Ram assist install, ram position ????

uglyjeepoffroad

uglyjeepoffroad

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Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Hickory, NC
After stripping the steering box input this past weekend I guess I should go ahead and install the drilled and tapped box I have. I am going to add a ram assist at the same time and was thinking of doing something a little different. There is a lot of room under my winch mount and I was thinking of running the ram from the passenger side framerail to the top of the pitman arm. I understand that this will transfer the stresses to the rod ends on my steering, but other than that, any reason I shouldn't? I am running heavy wall tie rod and draglink and 3/4 rod ends on all steering links. I was looking at a ram with swivel end mounts that could mount right to the top of the pitman arm with the 3/4 bolt running through the ram, through the pitman arm, and through the draglink rod end. I have a cross brace on the steering box, and a 3/8" plate box mount.
Am I reinventing the wheel? Should I just mount it on the axle and be done with it? I like the idea of tucking it up high and the lines being protected, but I don't want to cause stupid issues.
 
It sounds like that will add a lot of stress on the pitman arm and steering box/gear. I would mount to the axle and maybe fab up a small skid plate to cover it. I've seen some axle trusses that have protection for the ram.
 
These 2 rigs have ran a similar setup for years. They are slightly different but run the ram to the pitman arm. I also this that @jeepinmatt ran a similar setup on this TJ.

awww.pirate4x4.com_forum_attachments_general_4x4_discussion_71ef73282e9ed2d2ccb177625be43ac4e5.jpg

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/15180213-post197.html

awww.pirate4x4.com_forum_attachments_general_4x4_discussion_755d6f29fb7c9e16624abdb7c13c21f41b.jpg

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/16047881-post279.html
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
These 2 rigs have ran a similar setup for years. They are slightly different but run the ram to the pitman arm. I also this that @jeepinmatt ran a similar setup on this TJ.

View attachment 154322
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/16047881-post279.html
Click to expand...
That IFS/TTB setup in the second picture is approximately crazy! And I don't see the purpose of the bends in the tie rod being so big.

However, my setup was very simply and commonplace, I just executed it different from everyone else. The ram was mounted to the axle, and connected to the tie rod, but it was all tucked up and away, and everything (track bar, tie rod, drag link, and ram) was set level to the ground and parallel to each other, and the tie rod and track bar were the same length.

As for mounting the ram to the frame and the pitman arm, its not a bad idea IF your steering is beefy enough to handle it. The only time there would be any added stress would be if the travel of the ram is greater than the travel of the box. Having the ram on the axle takes some of the jacking effect off of steering input if your draglink is not parallel to the ground, so that is a nice touch.
 
I would mount it on the axle. I'm not sure but I think you would be putting a lot of force on the frame and possibly cause the steering box to prematurely fail/leak
 
jeepinmatt said:
That IFS/TTB setup in the second picture is approximately crazy! And I don't see the purpose of the bends in the tie rod being so big.
Click to expand...

It's so they don't hit the frame on stuff/at lock/etc. The bends look big right now because the tires are pointing straight ahead.
 
Just going to put it on the axle and not reinvent the wheel. I have a passenger hi steer arm and flat top knuckle to go on at the same time so I can ditch the dropped pitman arm and run the drag link over the springs. Then flip my tie rod and tie the ram in.
 
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