Full hydro or no?

wheelNC94GC

wheelNC94GC

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 19, 2007
Location
Chesnee SC
I've got the oportunity to get the orbital, ram, lines, etc. for a really good deal. I was planning on doing assist, the reason full hydro scares me is because I am running a 3 link panhard and if that trackbar were to break and I was running full hydro the front end would just fall over. My thoughts are that my drag link will be a good back up if the tracbar were to ever fail. Anyone have any thoughts or opinions? No it will not be driven on the street.
 
If your panhard bar breaks, you're in for a wild ride no matter what kind of steering you have.

But like your sig says.. "If you have to ask, you're not ready" :flipoff2:
 
either way, if you brake the trackbar your not going to be able to steer or move the vehicle. You have a better chance of acutally turning the wheels with the full hyrdo since is it attached to the axle. The drag link will just push the axle/vehicle left to right when you turn the wheel, if the trackbar is unbolted/broke. Try it for yourself....
 
Well I realize that you would be able to steer better with full hydro if the trackbar breaks. I guess I was wanting to get an opinion from you guys. You think I would be better off with assist or full hydro if the tracbar were to break?

Thanks for the help rich
 
I would only go full hydro as a last resort. I've had the motor die a couple times on the trail and it was not easy steering it without power steering while being towed off the trail. Now imagine that same dead motor situation with full hydro. Without the power steering pump turning you've got no steering at all, which changes the extraction from annoying to hellish. I'm not saying that full hydro doesn't have it's place, because it does, but I wouldn't go with it just because it's available. You're better off going hydro assist unless you're trying to turn some really huge tires.
 
Roughshod said:
I would only go full hydro as a last resort. I've had the motor die a couple times on the trail and it was not easy steering it without power steering while being towed off the trail. Now imagine that same dead motor situation with full hydro. Without the power steering pump turning you've got no steering at all, which changes the extraction from annoying to hellish. I'm not saying that full hydro doesn't have it's place, because it does, but I wouldn't go with it just because it's available. You're better off going hydro assist unless you're trying to turn some really huge tires.
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I've been a part of 2 extractions of non-running vehicles with full hydro last year and what you described just wasn't the case. It's more difficult, but not impossible. I'm guessing you're not full hydro?

To the OP - You're welcome. Seriously, the type of steering you run because of the possibility of part of your 3-link failing is ridiculous. If ANY one of those 3 links break, you're dead in the water, right there, right then.
 
if your that scared of the engine dieing& having no steering then set up a dead engine steering system with a small 12volt pump & tank
 
Rich said:
To the OP - You're welcome. Seriously, the type of steering you run because of the possibility of part of your 3-link failing is ridiculous. If ANY one of those 3 links break, you're dead in the water, right there, right then.
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I'm not worried about any of the 3 links breaking...I'm talking about the trackbar...reason I think there is a possibility of it breaking is because I've seen a number of them break on zj's during trail rides. I realize that if any of those links break I'm SOL. I am running a 38" tsl/sx.
 
wheelNC94GC said:
I'm not worried about any of the 3 links breaking...I'm talking about the trackbar...reason I think there is a possibility of it breaking is because I've seen a number of them break on zj's during trail rides.
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Whatever.. your panhard is a link. you know what I meant...
 
Roughshod said:
I would only go full hydro as a last resort. I've had the motor die a couple times on the trail and it was not easy steering it without power steering while being towed off the trail. Now imagine that same dead motor situation with full hydro. Without the power steering pump turning you've got no steering at all, which changes the extraction from annoying to hellish. I'm not saying that full hydro doesn't have it's place, because it does, but I wouldn't go with it just because it's available. You're better off going hydro assist unless you're trying to turn some really huge tires.
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thats incorrect, the orbitial is designed to retain fluid within the motor when fluid pressure is lost. its a safety feature that was made manditory back in 1981 by the char-lyn company. you will be able to control the steering incase of an emergency, say your engine dies, you break a belt, or burst a hydro line. gives you the chance to get out the way and stop safely. its just hard as hell to steer.
 
I agree...you can still turn a full hydro system even when the rig is turned off. I've decided I'm just going to go with assist. That way if the trackbar were to break for some crazy reason....my draglink would hold the front end together untill I can fix it vs. the trackbar breaking and having the entire front end fall over on itself.
 
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