I'm building a 75 CJ5/buggy. Im putting a 60 up front SOA with re 1.5" yj springs. I have been talking to one of my friends with a built buggy and he is trying to convince me to go full hydro instead of ram assist. The full hydro is cheaper too. Pros and Cons? Give me some opinions.

Thanks


Josh

Search gen 4x4.....there was a huge thread on this :beer:

Full hydro is not cheaper at all unless you know where to get parts for free. An assist only costs about $120-130 in parts/shipping/tax.

Originally posted by 66CJdean
Full hydro is not cheaper at all unless you know where to get parts for free. An assist only costs about $120-130 in parts/shipping/tax.

Couldn't it be cheaper to go full hydro if you are starting both systems from scratch?

Originally posted by LAME


Couldn't it be cheaper to go full hydro if you are starting both systems from scratch?

that's what I'm looking at right now

Hydro-assist would require me to get to a functioning hi-steer or crossover setup, and then I would have to tap my box.. and it's 30 years old already...

Or I can go full hydro, get the parts from a friend in the Ag industry, and have a simple, wheel-base-extendable steering system for the same price, or cheaper than hydro-assist.

The only appeal that hydro assist has to me, is the safety of a mechanical backup if something were to go wrong with full-hydro. But I think if the system is designed and built properly and properly maintained it will be safe and very functional.

Sorry Keith dont hang in Gen that much but I'll check it out.

Dean I am building from scratch because my CJ is manual steering. So it is cheaper.

I was just wondering on some peoples thoughts one of them being your opinion Dean because you seem to have your Shiz together and wheel heavy too. I just havent built a ground up project before and so I have some questions.

Thanks


Josh

It is still cheaper if you have manual stearing to me. You have a collumn, a stering shaft, the mounts for the box(power and manual use the same mounts) so what you would need is: pump/box/ram/2 3/8 lines 36"/and 4 90*. One other thing is you will need a better tierod something like a stock Chevy one cut to fit or make one but you will need this with full hydro also.

Having less steering parts to damage on the trail (no draglink) is a definate plus for me....

But busting your knuckle off with full hydro is a bigger bitch.

I am with Dean...

Where are you finding a combo pump, orbital valve and double ended cylinder for anything under $550?

Or did you plan on running 2 single ended rams?

Or did you plan on just having fawked up steering? :flipoff2:

Originally posted by JEEP_TJ_FREAK
I am with Dean...

Where are you finding a combo pump, orbital valve and double ended cylinder for anything under $550?

Or did you plan on running 2 single ended rams?

Or did you plan on just having fawked up steering? :flipoff2:

Call a ag junk yard. Valve, column, and steering wheel for around $150. Use a regular power steering pump, then get the cyl of your choice. You don't NEED to have the double ended ram, but it is a very nice option.

This may be far off but here it goes.....

Don't some older impalas and similiar have full hydro steering? Couldn't you use the hydro pump and ram from this? Im sure you can find one in a wrecker yard for dirt cheap.

"Don't some older impalas and similiar have full hydro steering?"

What? I've never heard of any passenger car or truck having full hydrualic steering from the factory. Maybe and old school hydraulic assist or something, but I'm pretty sure that all OEM vehicles have a mechanical link between the steering wheel and the steering knuckle.

Some old Ford pickups had a hydraulic assist ram power steering, but that system has been listed in the "Top ten things that should have never happened" I believe they groaned and puked fluid right off the showroom floor.

Originally posted by LAME
Call a ag junk yard. Valve, column, and steering wheel for around $150. Use a regular power steering pump, then get the cyl of your choice. You don't NEED to have the double ended ram, but it is a very nice option.

Well yeah I guess that could happen but I dunno about junkyard steering parts :eek: .


Is this a trail only rig or something you plan on driving on the street?

Originally posted by JEEP_TJ_FREAK


Well yeah I guess that could happen but I dunno about junkyard steering parts :eek: .


Is this a trail only rig or something you plan on driving on the street?

Why would you be worried about the valve being from the junk yard:confused:

Well something got that forklift a spot in the junkyard in the first place. :flipoff2:

I don't mess around with brakes and steering. I must say though I am much more safety minded because mine is a DD.

Its a trail rig only. The setup Charlie Copsey uses as an ag ram (single ended) and ball valve, chev steering pump hopped up a little. He runs a yellow buggy with Mog portals front and rear. He is the one hooking me up with the ball valve and the ram.

For a steering column just use some 3/4" tube and a Heim joint for a mount and a Pep Boys steering wheel with a hub kit.

Dean you really think a kingpin 60 knuckle is not going to be strong enough? I kind of afraid of my steering arms. I was going to some new ones custom built that were strong enough.

Thanks

Josh

Originally posted by Jeep Whore
Its a trail rig only. The setup Charlie Copsey uses as an ag ram (single ended) and ball valve, chev steering pump hopped up a little. He runs a yellow buggy with Mog portals front and rear. He is the one hooking me up with the ball valve and the ram.

For a steering column just use some 3/4" tube and a Heim joint for a mount and a Pep Boys steering wheel with a hub kit.

Dean you really think a kingpin 60 knuckle is not going to be strong enough? I kind of afraid of my steering arms. I was going to some new ones custom built that were strong enough.

Thanks

Josh

Oh hell yeah DO IT!!!

talk to the lakerat on this board. He can fix you up

I know of at least 2 people that have busted the knuckle off a k in pin 60 with full hydro.

Originally posted by 66CJdean
I know of at least 2 people that have busted the knuckle off a k in pin 60 with full hydro.

Was it operator/installation error? I would think so.

Couldn't a relief valve be put in-line for when PSI is too excessive when a guy is trying to force turning in a bad situation?

JEEP_TJ_FREAK, for why tractors find there way into the junkyard is usually motor related, also a 4 row combine is not worth fixing if anything major goes wrong. The steering never wears out on most tractors.

YOu are right though, I am looking at a full trail rig, not a dd:)