I have recently put hydro assit on my yj . I taped the stock box and am runnung the stock pump with a 1.5 bore and 8" stroke ram. My question is the ram only works when the steering is turned all the way or when the tire is up against something. Is this how it is supposed to operate or should the ram work at all times?

It'll work when there's resistance. Connect it.

Paul

it is connected. That is why I am asking the question

The ram is connected to the axle? Most of the time this question comes up, people connect the hose, and then try and cycle the ram without connecting it to the axle. The ram doesn't get fluid until the box bypasses (at lock or under pressure).

If you've got it all hooked up, how do you know it's not working?

Paul

My question is the ram only works when the steering is turned all the way or when the tire is up against something. Is this how it is supposed to operate or should the ram work at all times?[/QUOTE]

I would think this means he has it connected to the axle. I don't know what you're problem could be but I'm watching the thread to see if someone else does. Getting ready to do mine tomorrow!!!!!!

Mine does the same thing. When the steering wheel is turned locked the ram pushes the tires just a nudge more that the draglink can. I too thought something was wrong.

I modded my power steering pump recently and still do not have the 1 finger turning ability I have read about.

I never wheeled my Jeep before the hydro assist was put on, but in comparison to my K30 that was (Welded) up front, the steering is 100x better.

From what I have read, assist does not work until there is resistance in your steering system. If you can pull your rig up to a curb and move it over with the tires, then I would say it is working.

the steering feels just like it did with the power steering except for when the wheel is up against something or turned all the way one way or the other it wants to push a little more than the drag link does. I have always heard with the ram I wouldnt feel any resistance at all and would be able to drive with a finger but it doesnt feel that way so I was asking if this was normal.

That's odd, my hydro assist works great turning my 42s and it works good all the time, not only when it feels resistance.

I'm thinking that something is wrong with your box, did you rebuild it completely when you tapped it for hydroassist? IMO just removing the sector shaft and drilling the holes is not enough, because you can't get all the shavings out and they will block fluid passage ways. Also, perhaps your box is not assembled right.

This doens't fully answer your question, but it sounds like your having 2 seperate issues. When you say that your ram pushes more than the draglink, it sounds like your ram has more throw than your box does. Mines the same way (stock yj box, 8" stroke ram), run your steering stops out to cure that problem.

With the other problem, I got nothing.

On mine when i first installed it. When the truck is up in the air and the drag link is disconnected; the only time the tires would turn was at full lock. The biggest thing is to bleed the system a ton, but after I bled it, everything worked great. and I definately had one finger steering. Make sure you have plenty of fluid also, otherwise your only going to get intermittent power, its best to have a resivoir, because you can fill your regular PS tank and when you turn the wheel its going to suck all that up, and then you need to add more, but when you turn back its probably going to overflow. Biggest thing is to bleed the system throughly and get a resivoir.

Hope that helps.