Steering & Steer Axle

This section gathers entries about steering cylinders and the steering priority valve. This page lists 22 entries drawn from HIT Srl's internal maintenance-tip and preventive-checklist library.

General guidance only — always follow the operation and maintenance manual for your specific machine.

Steering Cylinders – Steering & Steer Axle

• What can cause steering to become stiff, and how is each cause diagnosed?

  Stiff steering traces back to a small number of distinct causes, each with its own fix. Low oil pressure calls for checking and regulating the hydraulic pressure. A faulty hydraulic pump means removing and replacing the pump. A faulty power-steering valve is replaced rather than repaired.

  A separate fault — steering not operating well, traced to an internal leak in the steering cylinder — calls for removing the cylinder and overhauling it.

  HIT Srl supplies the hydraulic pump and the power-steering valve for this class of steering system.

  Field note — HIT Srl, Reggio Emilia (Italy). Last updated: August 2026.

  Related: What should be checked when inspecting control system and lubrication? · When must a container twistlock be replaced rather than inspected again? · How does a hydraulic oil cooling circuit protect itself from overheating? · What should a full structural inspection of a spreader actually cover?

• What is the correct sequence for replacing a steering cylinder?

  Disconnect the hydraulic connections from the steering cylinder, and protect the open ends of the cylinder and hoses with caps or plugs.

  Remove the steering wheels, release the link arms from the steering cylinder, then mark up and detach the hydraulic hoses from the cylinder. Plug the connections immediately to protect the hydraulic system from impurities.

  Remove the four screws securing the steering cylinder to the steering axle cradle, then transfer the connection adapters to the new steering cylinder.

  HIT Srl supplies steering cylinders for this class of steered axle.

  Field note — HIT Srl, Reggio Emilia (Italy). Last updated: August 2026.

  Related: What torque should wiper arms be tightened to after replacing a wiper motor? · Why does steering tie rod ends (ball joints) wear and play occur on this equipment? · What does maintaining steering cylinder anchor pins and bushings involve? · What does maintaining steer axle wheel bearing adjustment involve?

• How does the steering valve control oil flow to and from the steering cylinder?

  The steering valve is a flow-control valve that supplies hydraulic fluid to the steering cylinder: oil is pressed into whichever side of the cylinder is needed to change direction, while on the other side of the piston, oil has to be evacuated back through the steering valve, which transports it back to the hydraulic tank.

  A pressure reduction valve in the same circuit checks that the pressure supplied back to the steering valve never becomes more than 1.1 MPa higher than the load signal.

  HIT Srl supplies the steering valve and pressure reduction valve for this class of steering system.

  Field note — HIT Srl, Reggio Emilia (Italy). Last updated: August 2026.

  Related: What should be checked when inspecting control system and lubrication? · How do you maintain gear pumps to prevent failure? · How do you maintain hydrostatic pumps to prevent failure? · How does a lift cylinder circuit protect against uncontrolled lowering?

• What tyre pressure behaviour is considered normal on a rubber tyred gantry crane?

  Check the tyre pressure and condition every 300 operating hours. A tyre pressure drop of 5% in a month is normal.

  Related: What are the wind speed thresholds for normal operation, limited performance, parking position, and stowed condition on a rubber tyred gantry crane? · How often should the anemometer be cleaned and its condition checked on a rubber tyred gantry crane? · How often should the condition of the starting batteries be checked on a rubber tyred gantry crane, including the auxiliary diesel's batteries? · What is the discard criterion for the auxiliary diesel drive belt on a rubber tyred gantry crane?

• How often should the air gap of the steering brake be checked?

  Check the air gap of the steering brake every 4000 operating hours. Adjust if needed.

  Related: How often should the air gap of the gantry brake be checked on a rubber tyred gantry crane? · How often should the air gap of the skew brake be checked? · How often should the air gap of the trolley brake be checked? · Why is the air gap of the steering brake not periodically readjusted, unlike the other travel brakes?

• How often should the brake of the steering gear brake motor be inspected and maintained?

  Inspect and maintain the brake of the steering gear brake motor every 4000 operating hours.

  Related: How often should the fixing screws of the steering gear brake motor be checked for tightness? · How often should the trim geared brake motor be lubricated, and the trim gear oil changed? · What should be checked when inspecting hydraulic pumps and hydraulic hoses? · What does maintaining mobile crane travel systems involve?

• How often should the steering gear be checked for leakage on a rubber tyred gantry crane?

  Check the steering gear for leakage every 4000 operating hours.

  Related: What generic lubricant classifications are specified for the steering gear unit and wheel hub gear oils on a rubber tyred gantry crane? · How often should the bearing housing, vertical axle, pivot axle, steering cylinder and arm, ball head, and pinion bearing be greased on a 16-wheel rubber tyred gantry crane? · How often should the oil of the cable reel gear be changed, on a zero-emission rubber tyred gantry crane? · How often should the vent plug of the trolley gear be cleaned on a rubber tyred gantry crane?

• How often should the oil level of the steering gear be checked?

  Check the oil level of the steering gear every 4000 operating hours.

  Related: What leads the transmission oil pan level to rise automatically on a machine with a hydraulic working pump driven off the transmission, and what is the remedy? · What should be checked when inspecting hydraulic pumps and hydraulic hoses? · How often should the brake of the steering gear brake motor be inspected and maintained? · How often should the oil of the steering gear be changed?

• How often should the oil of the steering gear be changed?

  Change the oil of the steering gear every 4000 operating hours.

  Related: How often should oil be changed in the driven axle assembly, wheel hub planetary gear drive, interaxle differential and wheel bearing on a 16-wheel gantry crane? · How often should the oil of the cable reel gear be changed, on a zero-emission rubber tyred gantry crane? · How often should the oil of the driven axle assembly, wheel hub planetary gear drive, interaxle differential and wheel bearing be changed on the recurring schedule, for a 16-wheel crane? · How often should the oil of the hoist gear be changed?

• How often should the fixing screws of the steering gear brake motor be checked for tightness?

  Check the fixing screws of the steering gear brake motor for tightness at least once a year.

  Related: How often should the fixing bolts of the mechanical and electrical joints of the gantry brake motor be checked for tightness? · How often should the sensors for trim turning be checked, and the fixing screws of the trim device checked for tightness? · How often should the fixing screws for the connection between the hoist gear and drum be checked for tightness? · How often should the fixing screws of the cardan shaft of the trolley gear be checked for tightness?

• How often should the wheel nuts tightening torque be checked on a rubber tyred gantry crane?

  Check the wheel nuts tightening torque every 500 operating hours.

  Related: When must the frame joint bolts of a rubber tyred gantry crane always be checked for tightness and condition, and what is the tightening torque? · What engine maintenance items are scheduled every 1000 operating hours on a rubber tyred gantry crane? · How often should oil be changed in the driven and non-driven wheel hubs of a rubber tyred gantry crane? · How often should the bearing housing, vertical axle, pivot axle, steering cylinder and arm, ball head, and pinion bearing be greased on a 16-wheel rubber tyred gantry crane?

• How often should the condition of the outer shell of the wheel rim be checked?

  Check the condition of the outer shell of the wheel rim at least once a year.

  Related: What does maintaining wheel rim spacer band condition involve? · Why is it risky to stretch a filter or oil change past its scheduled interval? · How often should the load cells of the spreader be calibrated, and under what other condition should this also be done? · What does maintaining rim clamps and wedges involve?

• Why is the air gap of the steering brake not periodically readjusted, unlike the other travel brakes?

  On the steering brake, the air gap (nominal plus 0.1 mm) does not need to be readjusted.

  Related: When towing a disabled vehicle, which wheels should be lifted off the ground? · What are the permissible levelness and inclination tolerances for gantry travel rails on a quayside container crane? · What should be checked when inspecting steering and wheels? · What should be checked when inspecting hydraulic pumps and hydraulic hoses?

• How soon after a wheel change should the mounting nuts be retightened, and what can cause abnormal tyre wear?

  The mounting nuts of changed wheels must be retightened after 4-5 hours of operation. Abnormal tyre wear can be caused by a fault, such as brakes that operate unevenly; repair any such faults immediately.

  Related: When should the wheel nuts of a driven axle be checked and retightened with a torque wrench, after a tyre change? · When should wheel nuts be re-torqued after fitting a new wheel? · What is the routine maintenance schedule for a rigid planetary drive axle with wet disc brakes? · What should be checked when inspecting control system and lubrication?

• What are the alert thresholds of the tyre pressure monitoring system's first and second stage low-pressure alerts?

  The tyre pressure monitoring system's first stage low-pressure alert triggers at 12.5% pressure loss from the initial pressure recorded at installation, giving an audible beep and flashing the tyre location on the display until corrected or muted. The second stage low-pressure alert triggers at 25% pressure loss from the initial installation pressure, also with an audible beep, and continues until the pressure is corrected if not muted.

  Related: What does the DEF warning lamp sequence mean, from first warning to engine shutdown? · What are the limitations of the tyre pressure monitoring system that the operator should be aware of? · What should be checked when inspecting transmission and solenoid? · What should be checked when inspecting hydraulic pumps and control system?

• What are the limitations of the tyre pressure monitoring system that the operator should be aware of?

  The tyre pressure monitoring system does not prevent low tyre pressure; it only alerts of low tyre pressure. It does not prevent tyre or wheel overload, which is extremely dangerous and can cause failure of suspension components, not just tyres. Tyres can fail for other reasons besides low pressure or overloading, so the operator should remain alert for other tyre problems indicated by unusual noises, vibration, uneven tread wear, or bulges on the tyre.

  Related: What should be checked when inspecting daily visual inspection of pneumatic tires and rims? · Stability Triangle Redefined: Lateral Center of Gravity, Outrigger Geometry, and Anti-Tip Behavior in Side-Loaders · What should be checked when inspecting transmission and lubrication? · What are the alert thresholds of the tyre pressure monitoring system's first and second stage low-pressure alerts?

• What tyre pressure is specified for the drive and non-drive axles of a rubber tyred gantry crane?

  The specified tyre pressure is 10 bar (145 psi) for both the drive axle and the non-drive axle.

  Related: What safety precautions apply to tyre pressure before handling wheels on a rubber tyred gantry crane? · How often should the bearing housing, vertical axle, pivot axle, steering cylinder and arm, ball head, and pinion bearing be greased on a 16-wheel rubber tyred gantry crane? · What tyre pressure behaviour is considered normal on a rubber tyred gantry crane? · What load cell and slack rope sensor options exist on higher-capacity rubber tyred gantry cranes?

• When should the wheel nuts of a driven axle be checked and retightened with a torque wrench, after a tyre change?

  After a tyre change, check and tighten the wheel nuts with a torque wrench after 50 km and again after 200 km.

  Related: How soon after a wheel change should the mounting nuts be retightened, and what can cause abnormal tyre wear? · What should be checked when inspecting wheel nut torque verification? · When should wheel nuts be re-torqued after fitting a new wheel? · What are the possible causes of a long braking distance, axle noise, and oil leakage on a rigid drive axle, and their solutions?

• What are the maximum admitted loads per axle on a mobile harbour crane's undercarriage?

  The maximum admitted load for each axle is 60,000 kg dynamic (up to 5 km/h travel speed) or 80,000 kg static.

  Related: How do you maintain load control strategies in mobile lifting operations to prevent failure? · What does maintaining load chart interpretation and application in mobile crane operations involve? · What does maintaining principles of counterweight optimization in mobile lifting systems involve? · Why does a mobile harbour crane's winch reduce speed and use limit switches near the end of its lifting/lowering travel, and what is the safety margin when lowering?

• What are the tyre inflation pressure and wheel bolt torque specifications for a mobile harbour crane, and when should the bolt torque be checked?

  Tyres shall be inflated at 10 atm. Wheel bolt torque should be checked to 650 Nm; the first check should be carried out one month after the start of the contractual guarantee period, and following checks carried out every year.

  Related: When should wheel nuts be re-torqued after fitting a new wheel? · How do you maintain integrity management of MHC tower structures to prevent failure? · What should be checked when inspecting health monitoring of MHC uppercarriage frames? · What should be checked when inspecting turbocharger and fuel system?

Steering Priority Valve

• Why does the steering system always get hydraulic priority over other functions?

  Between the hydraulic oil pump and the steering valve sits a priority valve, which gives priority to oil supply reaching the steering valve before any other function — load handling included.

  In practice, this means the steering system always has pressure available first; only the flow left over after steering's needs are met is available to the control valve for lift and extension.

  The steering wheel acts on the steering valve via the steering wheel shaft, which in turn directs the oil pressure to the steering cylinder.

  HIT Srl supplies the priority valve for this class of steering system.

  Field note — HIT Srl, Reggio Emilia (Italy). Last updated: August 2026.

  Related: What happens to boom controls when the overload protection system activates? · What does maintaining hydraulic priority valve function involve? · What should be checked when inspecting control system and lubrication? · Why does steer axle kingpin and bearing wear occur on this equipment?

• What safety precautions apply to tyre pressure before handling wheels on a rubber tyred gantry crane?

  The machine must not be able to move during maintenance: before lifting and changing the wheels, always place wheel chocks in front of the jack and the machine wheels. Always deflate the tyres to 1 bar or less before handling them. Components of a wheel under pressure can be thrown off when the wheel is handled. Do not deflate a tyre through the valve if the tyre or rim is damaged. A damaged tyre can explode. Never stand directly in front of a tyre being inflated or deflated. Wheel components can be thrown off when the tyre pressure changes. Never install damaged tyres or rims, and never repair rims by welding. The machine must not be used if any tyre is deflated.

  Related: Where should you stand when inflating or deflating a large tire? · What does maintaining wheel rim valve stem protection involve? · What must never be done to repair a damaged wheel rim? · What does maintaining multi-piece rim lock ring seating involve?

Looking for step-by-step procedures? See Steering & Steer Axle Procedures.