DIY hydro assist

[Spikethedog]

This has been a long term project of mine,I've researched the hell out of this mod for a while and actualy tapped the steering box early last summer when the box developed a leak at the input shaft and had it apart for a seal job, 1/4 npt is the threads i went with. I've been riding around with it all installed and working for a bit over two weeks now and so far its been really good! turns my 37''s effortlessly lock to lock on any surface no matter what, diff locked or not dont make a difference. . The ram i used is 8" stroke 1-1/2" bore purchased at princess auto. Had to modify it a little by cutting of and rewelding the mounting tube on the big end at a different angle so the hoses would point away and clear the track bar, then shortened the mounting tubes and made bushings so i could mount in in the steering damper stock location, plumbed it all in and bam works like a charm, my cost? Under 300 including the seal kit for the box

[Colibri]

Very nice! Did you have the axle to full bump at any time during the install? Just finished up my ram installation and shit got very tight with hose fittings at full bump. Looks good man

[Spikethedog]

I havent had it fully flexed yet, no way i can get it up to the bump stops in my small shop without taking the coils out but i did cyle it as much as i felt comfortable and i have no doubt everything will clear. Where the lines go into the body is the only area that could maybe hit something the ram itself is pretty much exactly the same size and is in the same location as the factory damper. I have had it out in the woods and up and over stuff without a problem just havent had it to full bump yet, soon tho and ill definitely have a look

[Colibri]

Yep, unfortunately pulling the coils is about the only practical way to check full stuff clearance. Your installation looks really clean! It's nice you were able to run it where the stock damper was. I had to run mine backwards off the diff skid and run the lines up on the underside of the engine crossmember. Made for some close tolerances lol. How's your highway steering feel?

[Reloaderguy]

For those of us who can't weld AEV is now selling the Ram 2500 kit parts. You still have to buy the box and hydraulics from PSC but this is a bolt on instead of fab.

http://www.aev-conversions.com/shop/veh ... rdware-kit

[Spikethedog]

All you get in that kit is 2 hydraulic lines and some hardware. Go to your local hydraulic supply, buy 2 4' hoses and spend a quarter of that price. Colibri do you have pics of your setup? I'm curious to see how you did it. I always like to see what others did for future ideas and stuff. Did you pieces it all yourself and what size ram you used?

[nts007]

I have the psc hydro assist. How is yours for quick steering input with the larger diameter shaft. I would assume it would be a bit slower than the box but you likely wouldn't notice it. Just curious. I'm happy with my setup too. Took a ton Of impact force on the highway that normally comes through the steering wheel

[Reloaderguy]

All you get in that kit is 2 hydraulic lines and some hardware. Go to your local hydraulic supply, buy 2 4' hoses and spend a quarter of that price. Colibri do you have pics of your setup? I'm curious to see how you did it. I always like to see what others did for future ideas and stuff. Did you pieces it all yourself and what size ram you used?

You're also get the mounting plates necessary to bolt the PSC ram to the crossover.

[Spikethedog]

I have the psc hydro assist. How is yours for quick steering input with the larger diameter shaft. I would assume it would be a bit slower than the box but you likely wouldn't notice it. Just curious. I'm happy with my setup too. Took a ton Of impact force on the highway that normally comes through the steering wheel

Its actually really good, its most noticeable on direction change as you can feel it tightens up/gets a little harder but only last a few degrees of steering rotation, not enough to affect emergency manoeuvres thats for sure. I was expecting the steering feel to be a lot lighter but theres no real difference with stock. It definitely doubles as a really good steering damper, no way a little crack in the pavement will upset hydraulics!

[nts007]

I've notice that most of the time it feels the same as a stock steering with stock tires setup. But every once In awhile it will effortlessly turn the wheels when you're braced to pull hard to get the wheels outta rut. But it always turns. Nice setup

[Spikethedog]

Yes exactly stock feel during normal driving but when you need to, it will turn the wheels no matter what, before i'd have to move the truck fwd or back a bit to fight the wheels to where i wanted them. Now they just turn. Also saves a lot of strain on the steering box and drag link

[Colibri]

I'm happy to hear all the positive feedback, I haven't gotten to drive mine with the new steering yet. I'll get you some pics of everything, I went with a TC pump and remote filtered reservoir and a mopar big box that had the internal steering stops modified for my trucks lock to lock distance and an 1-1/4" diameter (body) ram that is built to have the lock to lock stroke of my steering. Got everything from Howe Performance Steering. Had the local hydraulic shop make hoses

[Spikethedog]

That remote reservoir setup looks trick! How much more capacity does it have from stock? I might look into setting one up, more fluid volume = better heat dissipation. Been running cool so far but its been quite a bit under freezing point around here lately. Hard rock trail in mid july might be another story tho. Luckily for us our trucks comes with a decent size PS cooler from the factory.

[nts007]

Where you from spike. You sound close by

[Spikethedog]

From New-Brunswick now been living in Nova-Scotia for a bit over 10 Years

[nts007]

Ah not so close lol. I'm in Saskatchewan.

[gtomike60]

From New-Brunswick now been living in Nova-Scotia for a bit over 10 Years

I grew up just outside of Moncton,NB in Notre-Dame

[FirerescuePW]

Do you have pics or info on drilling and tapping the box?

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

[Spikethedog]

I dont have pics of when i did mine. Basically you need to have one on each side of the piston that is inside the steering box. Refer to picture below, what you want is tap into and essentially steal some hydraulic pressure from the system and send it to your ram. You need to make sure you do not drill into what we can call the cylinder wall of the box.


I can take a close up of mine tomorow if you want so you can see where i tapped into it. I have read stories of poeple doing it without taking the box apart by magnetizing their drill bits and going slow/cleaning a lot to keep steel shavings out of the system, personnaly I dont know if i would. The input shaft was leaking on mine so i had it apart to change the seals. I taped it 1/4 npt out of convenience cause its what i had but my ram uses 6 ORB which is meant for 3/8" line. Im thinking it might react a bit quicker if i where to step up my ports and hoses but i dont feel a need to mess with it more for now

[CombatWombat]

Can you please make a Picture from your Steering Box? Thank you!

You can go fast.
I can go anywhere.
Dodge Powerwagon

[Spikethedog]

If i was to do it all over again i would probably tap either on top or to the side of where the front one is as its really tight with the winch on removal and installation