Hydro assist ??

skyhighZJ

skyhighZJ

Gov retirement < needs to live
Joined
May 31, 2012
Location
Aberdeen, NC.
Have a 97 XJ on 91 Ford tons. Read up and did my homework on the cheap hydro assist as I'm ballin on a budget. Bought a new steering gear box and drilled and tapped it according to numerous different forums and it worked out too easy. Using a surplus center ram (8inch stroke). Did the "Texas" mod to a new factory pump (drilled the high pressure output orffice and added the #4 machine washer to the backside of the regulator spring). Steers and drives awesome but if I turn it hard lock it seems like the ram wants to "jump" or give it an extra boost at the end of the stroke in either direction. Any experience/advice would be much appreciated as this is my first go with anything hydro steering relayed.
 
skyhighZJ said:
Have a 97 XJ on 91 Ford tons. Read up and did my homework on the cheap hydro assist as I'm ballin on a budget. Bought a new steering gear box and drilled and tapped it according to numerous different forums and it worked out too easy. Using a surplus center ram (8inch stroke). Did the "Texas" mod to a new factory pump (drilled the high pressure output orffice and added the #4 machine washer to the backside of the regulator spring). Steers and drives awesome but if I turn it hard lock it seems like the ram wants to "jump" or give it an extra boost at the end of the stroke in either direction. Any experience/advice would be much appreciated as this is my first go with anything hydro steering relayed.
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Probably need to limit the ram. It's likely over extending, it'll eventually break a knuckle or something. There should be instructions on limiting it online. Another option would be to use longer hi steer arms if you're using them, but that may open a whole nother can of worms because of changing steering angles and clearances.

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@Tim C i had my friend turn the wheel while I watched the steering cycle. It comes right to the stops at the same time it surges. Seems to be right on the money for steering throw left and right and not wanting to push beyond the physical limits of he knuckle stops. Should I try taking the washer/spaced out to limit the pressure of the pump and just rely on flow?
 
skyhighZJ said:
@Tim C i had my friend turn the wheel while I watched the steering cycle. It comes right to the stops at the same time it surges. Seems to be right on the money for steering throw left and right and not wanting to push beyond the physical limits of he knuckle stops.
Click to expand...
If the axle has the removable stops (a bolt and jam nut) not the cast in solid stop try removing it just to double check it really sounds like to much ram throw. Maybe check for any thing binding too. That's all I've got, LOL. I took the stops off my knuckles and just let the ram limit it, it doesn't jump. My dad's bronco does jump slightly, I've been meaning to grind his 96 d60s cast in stops down.

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@Tim C i have a long weekend and a fridge of beer so the work will commence tomorrow (if the rain takes a break! Thanks for the advice and I will report back on the outcome.
 
So I looked at it again this morning and the ram limits out and I can still see a wee bit of light in between the stops. However, I'm going to have to change my inner axle shafts to something with better clearance in the yoke (outter are cromo, inners are stock) as they are binding at full lock
 
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