WTH - Rant on Steer & Gear Experience

[Darrah]

Must be something with steering parts. I just ordered/installed a new steering box and pump from a well-regarded vendor. First pump developed a groan within the first two days. Sent out a replacement pump (ASAP, which was appreciated), but it arrived with the box destroyed and the fill cap/dipstick shattered with pieces all inside the reservoir. Sent pics to the vendor, he said it's fine. Cleaned out the debris, installed, had a nightmare of a time getting it to build pressure, then it made a different, and worse noise. Got tired of the hassle, sent the "new" pump back and reinstalled the first one. Still groans, but at least I can't hear that over the road noise while driving. Vendor didn't seem interested in helping anymore and said "some noise is normal"... some noise being enough to annoy the hell out of myself and passengers, apparently.

Tired of the customer being treated as if it's somehow their fault; I'm a professional industrial maintenance/reliability guy that has designed, commissioned and repaired plenty of hydraulic systems... not an idiot. I do stuff correctly. Sorry... your thread touched a nerve

 

[rklewis1005]

Must be something with steering parts. I just ordered/installed a new steering box and pump from a well-regarded vendor. First pump developed a groan within the first two days. Sent out a replacement pump (ASAP, which was appreciated), but it arrived with the box destroyed and the fill cap/dipstick shattered with pieces all inside the reservoir. Sent pics to the vendor, he said it's fine. Cleaned out the debris, installed, had a nightmare of a time getting it to build pressure, then it made a different, and worse noise. Got tired of the hassle, sent the "new" pump back and reinstalled the first one. Still groans, but at least I can't hear that over the road noise while driving. Vendor didn't seem interested in helping anymore and said "some noise is normal"... some noise being enough to annoy the hell out of myself and passengers, apparently.

Tired of the customer being treated as if it's somehow their fault; I'm a professional industrial maintenance/reliability guy that has designed, commissioned and repaired plenty of hydraulic systems... not an idiot. I do stuff correctly. Sorry... your thread touched a nerve

I understand - you'd think they'd be in the business of making customers happy so they get more business. I've found a lot of part rebuilding shops are slow to respond to emails - treating them like optional. One exception is Instrument Specialties. I actually got an UNPROMPTED recent email updating me on the progress on my dash. Kudos to them!

 

[Billccm]

Some of the causes of failures is excessive use of Chinesium. At the present time we have no choice as Chinesium is the only items available.

Having said that I think the experiences I'm hearing about in this thread are more of a careless attitude.

 

[WileE]

Must be something with steering parts. I just ordered/installed a new steering box and pump from a well-regarded vendor. First pump developed a groan within the first two days. Sent out a replacement pump (ASAP, which was appreciated), but it arrived with the box destroyed and the fill cap/dipstick shattered with pieces all inside the reservoir. Sent pics to the vendor, he said it's fine. Cleaned out the debris, installed, had a nightmare of a time getting it to build pressure, then it made a different, and worse noise. Got tired of the hassle, sent the "new" pump back and reinstalled the first one. Still groans, but at least I can't hear that over the road noise while driving. Vendor didn't seem interested in helping anymore and said "some noise is normal"... some noise being enough to annoy the hell out of myself and passengers, apparently.

Tired of the customer being treated as if it's somehow their fault; I'm a professional industrial maintenance/reliability guy that has designed, commissioned and repaired plenty of hydraulic systems... not an idiot. I do stuff correctly. Sorry... your thread touched a nerve

Who, pray tell, is the "well-regarded vendor" ? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[WileE]

These incidents are becoming all too common. From garbage chinese crap parts, to careless / sloppy workmanship by slobs, and morons that throw deliveries around like they're handling junk.

 

[Kern Dog]

Dudes that post complaints but won’t post vendor names are not doing anyone any favors.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

Steer & Gear should change their name to Steer Clear Inc.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

It protects you against MONGO the mover .

Just my 2 cents ….

You’ll figure it out sooner or later!

 

[Darrah]

Who, pray tell, is the "well-regarded vendor" ? Inquiring minds want to know.

Dudes that post complaints but won’t post vendor names are not doing anyone any favors.

Wasn't trying to derail his thread, and I'm not a fan of bashing vendors when they have overwhelmingly positive support.

It was BAC. Peter was fantastic in answering questions beforehand, sent out the replacement pump asap, and always responded quickly. Don't think he's a bad guy, and he obviously has great products. Everything was great until I had a problem that wasn't normal. The first, and current, pump started groaning after driving it for a few days... which Peter acknowledged was a bad pump, and sent the replacement. The second pump, after I got it to build pressure, was making an obnoxiously loud hissing noise in the cab that could be heard with windows down at 65mph. The first pump did not do this. Peter's response was that "some noise is normal", put a grease fitting on the coupler, and that there's no way for me to say the first pump didn't do it... basically told me I was wrong, even though I sent a video with the sound very obvious. I asked, multiple times, if he had any suggestions... brand of fluid, relief shims, etc.

End of the day, I pulled both relief valves and confirmed they each had one shim. I put the first pump back on and, surprise, ZERO hissing sound. Obviously something was different with the second pump that showed up with busted pieces of cap everywhere.

At the end of the day, it's not worth the stress of fighting with a vendor that wants to wash their hands of it. I have better things to do than continually change pumps... like drive my car. Plus, at $17/quart, I'm about done pouring money down the drain. When this groaning pump totally dies, I'll put on my spare from another vehicle.

 

[493 Mike]

Wasn't trying to derail his thread, and I'm not a fan of bashing vendors when they have overwhelmingly positive support.

It was BAC. Peter was fantastic in answering questions beforehand, sent out the replacement pump asap, and always responded quickly. Don't think he's a bad guy, and he obviously has great products. Everything was great until I had a problem that wasn't normal. The first, and current, pump started groaning after driving it for a few days... which Peter acknowledged was a bad pump, and sent the replacement. The second pump, after I got it to build pressure, was making an obnoxiously loud hissing noise in the cab that could be heard with windows down at 65mph. The first pump did not do this. Peter's response was that "some noise is normal", put a grease fitting on the coupler, and that there's no way for me to say the first pump didn't do it... basically told me I was wrong, even though I sent a video with the sound very obvious. I asked, multiple times, if he had any suggestions... brand of fluid, relief shims, etc.

End of the day, I pulled both relief valves and confirmed they each had one shim. I put the first pump back on and, surprise, ZERO hissing sound. Obviously something was different with the second pump that showed up with busted pieces of cap everywhere.

At the end of the day, it's not worth the stress of fighting with a vendor that wants to wash their hands of it. I have better things to do than continually change pumps... like drive my car. Plus, at $17/quart, I'm about done pouring money down the drain. When this groaning pump totally dies, I'll put on my spare from another vehicle.

Well, that sucks!
Mike