full hydro with hydro assist parts?

Clubbs

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2008
Location
Blounts Creek
I'm guessing this has been done before, so post up if you have done it: Can I use the factory power steering pump and gear box to make a full hydro setup on the cheap. I would think its the same as hydro assist but with no draglink. Essentially the saginaw power steering pump still pumps fluid and the gear box after modifying for pressure lines serves as the orbital valve. Sure it might be slow but there are ways to bump up the pressure on the pumps. This would be for offroad only of course. What's the draw backs here? Is there not enough pressure or would the slop in the gear box valving make it impossible to control? Thoughts anyone???

Dave
 
I thought the same, but when I disconnected my drag link, the ram only moves when the box was at full lock and binding. Kinda weird how it sends fluid to the ram, but you cannot use the box in hydro assist form. I imagine you MIGHT be able to open up some ports inside the box and make it work like you want, but not sure.
 
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Sounds like a plan to me... Would I have to add a reservoir if I keep the stock pump? Seems like I would need more fluid and some way to "seal" the stock pump's reservoir as the stock caps do not seal tight.

Sounds like I could pick up an orbital and use the rest of my parts (cooler, single ended ram) to go full hydro with a couple more hoses maybe.

Dave
 
Cut the top off of another reservoir to use as the new cap and use some hydro/radiator hose the same diameter and make the neck longer to hold more fluid.
 
that's the plan, hoping to eventually get out of the redneck engineering routine, but it works so darn well. All my stuff is built on the cheap. Its certainly not purdy
 
Plan is a single ended 8" ram from tractor supply, a trail gear orbital, and my factory pump. Not sure how much pressure or flow the pump puts out so that might be a problem. The ram bore and stroke is the same as the PSC rams. Should have 3.8 turns lock to lock. It might all get sideways or steer to slow and I'll have to switch out something but I'll be well under the $1800 price of the PSC system even if I have to do this twice.

Clubbs
 
yes trail only. stock dodge saginaw pump
 
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