Order Power Steering Conversion

[highrolrcustoms]

my jeep is manual steering and its no fun trying to turn the 37's with lockers....so i ordered a power steering conversion for my jeep off of ebay....includes pump, hoses, steering box, pitman arm, resivor..ect. this is my first step to hydraulic assist steering....does anyone know any local place that can drill and tap the steering box and make hoses? i can send the box to west texas offroad and they will drill and tap it for $125 and will rebuild the box, drill and tap and include hoses and ram for $500!! seems like i could build my kit cheaper. i have seen alot of people use a tractor supply ram...but dont know if i need a 6" or 8" stroke..ect..any help is appreciated.

http://westtexasoffroad.homestead.com/hydrosteering.html

http://www.tractorsupply.com/agriculture-farming-ranching/hydraulic-cylinders/hydraulic-cylinder-2-bore-x-8-stroke-1831404

[Bluegill]

Just a thought ... but if there's a way to modify your frame mount for the steering box to fit a TJ gearbox ... TJ's can bolt on a late 90's - early '00's Dodge Durango gearbox (turns 35's with ease) ... and the '98 Durango had a OEM snowplow option, the gearbox of which is already drilled & tapped from the factory.

[Bluegill]

Found this: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/dodge-durango-steering-box-yj-571945/


And this (snowplow gearbox): http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&q=cardone+277580&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&psj=1&fp=dded8f20a6bb9442

[highrolrcustoms]

Good write ups on the swap...one of my concerns with doing this swap is with my front stretch I am at my max with clearance on the front axle so not sure if the larger box would interfier
Second is that the box only uses 3 mounting holes and if I am correct the yj steering is a weak link but I deff wanna go hydraulic assist to help push tires when in the rocks. Another option is to use a astro van steering box. It uses same mounting as a yj but the arm goes 4ward so it will accomadate a larger front stretch

[Bluegill]

No worries on the 3 bolt mount, every TJ box has 3 bolts, thus the bolt on Durango upgrade - and a frame brace gives added peace of mind. :cool: I definitely see your concern about the pitman contacting the leaf spring though ... because that exact thing happened to me in the FSJ at Uwharrie ... ripped the whole box off the frame, sheared the mounting bolts like they were pencils! :icon_eek:

[1-tonmudder]

Those TSC rams work alright but I've never been a fan.They're just too big and bulky for my taste.

[Gubni]

You can drill and tap the box yourself. I run a $75 tractor supply ram on my buggy. You can get the hoses made at a few local places.

[highrolrcustoms]

i did some research and found some detailed pics on drilling and tapping the stock box, so i am pretty confident i can manage that.....next is how do i know which ram to chose....as far as stroke length. and mounting position. also do i need to run a power steering cooler???? if so where does that go in the whole set up...

does anyone know if the hydraulic shop in johnson city next to harbor freight tools does good work?

[Hokie_YJ]

i did some research and found some detailed pics on drilling and tapping the stock box, so i am pretty confident i can manage that.....next is how do i know which ram to chose....as far as stroke length. and mounting position. also do i need to run a power steering cooler???? if so where does that go in the whole set up...

does anyone know if the hydraulic shop in johnson city next to harbor freight tools does good work?

Here's the ram a lot of people use.

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=9-7258-8&catname=hydraulic

You want 1.5" bore and 8" stroke. Mount the ram so that the wheels are straight when it's in the center of it's travel.

I suggest running a cooler. It should be plumbed inline between the return side of the steering box and the resivoir.

[highrolrcustoms]

is the ram in the link a full hydro set up since both sides move? i looked at the single acting and didnt see any in the 1.5"x8.

[highrolrcustoms]

i found this kit....its a 2"x8"
http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-134349-hydraulic-assist-steering-kit.html

then i should just have to get a cooler and a line for it

[1-tonmudder]

is the ram in the link a full hydro set up since both sides move? i looked at the single acting and didnt see any in the 1.5"x8.

Thats the one I have and its single acting.IMO they make for alot neater lookin install and work just as good. I run a trans cooler from a Ford Explorer,ext res,plus the res on the stock GM pump,and a remote filter.My system will hold about a gallon of fluid and the more you have the better.I run straight hydro fluid from TSC.I wouldnt advise usin the radiator hose over the pump trick,its works for a while but in the end it will get soft and suck shut.As far as mounting are you gonna run hi-steer and/or crossover cause that will affect the mounting location.

[1-tonmudder]

i found this kit....its a 2"x8"
http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-134349-hydraulic-assist-steering-kit.html

then i should just have to get a cooler and a line for it

I never did like those w the threaded ends.I have saw those bend before.

[highrolrcustoms]

here is my steering set up... i still have to replace the link from the pitman arm to the steering knuckle because its the stock jeep and small tubing...i am going to build one out of dom tubing and have to drill out the pitman arm to accept the larger joint

looking at the ram that moves on both ends i am assuming that it will go in place of the lower tie rod? where as the single sided one..one side welds to the tie rod and other welds to the diff??? this is so confusing...:icon_eek:

[1-tonmudder]

All you need is a single and weld tabs to the tierod and housing.

[highrolrcustoms]

ok sounds good....i have been looking at different set ups and people mount the ram pointing in different directions...does it matter which way the ram pushes...most i see the ram pushes towards the passenger side

[highrolrcustoms]

here is the cooler i am looking at buying

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Derale-Performance-Power-Steering-Cooler-13200-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5adeb34309QQitemZ39028 3346697QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

[Hokie_YJ]

I'd reccomend welding your tabs to a tube clamp to put on your tie rod. That way if you need to adjust your tie rod your ram won't be all out of whack. Just weld a good size dog knot on the tube on each side of the clamp just to be sure it won't slide.

[highrolrcustoms]

like these??

[Jeep07]

I have a Surplus center 2x8" ram in the basement that was to small for my rig I'll sell. I also have a nice Aluminum reservoir that is oversized with a mount. A cheap transmission or oil cooler will work for cooling. The cooler goes on the return side of the system which isn't pressurized. A tractor hydrualic filter is a good thing to plumb in too as well. The 2x8" ram will also work for full hydro i'm pretty sure but you would need an orbital valve for that.

If you wanna do some trading on the fence I'm down :)

Wes

[Hokie_YJ]

like these??

Yep, exactly.

[Gubni]

I think you are talking about fat boys. They are good. There's one on Hanover near sams and one by Mr. Transmission also.