Hydralic Assist Steering - What setup ya running ???

Yay!Gurrr

Yay!Gurrr

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Mar 17, 2005
Location
N. N. Raleigh, NC
I'm looking to add some steering assist, just curious as to what setups people are running?

I'm currently running a J20 box with a stock GM pump..

What stroke ram, along with what dimension pitman arm/steering arms.
What pump?
What box?
Does it work right ?
too slow to fast?
Hows it mounted ?
Do anything different ?

Thanks
-mike
 
I am running a 2"boreX8"stroke Ram
Stock CJ pump
Stock CJ box
1/4 lines
My tie rod runs over my pinion, so my ram is mounted to the top of my passenger side spring mount, and then crosses over the diff housing with just enough clearance, to a mount welded onto my tie rod.

Slow at times, but it turns when needed, where as before it wouldn't.
I need to upgrade my pump, it's tired, I would go with larger bore lines, I understand PSC recommends 5/16 or 3/8 lines.
Everything else has worked fine for less than $100 investment.
 
I think 1.75" ram was recommended for assist..

Measure your tie-rod throw in order to order the right stroke cylinder..

I'm sure you could port your existing steering box..
 
1.5" is better, but it'll still be slower on the street. You'll want to hop up the pump, too.
 
My basic guidelines.....

1.5" (36-38" tire with some on road use)will be fine with a stock pump most of the time, better with aftermarket. This is the best responding ram so if much use is road use this is what we recommend.

1.75" (38-40" tire with some on road use, or the 37/38 for offroad only)will work with stock pump, just slow. upgraded pump is recommended. Still okay on the road but may be a small amount of lag depending on pump setup. Better force for more offroad situations.

2" will work with stock pump but typically slow like Chip said. Upgraded pump highly recommended. Slow response on the street typically.

All the ram kits we supply use 3/8" line and #6 fittings.

Mike, for your setup I would recommend drilling/tapping your box, getting a good quality pump with reservoir setup, and using the 1.75" ram. We have done this many times with good results. It will give you plenty of offroad force and will be fast enough to drive on the street without any problems.

I have PSC and POS steering stuff I can price out for you if you want. Station and I have been talking quite a bit lately.

Let me know if I can help you out. (and by the way your hubs shipped yesterday as did your D60 outers.....)

Thanks
Andy
 
On my TJ Im running:
1.5"x8" ram
PSC 3 1/8" bore box tapped for hydro (I think stock is 2 3/4" bore maybe?)
Stock 99ish XJ Pitman arm
Stock TJ pump
Cylinder goes from axle to tierod

This setup has plenty of power for 36" Iroks and a detroit in the front. There are times when it is a bit slow on the street. Mainly when I turn sharp in one direction and then try to go all the way back the other way (like quick slow-speed lane changes, or parking lot stuff). Moving in one direction isn't a problem, and I drive fast enough where it should be, though I do drive quite a bit ahead of myself.
 
Thanks guys, I know I play dumb at time but I have done some homework ;) I just always like to see whats working for others..

I've been very happy with the J20 box as a simple bolt on, and I was planning to port it. I do still have the stock YJ box if needed..

Pumps - What's considered an upgraded pump?
 
jph0913 said:
Even with a hopped up box, large reservoir and a ported stock box, is a cooler needed?
Click to expand...


NO..

I run a stock box with no problems once i got all the air out of system
 
jph0913 said:
Even with a hopped up box, large reservoir and a ported stock box, is a cooler needed?
Click to expand...

I found that a cooler helped on mine, even with no hydro assist, so I'd say yes.. I just took my old one off as part of the teardown, which was a simple tube & fin, 2 row. I added a magnetic filter on the line as well. I think I had ~$40 into that setup, mounted in front of the radiator, and it helped.

I snagged the new-to-me cooler for the new setup off ebay, in the used race car stuff section.. 12x12 stacked plate for $45. Cheap insurance IMO, but you need AN adaptors and the like (not a big deal, they can be had pretty cheap) Might be overkill for an assist setup, but it there really such a thing as your PS fluid being *too* cool? (above 100*)
 
Rich said:
I added a magnetic filter on the line as well.
Click to expand...

Tell me what filter your using! I've looked for a simple (small & NOT $25) inline filter to install in the return line... based on accounts of trash/metal killing new boxes quickly. Haven't found anything that fits all the requirements... though plumbing a base w/ removable canister (providing the cans aren't $40 and small) might be the only way to go...
 
Mine was $20, and it's marketed as a "Universal transmission in-line filter"

Station's reservoir / filter setup is 1000x better, but it's no where CLOSE to $20, either.. :D
 
What stroke ram, along with what dimension pitman arm/steering arms.
2"x8" typical tractor supply ram, stock 85 Bronco pitman arm, no high steer

What pump?
Stock pump that came on the 351 in my 85 Bronco modified for increased flow

What box?
Stock 85 Bronco

Does it work right ?
Yes

too slow to fast?
It is fairly fast, and yes I drive it on the street.

Hows it mounted ?
1" thick tab welded to the diff cover, and a tractor supply joint welded to the tie rod for the other end

Do anything different ?
Nope. The ram came with the front axle, and I bought the necessary hoses and fittings and tapped the box myself. I am also using a tube and fin style tranny cooler plumbed in line for cooling. I also extended the filler neck of the pump for more fluid capacity with a piece of radiator hose.
 
Seems everyone talks about them being slow on the street. mine isn't. Really can't tell it there for some reason. Where I see mine being slow is lower RPM's on the trail. I can compensate for it usually. I really long hill climb where you need to keep momentum, and have to weave in and out of trees is where mine does not shine.

The cooler is cheap insurance. less than $30 and not have to deal with a burn pump. I can't think of a reason not to have one inline.
 
Rich said:
I added a magnetic filter on the line as well.
Click to expand...

Mag filter isn't going to do anything for any of the rubber bits that can puke out from any number of different places in the system. If you're going to do it right, you need debris filters on both sides of the pump. They only cost $20/ea. Available at damn-near any industrial supply house.

And yeah, you definitely want a cooler. You can get by without one for a while... but why try?
 
saf-t scissors said:
Mag filter isn't going to do anything for any of the rubber bits that can puke out from any number of different places in the system. If you're going to do it right, you need debris filters on both sides of the pump. They only cost $20/ea. Available at damn-near any industrial supply house.
Click to expand...

It's hard enough to put a too-small reservoir and suction-side filter in the engine bay of a rig, let alone a high-pressure side filter too.

Where are yours mounted?
 
Rich said:
Where are yours mounted?
Click to expand...

:lol: Ouch! :lol:

I assumed that "mag" filters were a regular particulate filter PLUS a magnet to help trap the ferous bits... since WIX lists their Magnetic Tranny filter as 25micron nominal... too large to actually do any good? (still clueless about micron ratings...)
 
25 is pretty small, i was running a 35mircon 'pre filter' for my e2000 electric pump (thats on par with the in tank sock) So 25 should be pretty good..

and all you web wheelers settle down !!!
 
Caver Dave said:
:lol: Ouch! :lol:
I assumed that "mag" filters were a regular particulate filter PLUS a magnet to help trap the ferous bits... since WIX lists their Magnetic Tranny filter as 25micron nominal... too large to actually do any good? (still clueless about micron ratings...)
Click to expand...

I dunno, maybe it has a real filter in it, I just ASSumed it was magnetic only.

By the way, I wasn't taking a stab at him, I was also assuming he had those filters on his steering since he knew about them.

PSfilter_jpg.jpg
 
37's welded 60 front:
Ran my new PSC heavy duty box with ram ports, heavy duty pump with external filter/res. and a small 10" cooler. surplus city 1"x 8" ram welded to the top of my pumpkin pushing poison spyder tre high steer arms.
It worked very well at the farm this past weekend. never got hot and turned very easily everywhere. street wise unlocked front its turns nicely. It does not have as much feel/firmness as the old AGR stuff but it not slow either.
the 1" ram has 8" of throw but only uses about 5" in the location its in. I was wonder how it would act in a full deadhead lock but have had no problems, its just strong enough to give assistant but not massive enough to break stuff.
in my application the 1" ram would be limited to a 37, anything larger I would use a 1.5".
 
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