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M818 Steering Play

Olly

Member
127
6
18
Location
Bristol/CT
Hi, I was wondering if anyone who has driven a M818 would know about how much play is supposed to be in the steering box? Right now I can turn my wheel a quarter each way before it engages the tires to turn. So I was wondering if that is normal or if it's time for a new box? Thanks for any advice.
 
Last edited:

Elijah95

Certified Rookie
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Location
Georgia
Are you saying you can rotate the wheel a full 360° around before it moves the tires?


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doghead

4 Star General /Moderator
Staff member
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Look closely at the steering gear box and be sure it is tightly mounted.

I’ve seen several where they were loose, so they had a lot of steering wheel play.
 

Olly

Member
127
6
18
Location
Bristol/CT
Look closely at the steering gear box and be sure it is tightly mounted.

I’ve seen several where they were loose, so they had a lot of steering wheel play.
Thanks for the reply.... I have the fender stripped off so you see it right on the frame there and it's not moving when I turn it. It just seems really loose to me but I haven't driven one yet, I've only been in my buddies but it's not the same as driving it so I don't know if that's just the nature of the beast or if it indicates a problem in the box, or somewhere in the steering like the power steering cylinder.
 

Squirt-Truck

Master Chief
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Location
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You have found the defect in the 800 steering gear.
Without hydraulic pressure they are VERY dangerous. (ask Dumpster......)

No good fix, inherent in the design. Cure is a different steering box.
 

Olly

Member
127
6
18
Location
Bristol/CT
You have found the defect in the 800 steering gear.
Without hydraulic pressure they are VERY dangerous. (ask Dumpster......)

No good fix, inherent in the design. Cure is a different steering box.
Thanks for your reply... Do you have any suggestions for a better steering box?
 

162tcat

Active member
710
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28
Location
Washington
There is an adjustment procedure in the TM. Fixed all of the play in mine. Check when running, not off. Has a ton of play when off but mine is very tight when running after adjustment.


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Olly

Member
127
6
18
Location
Bristol/CT
There is an adjustment procedure in the TM. Fixed all of the play in mine. Check when running, not off. Has a ton of play when off but mine is very tight when running after adjustment.


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Thanks for the response I will try it while running to see if there is any difference. I was just concerned because I've never had a steering box with that much play even when the engine wasn't running but as this is my first 5 ton I understand there's a learning curve I just don't want to be driving down the road and there being an issue. Been working on it for the past year getting close to the finish line and I just don't want to miss something.
 

Squirt-Truck

Master Chief
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Location
Marietta, Georgia
They are fine with pressure, loose a pump or line and look out.
900 series gear does not have this porblem., but requires modifications. (Another one for Dumpster, who is doing this now.)
 

Olly

Member
127
6
18
Location
Bristol/CT
They are fine with pressure, loose a pump or line and look out.
900 series gear does not have this porblem., but requires modifications. (Another one for Dumpster, who is doing this now.)
Thanks for the response.... been looking into a freightliner box a little tricky switching some parts up but if I get it all locked down I will post what parts I used to make it work. I noticed you said the 900 requires modification what modification would it need?
 

Olly

Member
127
6
18
Location
Bristol/CT
Mounting is different, pitman arm is different,
Doable just not a direct swap
Thanks for the info. That's cool cause I've already moved the front axle 9 inches forward so remounting the steering box and changing the pitman arm is easy since I have to do that anyway. I have noticed that the box to the m900 series is the hbf64 and the hbf70 seem pretty much the same except for the output of the steering pump that goes with it. Might have a solution for that once I know and if anyone is interested I'll put it up.
 

fasttruck

Well-known member
1,265
622
113
Location
Mesa, AZ
Post 10 has the straight skinny. Read the reading first. You cannot imagine how much Army equipment has been destroyed by untrained personnel with unauthorized tools and parts and guidance from someone who "thinks" this the way to go because he read it on the wall in the latrine.
 

Olly

Member
127
6
18
Location
Bristol/CT
Post 10 has the straight skinny. Read the reading first. You cannot imagine how much Army equipment has been destroyed by untrained personnel with unauthorized tools and parts and guidance from someone who "thinks" this the way to go because he read it on the wall in the latrine.
Thanks for your response thought about the adjustment in post 10 but did not like all the play thats in the steering box when there isn't pressure in it. Would prefer that even if the hydraulics were to blow out that I still have manual control with the steering wheel and the four inch one way or another that I have in my present steering box doesn't seem like the way to go for me. Since the m900 doesn't seem to have that issue it's an easy bolt on switch.
 

fasttruck

Well-known member
1,265
622
113
Location
Mesa, AZ
I've winch enough dead 90 series trucks up on trailers by now to know they are impossible to steer when the engine is not running. What one would do if you pumped all the fluid out of it with a broken hose is beyond my experience. I have a M818WOW here which is a reasonably solid citizen and you get a quarter turn on the steering wheel WWHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. It is less with the engine on and the truck does not wander all over the road.
 

Olly

Member
127
6
18
Location
Bristol/CT
Make that "dead 900 series trucks" in post 18.
Thanks for the infornation. I also have not driven a 900 truck with all the fluid out of the steering, and hope to never have to. On my truck the play seems to be more than a quarter of a turn maybe my box is worn more. As for the 900 series box I haven't had much experience with it not running but my friend has an old volvo white truck with the trw/ross hfb70 box and when I checked out the 900 box it said it was the hfb64 box and most of it seems interchangeable. He's averages he's got at least 200 thousand on that box and it has no where near as much play as the one on my truck. I know that is a commercial truck and the 800 series go offroad so I don't know if that box would work. But seeing as how it's just a variant of the 900 series box I thought it might work. But I appreciate all info I can get so I can make the most informed decision.
 
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