Howard Active Steering Parts

[0533]

The folks at Marathon told me that they cannot get parts for the Howard Active steering system any longer if I need them as Howard is no longer in business. I had noticed what I thought was a leak in the hydraulic arm under the D/S. It might be nothing, but I was hoping to be able to take advanatge of this system over the road, especially on long hauls with a quartering wind. Have any of you had experience with this system, and have any ideas on parts etc.

[Petervs]

I have a Howard system on my 94 Marathon and like it a lot and use it all the time on the road.

Sorry to hear they are out of business. Mine has signs of some leakage around the hydraulic cylinder too, but that does not affect the operation as long as there is still fluid in the system. besides being messy if it is a big leak. As long as you are not adding much fluid, like say a pint every oil change interval, a small leak will not matter much.

If you want to fix it, any hydraulic house will be able to rebuild the cylinder with new seals fol very little money. Presumably the rest of the system will keep working.

I do have the operation manual that came with my coach in case you need a copy.

[0533]

Good to hear, was hoping to maintain and use this system, as I heard that over the road truckers use them with good success.

[Joe Cannarozzi]

Would someone like to elaborate on this accessory and how it works.

[Petervs]

Howard Active Steering is a Pneumatic/Hydraulic power steering assist system. It adds stability and reduces the amount of steering corrections you need to make to track straight down the road.

But the main feature is you can easily adjust the steering if you have a crowned road or a crosswind, then the Howard adds a constant force in the direction and amount needed to cause the coach to roll straight without a constant steering wheel correction angle. There is a hydraulic cylinder that pushes against the steering linkage to actuate the system.

There is a little panel mounted near the dash which turns it on and off, adjusts the strength of the force by means of a pressure regulator with a pressure gauge, and a "trim" button. When you push that , then that amount of steering correction is added. Then the steering wheel magically returns to neutral even if you have a side wind. The main components are mounted in the area behind the left headlight.

We use it all the time except when maneuvering in parking lots, etc. Then it adds just a little steering force.

Once while driving across Iowa with at least a 50 mph wind coming from nearly 90 degrees to our direction of travel it could not keep the bus straight, any less wind it does fine. I like the system a lot.

[MangoMike]

Peter did a much better job than I of describing how the Howard works.

I'll add the photo of the controls.

steering_7444_2.jpg

I didn't use it a lot, but in a crosswind it came in very handy.

Mike

[0533]

Howard Active Steering is a Pneumatic/Hydraulic power steering assist system. It adds stability and reduces the amount of steering corrections you need to make to track straight down the road.

But the main feature is you can easily adjust the steering if you have a crowned road or a crosswind, then the Howard adds a constant force in the direction and amount needed to cause the coach to roll straight without a constant steering wheel correction angle. There is a hydraulic cylinder that pushes against the steering linkage to actuate the system.

There is a little panel mounted near the dash which turns it on and off, adjusts the strength of the force by means of a pressure regulator with a pressure gauge, and a "trim" button. When you push that , then that amount of steering correction is added. Then the steering wheel magically returns to neutral even if you have a side wind. The main components are mounted in the area behind the left headlight.

We use it all the time except when maneuvering in parking lots, etc. Then it adds just a little steering force.

Once while driving across Iowa with at least a 50 mph wind coming from nearly 90 degrees to our direction of travel it could not keep the bus straight, any less wind it does fine. I like the system a lot.

Thanks for the excellent education. I'm looking forward to using this system. When you are slowing down and entering a park, do you have to remember to turn it off?

Thanks Again.

Bruce

[Jon Wehrenberg]

For the pilots, think of it as trim.

For the car drivers think of it as a way to make the crown in the road go away or for the wind to stop.

[0533]

I like the trim concept, this feels right. Thanks Jon.

[Petervs]

And for the MECHANICS, think of it as instantaneous and FREE wheel alignment!