2006 Toolcat C Rear Steering Hydraulic Leak and Wandering Out of Alignment

Freeze Plug · May 20, 2019

My 2006 Toolcat C has developed a hydraulic leak, it looks like it is coming from the rear hydraulic steering ram. Even when not in 4 wheel steer, when a rear wheel contacts something such as a rock or a rut that can bump it out of place, the rear wheels start tracking off and I need to go into 4 wheel steer to correct it. It will usually wander off again shortly after, even in 2 wheel steer. External forces seem to move them out of alignment easily.

Can a simple leak cause such erratic behavior, and can anyone give me a rundown of what I am in for to reseal this? I have to get it into the shop this week to get a better look but am looking for advice ahead of time to prepare myself

Thanks!

Austin

Freeze Plug · May 28, 2019

I ordered a seal kit. It appears to be leaking from the seals between the axle housing and power steering ram housing, not the actual seals between the shaft and housing. Has anyone had to do this repair? The bobcat manual goes into very little detail

Freeze Plug · Sep 3, 2019

Looks like I am going to need to split the rear axle housing, can anyone confirm that this is the case? I REALLY don't want to split the housing

ruffdog · Sep 3, 2019

I hope you get the answers and help you need on your C series.

Freeze Plug · Sep 9, 2019

I cheaped out. I didn't want to waste time pulling and splitting the axle, so I compromised. I 3D printed two half moon shaped snap on sleeves using the length of the centered steering ram from the manual (90mm driver's side and 150mm passenger side). The printers at work use a material that consists of nylon impregnated with pulverized carbon fiber, and is extremely strong. These sleeves clip onto the exposed ram shafts on either side of the ram hosing, locking the rear steering ram in place. Then I looped the hydraulic lines with a junction, and used AN fittings to plug the axle ports

So now I have no 4 wheel steering, but it only took an hour and $30 to fix. I can live with that for now, and when the time is right, it is completely reversible when I have more time to complete the repair in full