New to Group

Hi to all,

Found this forum while trying to find similar incidents to one I had recently.

Firstly, about myself. Trucking is my retirement job - in Australia. I have held a heavy vehicle licence for about 40 years but did not use it much until I retired from my day job 10 years ago at 55yrs. Since then I have been driving interstate at my leisure - licence for hire, so to speak. I average a couple of trips a week driving B-Doubles as we call them (34 wheelers).

My incident was that while driving a Freightliner Argosy with Cummins ISX at 100kph with 60 tonne the power steering failed. Luckily I was able to stop safely. Turned out that the air compressor disintegrated seizing the shaft which in turn stripped teeth from the shaft drive gear and in turn stopping the power steering pump.

Whilst I am aware that air compressors fail eventually, is it common for the power steering pump to be compromised at the same time?

Appreciate any answers. I might also place a post on the Garage section of the site for those who do not read the newbie forum.

Steve