Wandering, sway bars, alignment, ride height, oh my!!

[deSanford]

No problem Van I'm sure everyone on this thread appreciate what you have done for us, and we will enjoy the handling (driving) of our coaches with the GREAT VAN-X-BARS. While you are enjoying your Harley heading out West we will be looking forward to the "VAN-LINK" of the future. deSanford

[CrazyKnight]

Happycarz

Harry,

I would like to use your steering box as a starting point for my TRW search. I have yours and Van's part numbers but his output shaft points inboard, they may have an outboard version but could you do me a HUGE favor and take 2 pictures of your coach that look like THIS…please.

Thanks,
Craig

[Vanwill]

Originally Posted by CrazyKnight

Happycarz

Harry,

I would like to use your steering box as a starting point for my TRW search. I have yours and Van's part numbers but his output shaft points inboard, they may have an outboard version but could you do me a HUGE favor and take 2 pictures of your coach that look like THIS…please.

Thanks,
Craig

Craig,

Is your drag link parallel to the trailing arm? I had not thought of this, but perhaps you have to get a spindle arm, also, or an offset Pittman arm, to get the drag link to end up in the same relative location that you have. My drag link is very close to the trailing arm.

[CrazyKnight]

Originally Posted by Vanwill

Craig,

Is your drag link parallel to the trailing arm? I had not thought of this, but perhaps you have to get a spindle arm, also, or an offset Pittman arm, to get the drag link to end up in the same relative location that you have. My drag link is very close to the trailing arm.

Does this help ? Van, it looks like from the pictures you sent me that our boxes are mounted the same but the pitman arm from the box is 180 out from my coach. On the 2002 HR I took pictures of the box mount and the set up look very close to mine.

I am hoping Happycarz's coach looks a little closer to mine.

[Happycarz]

My pitman arm is inside toward the generator, opposite yours. The picture is from behind the steering box, looking toward the front of the coach. The 1/2" steel mounting plate has 3 welded standoffs connecting it to the frame.

I'll see if I can take some pictures from your prospective.

[CrazyKnight]

OK gang….PLEASE

Does anyone have a TRW box coach that looks like the pictures I posted in post #786 ?

PLEASE if you do snap a picture and post your year, make and the steering box information…I need ALL the numbers on the steering box.

I am trying to find the best place to start but I am also building a data base of boxes and pictures for others to use…if this WORKS…LOL

THANKS

[Vanwill]

Originally Posted by CrazyKnight

OK gang….PLEASE

Does anyone have a TRW box coach that looks like the pictures I posted in post #786 ?

PLEASE if you do snap a picture and post your year, make and the steering box information…I need ALL the numbers on the steering box.

I am trying to find the best place to start but I am also building a data base of boxes and pictures for others to use…if this WORKS…LOL

THANKS

I'm not sure, Craig, but I'd bet all the Sheppard boxes are mounted like yours. Is your Sheppard mounting plate supported by two or more standoffs made from square tubing?

Harry, thanks for helping.

Guys, help Craig all you can. He is probably the most likely person to complete this swap, and it would GREATLY benefit a large number of folks. I will never understand why Monaco used the Sheppard boxes when the problems were apparent very early on. I also have no idea how the Sheppard company has such a presence in the OTR tractor biz.

[Vanwill]

Craig,

I'm sure you are already doing this, but as you get close to removing your steering gear, be sure you have enough measurements to locate the Pittman arm end of your drag link spatially. The replacement TRW box will be too heavy to hold up in place and juggle around for placement. When you reach that point, I'll make some kind of fixture to fit on a bottle jack and allow you to hold the TRW box rigidly, but change its height and orientation to get the drag link position identical to what you have now.

When you get really close, maybe you'll want to ride to my house for the final installation. I've got all the machine shop and welding equipment we'll need to finish the job.

Lastly, I cannot imagine this to be a problem, but we might want to check that the same hydraulic pump and layout are used for both types of steering gears. I feel certain they are, but it's worth checking. Also, we might have to have new hose ends made if the ports in the TRW and Sheppard are different.

[CrazyKnight]

Originally Posted by Vanwill

I'm not sure, Craig, but I'd bet all the Sheppard boxes are mounted like yours. Is your Sheppard mounting plate supported by two or more standoffs made from square tubing?

Harry, thanks for helping.

Guys, help Craig all you can. He is probably the most likely person to complete this swap, and it would GREATLY benefit a large number of folks. I will never understand why Monaco used the Sheppard boxes when the problems were apparent very early on. I also have no idea how the Sheppard company has such a presence in the OTR tractor biz.

Van,

Yes I think almost all Sheppard boxes are mounted the way mine is, I am HOPING to find a TRW box mounted the same way. I should have written down the 2002 HR Ambassador box info, I was in a camp ground and the guy was in a hurry to leave, at least I got pictures so I can research the rest.

You should have my pictures on the thumb drive this week, that should help us think on the same page. I would have to move my mounting plate outboard and drill or plasma cut a hole for the output shaft to go through, to duplicate the TRW boxes I have seen so far. It is not only welded with square tubing standoffs but also a bunch of flat plate in two places for support, they made the mounts very different than older coaches I have crawled under so far.

I have checked the pump requirements on both pumps, they almost match. As for hoses and fittings, when I get a pump in hand I will check, easy and not to $$ to have a hydraulic shop make new ones if needed.

A picture for those of you not privy to Vans thumb drive.

I have my 4G iPad with me all day…so please post info and pictures.

THANKS EVERYONE !

[CrazyKnight]

Originally Posted by Vanwill

Craig,

I'm sure you are already doing this, but as you get close to removing your steering gear, be sure you have enough measurements to locate the Pittman arm end of your drag link spatially. The replacement TRW box will be too heavy to hold up in place and juggle around for placement. When you reach that point, I'll make some kind of fixture to fit on a bottle jack and allow you to hold the TRW box rigidly, but change its height and orientation to get the drag link position identical to what you have now.

When you get really close, maybe you'll want to ride to my house for the final installation. I've got all the machine shop and welding equipment we'll need to finish the job.

Lastly, I cannot imagine this to be a problem, but we might want to check that the same hydraulic pump and layout are used for both types of steering gears. I feel certain they are, but it's worth checking. Also, we might have to have new hose ends made if the ports in the TRW and Sheppard are different.

EXACTLY ! Will not be fun…but what the heck !

Thanks !

[b-Bota]

Another Sheppard box. M100 PPN31
On a 2005 HR Ambassador 36'

View to the front




View to the back





Harry S.


2005 HR 36' ISC 330,
2006 Saturn Vue

[CrazyKnight]

Originally Posted by b-Bota

Another Sheppard box. M100 PPN31
On a 2005 HR Ambassador 36'

View to the front

Attachment 65056


View to the back

Attachment 65058

Attachment 65059

Harry S.


2005 HR 36' ISC 330,
2006 Saturn Vue

THANK YOU,

I am finding in a two day picture taking and RV dealer tour that HR and Monaco used a BUNCH of Sheppard boxes with as many different mounts as they could make up over the years.

Off to the truck repair center :-(

[Vanwill]

Craig,

If the TRW boxes come in RH and LH, one would think you could find the opposite hand TRW from what Monaco used and mount it similar to the Sheppard.

Have you searched the TRW site to see what is offered as OE? I can’t look until later tonight.

Another thought--the Sheppard Pittman arm faces outward, and the TRW faces inward. The Sheppard mounting plate appears to be much closer to the center of the coach. Suppose we made an adapter plate with standoffs? It would bolt (or weld) to your existing plate, with the Pittman arm between the two plates. ???

What at first glance might be a problem, could turn out making this simpler…I’m hopin’.

Another thing I notice from your pix--unless it is an optical illusion, your steering shaft extending through the coach floor is a lot straighter (more nearly a straight line) from your steering wheel to the gear box. That does not matter a great deal, but it's just an observation.

[Happycarz]

I few more pictures of my TRW box, from the front.