Hydraulic assist

guffey24

guffey24

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2006
Location
Hendersonville, NC
Just wondering what you guys were using for your Ram

I have been looking at several different rams and was just wondering what everyone else is using

I have looked at a ag ram from Tractor Supply that is

2" x 8" x 1" ends

also looked online and found several people using 1" and 1.5"

I am gonna put the lockrite in and might as well go ahead and do the Hydraulic assist at the same time

would the 2" x 8" ram be good off road or is it too much?
 
upnover said:
I use the ag style, but I like the looks of the surplus one
Click to expand...

Chip,

you have any pics showing how you mounted yours

my front Dana 60 has hy-steer arms on both sides, so the tierod is up and above the axle, and the original mounts where the tierod used to mount on the knuckles where cut off so I could use the H1 rims

just wondering where to mount the throw arm side of the cylinder

on the tierod, or on one of the holes for the hy-steer arms
 
Isn't a 2" a little big for assist?
 
guffey24 said:
Chip,
you have any pics showing how you mounted yours
my front Dana 60 has hy-steer arms on both sides, so the tierod is up and above the axle, and the original mounts where the tierod used to mount on the knuckles where cut off so I could use the H1 rims
just wondering where to mount the throw arm side of the cylinder
on the tierod, or on one of the holes for the hy-steer arms
Click to expand...

No pics but if you need I can get wife to go snap a couple.
I also have high steer arms with my tie rod behind my diff (over top of the pinion)
The fixed end of my ram is mounted to the spring plate and the movement end is attached to my tie rod.
 
Rich said:
Isn't a 2" a little big for assist?
Click to expand...


http://rockstomper.com/catalog/steering/ramassist.htm

the second one is the one I use

I see more of these out on the trail than I do any of the others. Biggest reason is econmics. Other than than that it is a bit slower responce sometimes. But I have had a couple friends go from the high dollar ram to one like I have because of busted seals and power.
 
I have both Hi-steer and X-over on mine so I had to mount it like this.
ai59.photobucket.com_albums_g305_1_tonmudder_Blazer_20pics_pics410.jpg

ai59.photobucket.com_albums_g305_1_tonmudder_Blazer_20pics_pics411.jpg
 
not to hijack or anything...but I'll buy your ram for $20 if it's up for grabs
 
Gotlabs said:
I have the ag 2x8 on mine and it works fine. I drive mine on the street quite a bit and it is fine.
Click to expand...

x2

You will also want to modify your pump for more flow.
 
i'm about to tackle this same project and was planning to use a 2x8" grizzly ram but after doing some reading and research it appears as though a 1.5" would be a much better choice for a street driven vehicle.....

another thing to keep in mind.... i thought i needed the 8" ram but after making some measurements tonight, my tie rod only has 5" of travel from full lock to full lock. i don't know if this is because of my durango box, steering arm, or what... but either way it was much less than i though so i'm having to go find a 6" stroke ram now.....

do yourself a favor and measure everything on YOUR rig before you base your setup on someone elses and find that it won't work... like i did :(

EDIT: this is the ram i am going with, if it helps... http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2007102308171618&catname=hydraulic&item=9-7258-6

this simple write-up was a good bit of help as well: http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=25303
 
Erik said:
i'm about to tackle this same project and was planning to use a 2x8" grizzly ram but after doing some reading and research it appears as though a 1.5" would be a much better choice for a street driven vehicle.....
another thing to keep in mind.... i thought i needed the 8" ram but after making some measurements tonight, my tie rod only has 5" of travel from full lock to full lock. i don't know if this is because of my durango box, steering arm, or what... but either way it was much less than i though so i'm having to go find a 6" stroke ram now.....
do yourself a favor and measure everything on YOUR rig before you base your setup on someone elses and find that it won't work... like i did :(
EDIT: this is the ram i am going with, if it helps... http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2007102308171618&catname=hydraulic&item=9-7258-6
this simple write-up was a good bit of help as well: http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=25303
Click to expand...


You are right, take your own measurements. How far your tie rod is from the center of your axle, what angle the ram is gonna run, your steering box, it all plays into the equation
 
A longer ram is ok. Shorter is not. It will only travel to the stops regardless. Being 1/4" too long will put just as much stress as 2" too long.
 
When your box hits the internal stops the fluid traveling to the ram is recycled back through the system correct? Once the box hits its stop no more fluid (pressure) will be delivered to the ram so it is only going to push/pull as far as your box will allow (ie deliver fluid).

My tie rod has very little left to right movement. Planned on running an 8" ram as well but the full 8" will not even be close to being used. I've heard of people setting the ram up wrong to where the box stops but the ram keeps pushing and ends up breaking knuckles etc. etc. Say I'm running an 8" ram but I only use 1/2 its travel or whatever the measurement may be. Once I'm at full lock thats all the ram will push.

Am I understanding this correct?
 
i wanted to add that the reason i'm going to run the 6" ram instead of the 8" wasn't only b/c of the wasted longer stroke... it was b/c the 6" stroke ram would take up less space and it also gave me an excuse to buy a 1.5" bore ram instead of settling with the 2" i had lined up....
 
SPOA87YJ said:
When your box hits the internal stops the fluid traveling to the ram is recycled back through the system correct? Once the box hits its stop no more fluid (pressure) will be delivered to the ram so it is only going to push/pull as far as your box will allow (ie deliver fluid).



YEP...
Click to expand...
 
so then when setting up the ram, you don't want the ram to be maxed out before the box maxes out, correct?

so for example, using a 6" ram with a rig that only had 5" of travel... at full lock either direction you would want the ram to have another 1/2" of travel left in each direction, correct?
 
You never really want a hyd. cylinder to max out even with internal stops I have seen the gland nuts beat to death causing contamination to fluid & shortening the life of the pump & motor

even if it is a slightly different application
 
yes, you want your ram to travel more then your steering... otherwise youll be trying to pull the ram apart

also the bigger the dia of the cylinder the more force, but the slower... a 1.5" being a somewhat happy medium... smaller dia are faster though
 
cool glad to hear i understood that right.... hopefully the confirmation i received from those posts will help others etter understand hydro assist....

-Erik <--- will be sure to bring up fluid choice in the next day or two :)
 
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