hydro boost

[ih4ever]

i purchased an 85 military truck that came with a hydro boost for the brakes, i saw that it also connected to the steering pump. do you think think i could also use that boost for hydro assist steering? or would it over load my system? i plan on running the trucks dana 60 in my scout along with 42's... with a locker up front

thanks

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by ih4ever

do you think i could also use that boost for hydro assist steering?

You can use it along with, but it doesn't and can't control steering. The steering and brakes are powered by the pump that's thier only link.
Maybe I'm not understanding your question.

[JeffHPK5]

Yeah Tinker , I think your missing it a little. What he wants to do is use the one pump to run both hydra-boost and a "redneck ram" style hydro-assist. I think it might have been worded a little strange. Just port your steering box whip up some line and and your there! I've done a little bit with the search feature and seems to be a nice set-up.

Jeff

[ih4ever]

but do you think i might be stressing the system out by running all those different setups? i have heard of people doing it, i just dont know how well they perform, im trying to go as cheap as possible while still having a good setup that i dont have to worry about, if i find it wont work then i will just have to go with a real hydro assist...

[JeffHPK5]

I am actualy at the same point in my build up, and I did some searching over at K5 and was told by many that it works very good.

As for going with a "real" hydro-assist it does not matter, your still going to have a single pump feeding both the brakes and the steering, or where you going to have a two pump system?

My parts I have compiled are
88 1 ton Hydroboost
AGR pump
AGR 2wd box
AGR ram

All nice AGR parts but it's not much better than a GM pump/box combo and a Tractor Supply hyd. cylinder.

Jeff

[ih4ever]

thanks, for the info, a friend of mine bought a PSC box and ram and cost him some outragious amount of money. to much for me to spend especially when i have a hydro boost that does the same things...

i was thinking about doing a two pump system just to be on the safe side of things, incase the single wasnt enough to power my steering.

would you recommend me buying wht you got or really going to a tractor supply and buying a hydro cyln. there?

[JeffHPK5]

If you where to read the PSC or ARG spec. sheet I'm sure that there pumps put out more volume and there boxes are new and all the port work is done but its a lot cash. The AGR and PSC rams are nice and compact with heim ends and all but I have over $500 in AGR stuff in my list!

I will have $600+ in my system when I'm done and It could have been done much cheaper. Like

port stock box:free
1.5"x8" cyl : $80
hyd lines $40
stock pump: free

Is the difference between a $125 system and $625 system that large to make the money spent worthwhile , I don't know.

I would go with the home brew pump/box combo and a PSC/AGR ram if I where to do it again.

Before you go the two pump route I would try one, the only way to figure out if it will work is give it a shot.

I bet some hyd genius can use some formula but that's over my head.

Jeff

[ih4ever]

i guess im going to have to go check out my local hydro store... sounds doable and i dont mind gettin dirtty to save a little money

[VancoPBS]

They hydroboost has a significant chance of starving the ram assist. The best thing to do is try it, if you find your steering is not up to par the hydroboost can be hi-flowed. I charge 280.00 to hi-flow and rebuild it. The hi-flowing allows 3 times the amount of fluid through the hydroboost. It's not the pump being stressed, or needing two pumps, it's the hydroboost starving the ram.

[JeffHPK5]

I guess that in the stock hydroboost system it will always starve the steering in favor of the brakes, is this a built in safety feature?

Jeff

[ih4ever]

good question, sounds logical to me... i would believe so, wether or not gm designed it to do that on purpose is another question.

[tiny2085]

Let's look at it like this. In a factory hydroboost setup the pump moves Z amounts of fluid at X amounts of pressure. In a hydroboost/hyrdoassist setup the pump would move Y amounts of fluid at X amounts of pressure. It would still pump at the same pressure, but would just move more fluid.

[VancoPBS]

Originally Posted by JeffHPK5

I guess that in the stock hydroboost system it will always starve the steering in favor of the brakes, is this a built in safety feature?

Jeff

No, this isn't the case.

The gearbox needs pressure, not flow. The hydroboost never took any pressure away from the steering, so the steering is never affected. However, rams use a lot of flow. A hydroboost was never designed for ram. So it was never made to work with it. It's not a design flaw and the brakes never take importance in Bendix's designed, it was just never part of the design. That's where we come in. We allow all the flow rams need. Bendix could easily have done this if they ever envisioned this type of steering system that needs so much flow ever being used.

[72Chev4X4]

I have to say that Van couldn't have been a nicer guy...I needed some help with a hydro install I just did he was an absolute savior!!!!!!

I would just have to say be sure to do your homework before you dig in because I "thought" I knew all the pieces that I had and I didn't...After calling Van twice he helped educate me on what I had, what I needed, and how to make sure it was working correctly!!!!

My advice is to not under estimate the difficulties the lack of planning and research can make...it will make your life extremely frustrating!!!!!!!!!

Know EXACTLY what you have, what you need, and what your goals are going to be with the system your building...also be sure all the components you are going to use are in "great" not "good" but "great" shape and will be up to the task because thinking that your done only to find out your PS pump isn't up to it really blows, besides the fact that your rig is down!!!!!!!! If you need to upgrade something do it before not after. Since once you get it together your guessing where the weak link is!!!!!!!!! Hope that helps!!!!

[Biorick78]

I run a hydro boost set up on my brakes on my monster truck that also has full hydralic steering with twin cylinders that all runs off the stock sterring pump you will have to get non foaming hydrarlic fliud (jack oil) and depending on the size of your set up you mite have to make a bigger tank on your pump for extra fluid

[ih4ever]

yeah, never do anything to your truck unless you have all the research down to a science, you never know what little things could play a big part in completing your agenda... i did a soa on my scout and i had to make sure i had everything, and i mean everything planned out to do it right, the same was when i installed my klune and np205, i had to make sure i knew what i was doing and to make sure i knew what i was getting myself into... i think im going to go with the hydro pump with the steering, now i just need to dig up a little info and off i go...

[Biorick78]

I Gess I Should Have Also Mentioned That The Truck Ways Over 8ooo Pounds Has A 454 And 46" Turf And Fields That Is Regesterd And Drives On The Street (not As Offen As I Would Like) And This Set Up Works Verry Well So Well That I Am Building A Off Road Only Truck (1 Year In The Makeing) And Im Use The Same Set Up On That Truck. Do Some Resurch For Your Applicaton But I Am Sure It Will Work For You!