Owl Vans Grenadier Steering Box Upgrade

[LabRat]

OK gents, not all trucks are created equal and not all drivers are that sensible. Test drive is also not very helpful.

Mine had barely audible whisper from the p/s pump, definitely not audible inside except for open windows/parked next to a wall. Every single Grenadier I wheeled with (probably about 20) also did not have any offensive noise from the pump.

As far as steering and test drive: my two test drives were in pre-production trucks off pavement. I've been warned about the lack of self-centering prior to taking delivery of mine, and it was useful - the very first turn from the dealer parking lot to the street was jolting.
I know of several people so terrified by this that they bought the Pretenders after test-driving a Grenadier.
However... my guess is that the steering damper wore out quickly on one side, and I got used to the truck on another. It has not been an issue at all in the last ~35-38 thousand miles of ~41k I have now.

FWIW, my comment was taking issue with the "ridiculous steering" as being a problem. It might not be to everyones liking, but being ridiculous, it is not unless you were completely expecting something different and for those that didn't do preorders or drove preproduction trucks, should not come as a surprise.

 

[pmatusov]

FWIW, my comment was taking issue with the "ridiculous steering" as being a problem. It might not be to everyones liking, but being ridiculous, it is not unless you were completely expecting something different and for those that didn't do preorders or drove preproduction trucks, should not come as a surprise.

I didn't notice anything out of ordinary on my test drives, but I am glad I was warned about the lack of self-centering when I got mine.
It is not common by any means, and it should not have been present. None of my other trucks with solid axles and similar steering boxes exhibited this behavior.
Definitely cost INEOS a bunch of lost sales.

 

[abbeyroad]

Understandable, but.... the owl pump is not meant to kill the squeal, it's meant to make the truck drive more or less like a normal vehicle. So unless you are ready to admit that both the squeal AND the ridiculous steering of the Grenadier are problems then you are getting something better than zero. Yes, the squeal is annoying and zero should be just that, ZERO squeal. But the truck drives like crap from the factory and improving its steering/handling is a big upgrade. I cannot possibly understand a person that would take the stock Grenadier handling over a reworked setup that makes it less dodgy, self centers and makes the truck more relaxed to drive long distance. Hoping that Ineos will ever fix it is a pipe dream at best. Preserving your warranty in total and just dealing with it is nuts.

I abhor the squeal, but living with it. I am totally fine with the way the IG steers and handles. I have zero interest in an aftermarket pump unless it's proven to eliminate the squeal and proven to last. I value my factory warranty and proximity to a local service center.

 

[Dokatd]

I abhor the squeal, but living with it. I am totally fine with the way the IG steers and handles. I have zero interest in an aftermarket pump unless it's proven to eliminate the squeal and proven to last. I value my factory warranty and proximity to a local service center.

But, assuming you got an Owl pump to eliminate the squeal, would you be disappointed if the pump also made your Grenadier drive/handle more like a normal vehicle in regards to steering? Or would you be pining for the factory steering feel?

 

[TCMColorado]

I admit to having little familiarity with power steering systems that use an electric pump, but that said I fail to understand how changing the pump will change the steering characteristics of the Grenadier. Return to center is controlled mostly by caster. The steering ratio (how many turns it takes to go from lock to lock) is controlled by the steering box. I imagine the only thing a different pump might do is change the amount of effort required to turn the wheel. Given feedback here on the forum, there seems to be little concern regarding the steering effort. Return to center is the primary issued followed by the slow ratio. So the only up side of this pump seems to be a possible elimination of the pump whine. A real issue to be sure for those that have it and for many that alone will justify the expense.

 

[HereinDaRockies]

Understandable, but.... the owl pump is not meant to kill the squeal, it's meant to make the truck drive more or less like a normal vehicle. So unless you are ready to admit that both the squeal AND the ridiculous steering of the Grenadier are problems then you are getting something better than zero. Yes, the squeal is annoying and zero should be just that, ZERO squeal. But the truck drives like crap from the factory and improving its steering/handling is a big upgrade. I cannot possibly understand a person that would take the stock Grenadier handling over a reworked setup that makes it less dodgy, self centers and makes the truck more relaxed to drive long distance. Hoping that Ineos will ever fix it is a pipe dream at best. Preserving your warranty in total and just dealing with it is nuts.

Bruh… my grenadier drives fine. Heavy steering and all. Our Subaru actually drives boring as shit.

 

[C-Mack]

Owl did mention some software changes/integration along with the new pump so I'd assume they are using a combination of steering wheel position sensor and the software to tell the pump to keep providing pressure to push the steering wheel back toward the center position before bleeding pressure off? If most of what they are doing is telling the pump to vary pressure based on wheel position why couldn't IA do the same with their own software update rather than a whole new pump? Unless the OEM pump does not have the ability to provide variable flow or something? Not claiming to be an expert on this but software seems to be part of it not just the pump.

 

[Dokatd]

I admit to having little familiarity with power steering systems that use an electric pump, but that said I fail to understand how changing the pump will change the steering characteristics of the Grenadier. Return to center is controlled mostly by caster. The steering ratio (how many turns it takes to go from lock to lock) is controlled by the steering box. I imagine the only thing a different pump might do is change the amount of effort required to turn the wheel. Given feedback here on the forum, there seems to be little concern regarding the steering effort. Return to center is the primary issued followed by the slow ratio. So the only up side of this pump seems to be a possible elimination of the pump whine. A real issue to be sure for those that have it and for many that alone will justify the expense.

I share your skepticism. But I do know there are certainly some differences from pump to pump.

For me I would love to see the pressure dropped a bit as it would give more feel. As well, changes in pressure based on speed will change things a lot as well. So dropping pressure when at speed will make the truck feel much more sure footed on the highway.

Electric pumps open things up for a lot of different steering profiles.

 

[Dokatd]

Bruh… my grenadier drives fine. Heavy steering and all. Our Subaru actually drives boring as shit.

Heavy steering? I have never driven a Grenadier with heavy steering. You might get yours checked for a bad pump I suppose.

 

[abbeyroad]

But, assuming you got an Owl pump to eliminate the squeal, would you be disappointed if the pump also made your Grenadier drive/handle more like a normal vehicle in regards to steering? Or would you be pining for the factory steering feel?

If I wanted a normal handles/steering vehicle, I would've picked out yet another one of those IFS + solid rear axle trucks.

 

[Dokatd]

If I wanted a normal handles/steering vehicle, I would've picked out yet another one of those IFS + solid rear axle trucks.

That's not an answer to my question.

 

[abbeyroad]

That's not an answer to my question.

Don't really care

 

[Dokatd]

Don't really care

Because you know the answer doesn't fit your narrative?

 

[abbeyroad]

Because you know the answer doesn't fit your narrative?

You're weird man lol

 

[Dokatd]

You're weird man lol

Thanks for proving my point buddy.

 

[abbeyroad]

Thanks for proving my point buddy.

uh ok pal

 

[Krabby]

If you guys want to squabble please use DMs or a more private means to do so.

That said, there's absolutely no reason to be rude or nasty to anyone here. We pride ourselves on being a cordial forum where simple respect is the expectation. There are plenty of ways to disagree with folks without being nasty about it. Healthy debate is great - passive-aggressive sniping or childish behavior not so much.