I have been looking over posts on hydraulic steering and also pics of them. I have a question that I have not seen or heard covered. Can you mount the ram backwards like have the adjustable end the opposite way or does it have to mounted only one way? If you do that do the lines have to be swaped around or does it matter? All the pics I have seen the adjustable end is on the drivers side so can you have it on the passengers side? Any if would be appreciated.

Thanks Jason

Mount it however you want, swap the hoses to make it actuate the correct way.

Thanks for the info thats what I thought but hey you never know right until you ask.:beer:

Yes you can have the ram part facing either way.

As long as it is mounted properly..

you can mount it any way you want - driver's side or passenger's side.

you can even mount the fixed end on the axle and the moving ram on the wheel(thats the usual way) or the fixed end on the wheel and the moving ram on the axle.

everything goes as long as you connect the pressure hoses the right way.

safe steering

frog:smokin:

Okay guys I have most of it figured out now one more question. How do you know where to mount the ram to the axle and the steering tie rod? In my case the adjustable end would be on the passenger side connecting to the tierod and the solid end to the axle.

Thanks Jason

Originally posted by j4x485
How do you know where to mount the ram to the axle and the steering tie rod? In my case the adjustable end would be on the passenger side connecting to the tierod and the solid end to the axle.

Thanks Jason

hey Jason,

why would you want to connect the adjustable end to the tie rod?
as far as i know, it is not the prefrable way, although many people do it.

the better way, i think, is to connect that end to the knuckle above the tie rod. my professional english is not too good but i hope you understand me. if the adjustable end is mounted on the original upper hole of the knuckle, the tie rod would then be mounted on the lower side of that same hole. all you have to do is fabricate a steel extension(is this the right word?) which will be positioned above the knuckle's hole so the tie rod is bolted to that extension through the hole and the adjustable end is bolted to the upper part of the extension.

as to your question - since the adjustable end is attached to the passenger's side, you should attach that end to the knuckle, then turn the wheel full left, open the ram to it's full travel, then close the ram just a LITTLE BIT(in order not to overload the ram in full wheel lock), and that is the point your fixed end should be.

after you did that, you should make sure you have apprx. the same travel to the right. if you do, you have the the right ram size.

anyway, you must make sure that the ram does'nt "close" in either direction or it will be overloaded.

hope i helped a bit with my broken english. :flipoff2:

frog:beer:

Originally posted by j4x485
Okay guys I have most of it figured out now one more question. How do you know where to mount the ram to the axle and the steering tie rod? In my case the adjustable end would be on the passenger side connecting to the tierod and the solid end to the axle.

Thanks Jason

You really should mount the cylinder so it does bottom-out just as the steering stops hit, then you have only one direction in which you can tear the ball joints apart. bottoming won't overload a hyd. cylinder. You will need a very strong bracket at the axle housing.

yeah try to get it bottomed at steering stops, if anything, have the steering stops hit just prior to the rams full extension/ compression

Actually they need to stop at the same time (both directions) to keep everything together, otherwise if the knuckles hit the stop, the ram can still torque the balljoints using the stop as a fulcrum, or if the ram bottoms first, the wheels can torque the balljoints using the ram as a fulcrum. It's a pita to get them dialed in, but it has to be done to make it foolproof (with full hydro). With assist only, the steering box stops would probably be enough, I guess (never messed with assist tho. )
I find it easier to limit extension than compression, plus the rod is better supported by being further in the tube (cylinder).

You're steering travel is most likley 8", and so is you're ram.

Center the wheels, pull out 4" of ram and mount it.

ericfilar@fatcity