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Sun Apr 08, 2012 3:21 pm

I'm trying to figure out what parts and tools ill need to go on a rescue mission for my bus... He is 5 hours north of my house and the steering is iffy... When i turn the wheel to the right it feels like something is popping out of its socket :shock: . When i get down under the front and look at the steering box there is some loose kevlar looking rope that is coming out. Any help to make this a smooth rescue would be super appreciated!!! Thanks!

79 FI BayWindow

Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:03 pm

there is nothing rope or kevlar in the steering. The steering wheel attaches to a solid shaft. That shaft is bolted to a rubber puck that rubber puck also bolts to the top of the steering box. Out of the bottom of the steering gear is an arm. That arm bolts to a draglink that goes straight back to a swing arm that turns on a big pin on the torsion tubes. Off that same arm a tie rod goes to each wheel. The steering box is bolted to the frame. Nothing is tied in the steering.

Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:52 pm

Sorry you broke down that far away from home.

Worst case is a Broken ball joint..

But, what you said about the rope thing could be the
remnents of your steering coupler meaning it's Broken.

Nt sure where near Forrestville you can buy one
part# 211 415 417

tools to change it
13mm socket and some extensions to fit your 3/8 ratchet
14 mm socket
13 and 14 mm wrenches
needle nose pliers and side cutters
You also have 4 small cotter pins that are needed.

The cotter pins Must be removed BEFORE taking the bolts out
of the old coupler.

Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:37 am

old DKP driver wrote: Sorry you broke down that far away from home.

Worst case is a Broken ball joint..

But, what you said about the rope thing could be the
remnents of your steering coupler meaning it's Broken.

Nt sure where near Forrestville you can buy one
part# 211 415 417

tools to change it
13mm socket and some extensions to fit your 3/8 ratchet
14 mm socket
13 and 14 mm wrenches
needle nose pliers and side cutters
You also have 4 small cotter pins that are needed.

The cotter pins Must be removed BEFORE taking the bolts out
of the old coupler.

This is, perhaps, one of the most helpful and complete posts have I ever read. It's all there. Nice work O DKP D.

Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:40 pm

Yeah, Thank you!

I doubt it to be a ball joint since i just replaced the whole front end(to avoid doing my ball joints!)

I can feel the pop in the steering wheel, almost like its gonna pop out onto my lap :shock:

Thanks for the checklist, i will be sure to gather all required elements and do my research on the steering coupler...

Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:35 pm

when you get a chance take a photo of your rope like thing and post it.

Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:00 pm

I am wondering if in some previous lifetime the seal on your steering box went bad and someone stuffed some asbestos packing up in there to try and keep the oil in. At this point the oil is gone and the box is dry and shot. Yes a picture would be nice.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:42 am

Wildthings wrote: I am wondering if in some previous lifetime the seal on your steering box went bad and someone stuffed some asbestos packing up in there to try and keep the oil in. At this point the oil is gone and the box is dry and shot. Yes a picture would be nice.

I was kinda wondering the same or if the bus simply picked up debris. The description of the wheel popping out at him sounds like a steering coupler (puck) because it woudl take an awful lot of force to break the innards of a steering box. Even if the lower arm came loose the wheel would not move up and down or rock. Another possibility is that the nut on the steering wheel is loose.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:56 am

Here's a great pic of a decomposed steering coupler with the reinforcing cords hanging out of it:

Oh wait... someone didn't use the Samba gallery to post it and now it's gone..... GRRRRRRR!!!

Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:50 am

Here's a pic of mine before it was replaced

Tue Apr 10, 2012 12:50 pm

That looks familiar :? I will be sure to post pics when i get up there... I have managed to track down a german made replacement in Eureka at Honest Engine...

So, if this is the culprit, is it unsafe to drive with this part failing???

Tue Apr 10, 2012 3:26 pm

I thought it may have been the puck, and of course it's unsafe to drive with a failed steering coupler. Any vehicle with diminished ability to control the direction is unsafe.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 3:47 pm

SixStringMadMan wrote:

"premium quality" :lol:

Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:03 pm

When my steering damper went bad, the joint popped whenever I would turn the steering wheel. Had someone turn the wheel while I went under the front end and located the source of the noise.....

Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:41 pm

if it is broken you can't drive the bus but the fix is only about 20 minutes on a late bay

Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:37 pm

Quote: and of course it's unsafe to drive with a failed steering coupler

It sure feels unsafe!!!

Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:49 pm

Quote: When my steering damper went bad, the joint popped whenever I would turn the steering wheel. Had someone turn the wheel while I went under the front end and located the source of the noise.....

Steering damper, that is the shock looking thing down there right? I'll be sure to check that out too. Thanks!

Sat Apr 21, 2012 4:50 pm

Kev,

Did you eventually track down the problem? I'm having a simillar issue.

Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:22 pm

Yes i did! Thanks for all the help!!! It was exactly as we all thought... here is a photo of the busted coupler (note the "kevlar looking rope" stuff)

Basically, I went up to my Bus with tools in hand and pre-ordered a German replacement coupler, pulled up my floor mat, unscrewed the two philips head screws holding down the base of the steering column and could see it all. A busted up rubber. I turned the wheel a bit and the whole column broke free :shock: YES I THINK ONE MORE TURN AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE MERCY OF CA199! :shock: I had a friend use a socket wrench from the top (13mm) while i underneath held the nuts(13mm) with a wrench. we unbolted all 4 - two of them had big washers and two had small washers. I got out the replacement and guess what...

It was too small!!!! Damn! so i had to leave the bus, go to the part store the next day, they had to order a different one, i had to drive home and wait till the following weekend.

Went back up and got the right part (only the one they got in was EuroMax?- not German :( )

Got back up to the bus, put it in, learned to lightly tighten them all before cranking them down, screwed the plate back down and laid out the floor mat and wha la! Pretty easy fix really, no cotter pins just four bolts 4 washers 2 screws and a rubber. Thanks everyone. Oliver is now home. :D

Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:26 pm