maximum benefit on recently delivered motorhome chassis.

For example the Machinery's Handbook will present thousands of tables for any given size or process with predetermined values that have been recorded for the past 1000+ years. Given a wheelbase and any configuration of steering gear these values will be consistent and should not change from one manufacturer to another. That said you will find that the lock to lock turning radius for both a left turn and a right turn may differ by less than an inch or more in several of the reviews that I have seen. Go figure!