Steering box

[Kinglenario]

Has anybody removed the Bosch steering box and taken a look at the adjustability or lack there of? I can’t see the front of the box where the adjustment would be. Or if there isn’t an adjustment maybe it could be disassembled and shimmed a little more. It seems that it’s just a bit loose from the manufacturer. You can turn the steering column with your hand and feel the play in the box.

 

[Dokatd]

Has anybody removed the Bosch steering box and taken a look at the adjustability or lack there of? I can’t see the front of the box where the adjustment would be. Or if there isn’t an adjustment maybe it could be disassembled and shimmed a little more. It seems that it’s just a bit loose from the manufacturer. You can turn the steering column with your hand and feel the play in the box.

View attachment 7908014

There has to be an adjustment I would hope, but if the ball and grooves tolerance is just poor then there is nothing we can do. So many people use this design as an excuse for the poor steering. But recirc ball design is used in high precision machines and has been for a very long time. Even China has effectively perfected the recirc ball assembly. Ineos just made a bad decision somewhere down the line.

 

[Kinglenario]

I think the tolerance in the box is just poor. Fixing it would make the steering much better. My dad used to race a Volvo with a recirculating ball and they had to adjust it once to tighten it up. Pretty easy to do. We probably just need to pull one or buy a new one and take it apart and figure out what’s up. All this talk and I’m surprised nobody has done it.

Also I think most of these trucks come with the alignment pretty far off. Mine was. The toe was way off and caster almost 0. I think the the North American units might be getting tweaked during shipping because they’re so heavy.

 

[landmannnn]

Has anybody removed the Bosch steering box and taken a look at the adjustability or lack there of? I can’t see the front of the box where the adjustment would be. Or if there isn’t an adjustment maybe it could be disassembled and shimmed a little more. It seems that it’s just a bit loose from the manufacturer. You can turn the steering column with your hand and feel the play in the box.

View attachment 7908014

Did you have the engine running? Of not, try it again with it running.

 

[Kinglenario]

The engine running might add some resistance but doesn’t take up for the play in the steering box gear

 

[Kinglenario]

Is this just AI not being accurate? I don’t see an adjustment screw

 

[Dokatd]

Is this just AI not being accurate? I don’t see an adjustment screw

In that image the adjustment is on the top of the sector shaft. That particular box has a gear lash adjustment. But if the slip is in the ball section there is not much that can be done. It's possible our boxes use shims rather than an adjustable screw/nut. I'd be happy to rework a box, but the core would either be unobtaniom or shockingly expensive.

 

[Dokatd]

Also I think most of these trucks come with the alignment pretty far off. Mine was. The toe was way off and caster almost 0. I think the the North American units might be getting tweaked during shipping because they’re so heavy.

Many NA trucks arrive with all the steering jam nuts loose it seems. Somewhere the ball was dropped and the NA trucks weren't getting aligned at the factory. Mine was like this and had some other major QC issues that would have been resolved by a proper PDI.

 

[NQ94]

Some of the other Bosch boxes have different sized balls in the recirculating side to change the input torque. Does the manual have a component overhaul section for the steering box? Operation and adjustment should be covered unless it is a non-repairable item.

 

[Clark Kent]

Some of the other Bosch boxes have different sized balls in the recirculating side to change the input torque. Does the manual have a component overhaul section for the steering box? Operation and adjustment should be covered unless it is a non-repairable item.

View attachment 7908074

The manual we see is almost exclusively remove for access and install info with torque values. I haven't seen anything on component disassembly, service or overhaul. Nor is there wiring diagrams or schematics. There is some info on loom locations but no details.
IA workshops might have an extended version.
In the IPC the steering box is a single part number without a breakdown.

 

[NQ94]

The manual we see is almost exclusively remove for access and install info with torque values. I haven't seen anything on component disassembly, service or overhaul. Nor is there wiring diagrams or schematics. There is some info on loom locations but no details.
IA workshops might have an extended version.
In the IPC the steering box is a single part number without a breakdown.

So a very basic manual with only component change procedures for components that they fit but not manufacture. They could be following some of the truck manufactures like Kenworth where they use the component OEM manuals for detailed parts break down, adjusting, and overhaul procedures.

 

[Dokatd]

There is zero chance Ineos will allow a tech to overhaul a steering box so there will never be directions available. ZF or whomever makes the box may provide an overhaul manual for core overhaul by parts companies.

 

[Clark Kent]

So a very basic manual with only component change procedures for components that they fit but not manufacture. They could be following some of the truck manufactures like Kenworth where they use the component OEM manuals for detailed parts break down, adjusting, and overhaul procedures.

Possibly, with a caveat that it might only be our limited view.

The manuals are a library of single-topic version controlled documents. It's not one big book. There is 4606 documents available in our view. The most useful to us is the workshop manual and IPC. There may still be a whole other topic list for wiring and component level maintenance that IA have locked out from owners.

Home page.

Workshop manual expanded view. Start of a long list.

 

[NQ94]

There is zero chance Ineos will allow a tech to overhaul a steering box so there will never be directions available. ZF or whomever makes the box may provide an overhaul manual for core overhaul by parts companies.

The techs at work would be expected to rebuild reseal a steering box, not a real complex job and sometimes there is no other choice. Bosch manuals are expensive and available. The issue that seems to be becoming more common in Australia now is to have 30 to 90 out to 120 day lead times on assembled warranty components from the US or Europe but having individual parts for the component available immediately to rebuild repair the item.