I just finished installing my Hydro Assist last night, and was curious about it's performance. Here's the dilemma:

I drilled and tapped the aluminum covers on my Saginaw box for the ram's lines. The Jeep is not on the ground, and the tie rod in not finished and installed, but I wanted to test the ram first anyway.

After filling the ram and PS System with fluid and turning left and right 100+ times to bleed the system, all seems fine, except the ram only operates at full left or right steering lock on the box.

Is this normal given there is NO load on the box at all?

Does the load on the box when the tires are on the ground cause more pressure to divert to the ram as you steer through the travel of the box?

Thanks in advance!

Ed

Are you saying the ram does not move until you get the wheel to full lock - then it starts moving?

Yes, then it hauls ass to lock.

Occasionally it kind of jumps a bit, maybe an inch as I am cranking the wheel, but not a smooth run through the ram's cycle while I am turning.

Ed

Yes, you need to load the ram (weight on the tires, etc). I asked the same questions when helping a friend install his. Some force on the ram made the response immediate.

I'll be installing mine in the next few days too. :beer:

Paul

Thank you! I thought that was the answer, but then again, I can rationalize away real problems too, so I thought I should ask!

Ed

may I chime-in with almost little input to add??

ok.. since the tie-rod is not connected, and the ram isn't
connected.. (is this correct?) the ram is plumbed-up..

since you ar turning the steering wheel with zero resistance,
you are creating a pocket for the fluid to travel into. (the
steering box) and only when the box fills up, will the ram
then begin to fill with fluid........ (path of least resistance
fills first, then the later)---your new ram....

I think everything is fine......

--Sherpa

The power steering box is a MECHANICAL box with hydraulic assist. Now you are adding another hydraulic (only) assist. When you turn the wheel it turns a series of gears that drive the pitman arm. If there is no resistance, the gears do all the work. Once there is resistance, the force on the steering wheel will cause a little torsion bar in the valve body to open up the hydraulic passages. This pressures up the hydro system (and your ram). Until there is resistance on the mechanical system, there will be no hydraulic flow....

Just FYI, on a Saginaw steering box, you are steering those big ass tires thru a little rod that is about 3" long and less than 1/4" Dia!! :D :D

3" long and 1/4 inch thick? Sounds like a personal problem to me!

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I will slap the rest of it together and drop if off the jackstands tonight to test the ram and see how much of a difference the mods to the pump and the ram really make.

Ed

So are you saying you made your own hydro assist box by drilling the end cap?

Caqn you please provide some pictures and details if in fact you did build your own. I have always seen the Howel or AGR drilled and taped in the side by the high pressure port.

I am confused at you drilling location:confused: School me. Thanks

Fleckster

Okay saw the post below after i was reading this one and replyed. No need to school me, i see the links.

Now question i have was why were these two threads not all in one....hmmm did someone else hit post rather than reply???

Originally posted by The Fleckster
So are you saying you made your own hydro assist box by drilling the end cap?

Caqn you please provide some pictures and details if in fact you did build your own. I have always seen the Howel or AGR drilled and taped in the side by the high pressure port.

I am confused at you drilling location:confused: School me. Thanks

Fleckster
Tons of info/write ups out there. Do a search and you too can stay up all night reading!:cool: :cool: