Hydro assist on short wheel base Jeep???

[sawblade]

I have a 2010 2 door JK that steers like a tank when the front locker is in. I’m thinking about PSC Hydro assist, but worry that it will be too twitchy on the street. Anyone out there have hydro assist on a short wheelbase Jeep? How does it do on the street? Any suggestions for slowing it down if it does get twitchy?

Thanks.

 

[bryson]

Properly set up hydro assist is just fine on the street. It can't make your steering twitchy because it doesn't adjust the ratio of your steering. Unlike full hydro, you still have the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the tires that determines the ratio.

 

[flexyfool]

I've run hydro assist on a CJ7 and a couple of early Broncos. The steering was good on the street. The ram seems to act as the ultimate steering stabilizer actually. The only issue I've found is that the ram needs to be paired with a high flow pump; otherwise, it can't keep up with fast steering input like you would do while maneuvering into a parking space for example. I'm sure the extremely high-dollar PSC kit for the JK would work great.

 

[mbryson]

I don't think I wouldn't (won't) do it. I LOVE it on my "Jeep" and assume it's saved a LOT of wear/tear on the frame and other steering components.

 

[UFAB]

Hydro assist limits your turning response time. Smaller the ram the quicker the reaction.

Some rams work against boxes and blow them apart. Proper valving and ram size are part of a package like PSC provides.

Wheel base on a 2 door JK is alot longer than a TJ.

I would unlock locker to turn. Gotta love an ARB.

 

[neagtea]

Go smaller diameter, not as much power but faster, mine with 1/34 dia. Ram is a little lazy.
Also Remember with the ram small corrections will have you going side to side so resist the urge to saw the wheel back and forth to offset the bump steer when going down the road like you would without the ram.
Although I haven't driven a lifted jk on the road so not sure how much bumps affect the steering.

 

[thenag]

Some rams work against boxes and blow them apart.

Any more info on this, I can't seem to find any. I am leery of my setup but can't find any "blown apart box" info

Nathan
http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?83436-Nathan-and-Tanja-s-99-XJ-Build-up

 

[EB101]

Hydro assist limits your turning response time. Smaller the ram the quicker the reaction.

Some rams work against boxes and blow them apart.

I'd like to hear more about this and what it means. I've heard of broken sector shafts and such but they are related to stops not set up right vs the length of throw. I love mine on my Bronco, I swapped it over from a Dana 44 to a 60 using the same 8 inch ram. One thing I noticed that caught me by surprise was that the pitman arm length really effects the combination. The 60 arm is much longer thus taking less movement in the box, which really slowed down the ram. I do agree that the matched sets are nice and mine is mostly PSC.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I've been running an old RL hydro-assist ram on my FJ40 for 7-8? years now. Zero issues other than it started weeping a bit earlier this year. I pulled the ram and had the seals swapped by a hydro shop in SLC. Running like a champ again.

 

[UFAB]

Longer pitman on a intended 6in throw d30/44 with hydro assist seems to eat boxes. Maybe thats why a 1 ton chassis steering box is bigger.

4 steering boxes we have replaced with people using 2 inch assist rams on there jeep boxes. 2 of the boxes were durango boxes. The ratio is quicker in the box and the ram slows it down even with a high PSI pump.

Steering slow is no problem. Great for rock crawling. Desert and highway speeds can vary to scary.

Oh ya. Try flat towing a jeep with hydro assist, tell me how it works?

 

[thenag]

Longer pitman on a intended 6in throw d30/44 with hydro assist seems to eat boxes.

Please clarify, it is known that d30/d44 knuckle steering arm and pitman arm are shorter. for example if you run a jeep pitman arm (short arm) with a stock-ish d60 (long knuckle arm) you have issues? Or are you saying that shorter arms have problems (you should run a long pitman arm (full size) and a full length d60 knuckle arm?)

4 steering boxes we have replaced with people using 2 inch assist rams on there jeep boxes. 2 of the boxes were durango boxes. The ratio is quicker in the box and the ram slows it down even with a high PSI pump.

I have a durango box, 2 inch ram, wj pump, and pretty much d30 pitman arm and shortened d60 hi-steer arm (to get lock to lock steering); are you saying that I should expect the box to "blow apart" at some point? and what box do you think would live longer?


*edit I have a 1.5 ram, not 2*
Thanks
Nathan

 

[Gravy]

I agree a 2" ram is way too big for assist on a street driven rig. 1.5 is plenty.
I run 1 3/8", modded pump and stock box and have no issues turning my locked front end with 40's.
the bigger the ram the slower the steering.

Flat towing any offroad rig with big tires is kinda sketchy.

 

[Bart]

I ran it on my first XJ and loved it. One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is the the return to center goes away so you need to be responsive to that.

 

[Gravy]

Return to center goes away? Not on any assist I've driven.

 

[thenag]

Return to center goes away? Not on any assist I've driven.

I ran it on my first XJ and loved it. One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is the the return to center goes away so you need to be responsive to that.

my return to center didn't really go away it is not quite as good as it used to be, before hydro assist. Honestly my rig is more twittchy on the highway due to the detriot in the rear. When I ran it in FWD to break in the front gears I damn near plopped down the $1000+ for an ARB for the rear!

Nathan

 

[Bart]

Mine was not gone,but substantially deminished. YMMV

 

[Team1k]

I went with the entire PSC 1.75 kit and its been great. I also flat tow mine. If i were doing lots of street driving i would probably go with the 1.5 ram. The 1.75 is fine when your cruising, just when idling in a parking spot or some other low RPM situation i have noticed a little delay if i try to yank the wheel one way or another. Nothing dangerous, just not like a normal vehicle. When flat towing i try to make my turns as gradual as possible to give the ram time to move and havent had any issues, just have to be more aware when making turns.

Havent had any twitchy issues with it. I am also running a detroit in the rear.