Post by hootie on Jun 25, 2010 11:56:02 GMT -8
This is not intended to be an instruction posting.. just the basics to help readers decide if hydro assisted steering is something they want... or need.
Hydro Assist Steering is a way to add more power to your power steering system. It uses your stock power steering pump ( may need a little simple modification ) and your stock steering box ( will need slight modification). Hydro assist is a Legal Modification as far as I know. an Illegal modification for street use is Full Hydraulic steering.. which has no mechanical link to the front wheels.. No steering box or drag link . the full hydraulic steering is for Off Road ONLY.
The reason some of us need this modification becomes obvious when larger tires ( say 36" or larger ) and / or a locker, are added to the front of your truck. If you find that you are having a hard or impossible time turning your truck on the trails or rocks or you find that you need to speed the engine up to get enough assist out of your present steering,,, you may want to consider this upgrade.
Added to your stock system will be a hydraulic ram and the associated hoses and fittings. This modification can be done by a person who is automotively handy, but is best hired out to someone with experience for the modification to the steering box.
First will be gathering the parts you expect to need. You can buy a kit that is anywhere from complete with everything.. like the stuff from Texas Offroad. link.. westtexasoffroad.homestead.com/hydrosteering.html
or less complete kits from Trail Gear. link.. www.trail-gear.com/ram-assist-kits
or better yet on the Trail Gear method... talk to our local providers like I did.. NW Off-Road Outfitters, Darryl, in Woodland.
link. www.nw-offroad.com/
This is what we did.
Collecting the parts.. I chose a new power steering pump.. cheap ($39) Tony's Auto Parts, and a tranny cooler ( smallest I could get ) to help cool the fluids ($29). Daryl got the rest of the stuff. He is a dealer for Trail Gear.. gets the stuff at / or below Trail Gear's web prices. Plus free shipping on orders of, I think, $150 + .
He supplied the ram, hoses and fittings. I also elected to upgrade my steering drag link and tie rod at this time. ( the hydro assist has enough power to actually bend some smaller rods and ends if you turn hard and force it a bit). Went with a DOM tube and some larger tie rod ends for this part.
Next came the removal of my stock parts.
( Kyle helped me with this part of the job. )
Next I cleaned up my power steering box and Darryl's freind, Richard ( member of Our Gang 4x4 club ), did the drilling and tapping of my steering box. This is the part that requires some experience. Drilling the right area of the box is critical as well as the depth of the hole. Also tapping the threads is a critical job as the threads for my fittings are tapered and going too deep would cause it not to seal. Richard has experience with this part of the job and did it with confidence.
Next the fittings were installed into the steering box.
And this is the steering box as a completed unit.
The box was re installed in the truck.
Next was installation of the new Drag Link ( bar from the Pitman Arm on the steering box that connects to the steering knuckle at the end of the axle). and Install the Tie Rod ( bar that connects the two steering knuckles to each other so the wheels turn together,, also allows adjustment of toe in or out,,, and has a new bracket attached that will connect to the moving end of the ram,, via a hiem joint).
Now a bracket is also welded to the front differential (pumpkin) on the front axle. ( it will contain a heim joint and attach to the fixed (non moving) end of the ram).
Install the Ram to the brackets.
Then the plumbing (hoses) were connected. There is a process for this... of course the right hose has to go to the right fitting... or the box would push and the ram would pull. Also there is a process to fill the unit with fluid ( bleeding ) the hydraulic system.
Testing the system. If working properly.. should allow full uses of range of the steering and effort should be near none. If effort is required to turn the wheels.. more modification can be done. My unit required modification to the power steering pump. This allows more volume of fluid to pass through the hoses. Was a fairly simple modification that only took a few minutes. This involved removing a fitting from the back of the power steering pump and drilling its orfice to a slightly larger size. Information is available on line regarding this simple change.
westtexasoffroad.homestead.com/powersteering.html
here are pictures of the completed system. first shows the ram and connections to the tie rod.
next is another front view showing the plumbing and tie rod and drag link
And lastly a view from the back of the truck looking forward.
I am happy with the modification. on street seems pretty normal and stock feeling. maybe a little less of the factory return to center spin of the steering wheel after a turn. Driveability is good. and steering effort on the trail is now a much better experience... also less bumping of the wheel on rocks.
Any questions? feel free to ask.. or contact Northwest Off-Road Outfitters for real help. Submitted by David Huttula (hootie).
Hydro Assist Steering is a way to add more power to your power steering system. It uses your stock power steering pump ( may need a little simple modification ) and your stock steering box ( will need slight modification). Hydro assist is a Legal Modification as far as I know. an Illegal modification for street use is Full Hydraulic steering.. which has no mechanical link to the front wheels.. No steering box or drag link . the full hydraulic steering is for Off Road ONLY.
The reason some of us need this modification becomes obvious when larger tires ( say 36" or larger ) and / or a locker, are added to the front of your truck. If you find that you are having a hard or impossible time turning your truck on the trails or rocks or you find that you need to speed the engine up to get enough assist out of your present steering,,, you may want to consider this upgrade.
Added to your stock system will be a hydraulic ram and the associated hoses and fittings. This modification can be done by a person who is automotively handy, but is best hired out to someone with experience for the modification to the steering box.
First will be gathering the parts you expect to need. You can buy a kit that is anywhere from complete with everything.. like the stuff from Texas Offroad. link.. westtexasoffroad.homestead.com/hydrosteering.html
or less complete kits from Trail Gear. link.. www.trail-gear.com/ram-assist-kits
or better yet on the Trail Gear method... talk to our local providers like I did.. NW Off-Road Outfitters, Darryl, in Woodland.
link. www.nw-offroad.com/
This is what we did.
Collecting the parts.. I chose a new power steering pump.. cheap ($39) Tony's Auto Parts, and a tranny cooler ( smallest I could get ) to help cool the fluids ($29). Daryl got the rest of the stuff. He is a dealer for Trail Gear.. gets the stuff at / or below Trail Gear's web prices. Plus free shipping on orders of, I think, $150 + .
He supplied the ram, hoses and fittings. I also elected to upgrade my steering drag link and tie rod at this time. ( the hydro assist has enough power to actually bend some smaller rods and ends if you turn hard and force it a bit). Went with a DOM tube and some larger tie rod ends for this part.
Next came the removal of my stock parts.
( Kyle helped me with this part of the job. )
Next I cleaned up my power steering box and Darryl's freind, Richard ( member of Our Gang 4x4 club ), did the drilling and tapping of my steering box. This is the part that requires some experience. Drilling the right area of the box is critical as well as the depth of the hole. Also tapping the threads is a critical job as the threads for my fittings are tapered and going too deep would cause it not to seal. Richard has experience with this part of the job and did it with confidence.
Next the fittings were installed into the steering box.
And this is the steering box as a completed unit.
The box was re installed in the truck.
Next was installation of the new Drag Link ( bar from the Pitman Arm on the steering box that connects to the steering knuckle at the end of the axle). and Install the Tie Rod ( bar that connects the two steering knuckles to each other so the wheels turn together,, also allows adjustment of toe in or out,,, and has a new bracket attached that will connect to the moving end of the ram,, via a hiem joint).
Now a bracket is also welded to the front differential (pumpkin) on the front axle. ( it will contain a heim joint and attach to the fixed (non moving) end of the ram).
Install the Ram to the brackets.
Then the plumbing (hoses) were connected. There is a process for this... of course the right hose has to go to the right fitting... or the box would push and the ram would pull. Also there is a process to fill the unit with fluid ( bleeding ) the hydraulic system.
Testing the system. If working properly.. should allow full uses of range of the steering and effort should be near none. If effort is required to turn the wheels.. more modification can be done. My unit required modification to the power steering pump. This allows more volume of fluid to pass through the hoses. Was a fairly simple modification that only took a few minutes. This involved removing a fitting from the back of the power steering pump and drilling its orfice to a slightly larger size. Information is available on line regarding this simple change.
westtexasoffroad.homestead.com/powersteering.html
here are pictures of the completed system. first shows the ram and connections to the tie rod.
next is another front view showing the plumbing and tie rod and drag link
And lastly a view from the back of the truck looking forward.
I am happy with the modification. on street seems pretty normal and stock feeling. maybe a little less of the factory return to center spin of the steering wheel after a turn. Driveability is good. and steering effort on the trail is now a much better experience... also less bumping of the wheel on rocks.
Any questions? feel free to ask.. or contact Northwest Off-Road Outfitters for real help. Submitted by David Huttula (hootie).