gvig
03-26-2006, 09:06
Hi All,
Yesterday I was cruising slowly in town at about 15 mph, crowded sidewalks, and light traffic (Palm Springs, CA) when I heard the sound of a shotgun (sounded like an unchoked 12 ga) going off, the truck actually shook. I quickly checked with my passengers because I thought someone had shot the truck, but no damage, just a lot of funny looks on our faces. The crowds on the sidewalk were all looking at my truck and I was scanning the gauges rapidly. I had felt the pressure shock mostly in the floor boards and the steering column so I was sure something dramatic had taken place under the hood.
Made it to the next corner, turned and noticed the steering wheel didn't seem to return to neutral easily, it needed help, all the gauges were still normal and the engine was running smoothly. I was heading for a side street to get things shut down. One block later, I turned again, this time with two hands struggling on the wheel and to stop took both feet on the pedal, engine still running great, the exhaust merrily burbling away. But no power steering and no power brakes.
Opened the hood, and oil (power steering fluid actually) was everywhere. The power brake booster housing had fractured around the accumulater, the cannister was laying on the lower A frame, and the piston was laying on the frame, just behind the upper A frame mounts. No sign of the spring nor the remnants of the housing, I figured they were still laying back in the street. Somehow it didn't seem necessary to go retreive them as I had other problems more pressing right then.
My concern is this, has this happened to anyone else?, and a word of caution, there is a ton of pressure on that accumulator. I will never again open the hood without casting a leery eye at that thing.
The power brake booster had been replaced less that 6 months ago, a reman from O'Reilly Auto Parts.
A tow (a carry by a flat bed wrecker actually) got me back to where I have my fifth wheel and now the repairs begin. Got to contact O'Reilly and see how they want to handle things.
I thank God I wasn't at speed on I-10 or had the fiver behind me when it happened . That could have been a bit challenging.
Yesterday I was cruising slowly in town at about 15 mph, crowded sidewalks, and light traffic (Palm Springs, CA) when I heard the sound of a shotgun (sounded like an unchoked 12 ga) going off, the truck actually shook. I quickly checked with my passengers because I thought someone had shot the truck, but no damage, just a lot of funny looks on our faces. The crowds on the sidewalk were all looking at my truck and I was scanning the gauges rapidly. I had felt the pressure shock mostly in the floor boards and the steering column so I was sure something dramatic had taken place under the hood.
Made it to the next corner, turned and noticed the steering wheel didn't seem to return to neutral easily, it needed help, all the gauges were still normal and the engine was running smoothly. I was heading for a side street to get things shut down. One block later, I turned again, this time with two hands struggling on the wheel and to stop took both feet on the pedal, engine still running great, the exhaust merrily burbling away. But no power steering and no power brakes.
Opened the hood, and oil (power steering fluid actually) was everywhere. The power brake booster housing had fractured around the accumulater, the cannister was laying on the lower A frame, and the piston was laying on the frame, just behind the upper A frame mounts. No sign of the spring nor the remnants of the housing, I figured they were still laying back in the street. Somehow it didn't seem necessary to go retreive them as I had other problems more pressing right then.
My concern is this, has this happened to anyone else?, and a word of caution, there is a ton of pressure on that accumulator. I will never again open the hood without casting a leery eye at that thing.
The power brake booster had been replaced less that 6 months ago, a reman from O'Reilly Auto Parts.
A tow (a carry by a flat bed wrecker actually) got me back to where I have my fifth wheel and now the repairs begin. Got to contact O'Reilly and see how they want to handle things.
I thank God I wasn't at speed on I-10 or had the fiver behind me when it happened . That could have been a bit challenging.