Steering is growling on MCI8

[chart1]

My steering is growling all the time it only used to do it at low RPM but now doing all the time. Is it the power steering pump not putting enough pressure or is it the gear box? This is on a MCI 8 ... The power steering is working just very noisy.

[Lin]

Is this hydraulic assist or integral?   

[buswarrior]

Fluid level?

Foaming?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[luvrbus]

Cory, you have probably lost the flex coupling between the engine drive gear and the pump

good luck

[chart1]

It is hydraulic power assist. The fluid level is full,  but foamy.
Cliff, If I lost the flex coupling would I still have power steering?

[luvrbus]

yep

good luck

[chart1]

ok I will pull it off tomorrow and check it out.

[gus]

This is very interesting since mine does the same thing, mostly when cold though.

How can you still have PS if the pump has no drive??

[bevans6]

The flex coupling is a flat disc with four slots in it that engages two ears on the accessory drive and two ears on the pump.  If it fails, the drive ears still hit the pump ears, just without the coupling to cushion the drive.

Can't you tell if the growling sound is coming from the front of the bus and the steering gear/ram, or the back of the bus and the pump area?

Brian

[JackConrad]

It is hydraulic power assist. The fluid level is full,  but foamy.
Cliff, If I lost the flex coupling would I still have power steering?

If it is foamy, sounds like air in the system.  MCI procedure to clear all air from system is to jack up front wheels (so no load when turning), start engine and turn steering wheel lock to lock a specific number of times (I forget that number). Do not hold the steering wheeel in the full lock position.  Jack

[robertglines1]

filter,wrong oil or mixed types of oil.

[luvrbus]

Most foaming is caused by cavitation problems with the pump


good luck

[gus]

What is the proper way to clear air from a Sheppard conversion, is it the same as with the original power boost system?