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 School bus hard to turn right but not left
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mrpicky
Senior Member

123 Posts

Posted - 12/14/2018 :  11:11:20 AM  Show Profile  Visit mrpicky's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Hello, working on a 2006 BB All American with the Cat C-7. Driver reports that once in a while bus takes an extra effort to turn right but is fine turning left. I drove the bus and could not get this to happen (of course). Should power steering fluid and filter be changed. I have no clue if it has ever been changed, but probably not. No physical damage is evident to linkage or pump. Thanks for your replies.

bwest
Administrator

United States
3820 Posts

Posted - 12/14/2018 :  11:22:19 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I had a conventional bus do this and it turned out to be the knuckles in the steering shaft.

Bryan
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Thomasbus24
Administrator

USA
4544 Posts

Posted - 12/14/2018 :  11:32:53 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yep...we've changed those u-joints for this symptom. Also check the inside of the power steering reservoir for rust and a plugged filter from said rust.
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Sherm
Top Member

USA
621 Posts

Posted - 12/14/2018 :  1:30:39 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I had this problem as a driver 25 years ago on an International conventional. Intermittent hard left turns; no problem on right turns.

Turns out the surge tank leaked after up to temperature and coolant dripped on the belt, causing slippage. The surge tank recall at the time solved the problem, as metal tanks were switched out to plastic ones.
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mrpicky
Senior Member

123 Posts

Posted - 12/14/2018 :  1:56:34 PM  Show Profile  Visit mrpicky's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Forgot to Mention this is a rear engine transit bus.
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Thomasbus24
Administrator

USA
4544 Posts

Posted - 12/14/2018 :  5:54:41 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Oh goody....80 feet of supply and return hose to check for collapsing!

If so equipped, does this happen to coincide with the hydraulic fan running or starting?
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mrpicky
Senior Member

123 Posts

Posted - 12/17/2018 :  08:30:31 AM  Show Profile  Visit mrpicky's Homepage  Reply with Quote
It could Thomasbus. It does have a hydraulic fan running off the same fluid fed to the power steering gearbox. What are you thinking?
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Thomasbus24
Administrator

USA
4544 Posts

Posted - 12/17/2018 :  08:58:42 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
It just makes me wonder if the pump might be getting weak...had that happen once. It's been a long time so I can't remember much about it though. I remember rigging up a pressure gauge that one guy read from the back seat, while I drove us around.
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mrpicky
Senior Member

123 Posts

Posted - 12/17/2018 :  12:07:56 PM  Show Profile  Visit mrpicky's Homepage  Reply with Quote
How often should the filter be changed and the fluid renewed on this system?
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Fastback
Top Member

1500 Posts

Posted - 12/17/2018 :  12:35:38 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Might want to make sure there isn't a boot sealing the floor to the steering column shaft thats occasionally sticking.

Why yes, the ORIGinal CHARGER is a Fastback
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Thomasbus24
Administrator

USA
4544 Posts

Posted - 12/18/2018 :  04:28:15 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Fastback makes an excellent point here!
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Thomasbus24
Administrator

USA
4544 Posts

Posted - 12/18/2018 :  04:40:32 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The AARE manual says to change to change the filter at 12 months or 24,000 miles...no mention of the fluid except to use Dexron III and it holds 2 quarts (which seems like very little fluid for a pusher). I remember the old Thomas ones used 10w30 and like 7 or 8 quarts if memory serves.
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BigPapa
Advanced Member

215 Posts

Posted - 12/21/2018 :  09:26:02 AM  Show Profile  Visit BigPapa's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Could be that you have one of the NASCAR models.....

Sorry, couldn't resist....

-Scott

Edited by - BigPapa on 12/21/2018 09:26:38 AM
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bwest
Administrator

United States
3820 Posts

Posted - 12/21/2018 :  10:53:59 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by BigPapa

Could be that you have one of the NASCAR models.....

Sorry, couldn't resist....

-Scott




Bryan
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unclefish
Senior Member

113 Posts

Posted - 01/18/2019 :  10:54:16 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
We had a 2014 BB vision doing this it would bind turning Rh and never had problem turning Lh . Steering box was replaced under warranty.
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