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Full Hydro or hydraulic assist?!

I have been running a Howe full hydro system for 3 years. A hand full on the road, OK to 60 mph, after that, it is difficult to drive. The ram is too strong to allow the front end geometry to self center the truck and the 2 degrees of slop in the orbital valve creates a wandering effect. On the trail and at speeds in the desert it is a joy to drive. Zero bump steer.
 
ktmoutfront said:
I have been running a Howe full hydro system for 3 years. A hand full on the road, OK to 60 mph, after that, it is difficult to drive. The ram is too strong to allow the front end geometry to self center the truck and the 2 degrees of slop in the orbital valve creates a wandering effect. On the trail and at speeds in the desert it is a joy to drive. Zero bump steer.
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Is it completly undrivable or just alot of work, also do you think a longer whell base might stabalize it.

What about some kind of pressurevalve or a slower pulley for less preasure and more road feel maybe less wondering. Just thinking out loud here if at highway speeds the pump is turning faster making more pressure and there fore more squirly.
 
Paul, I think you know my opinion... but ill tell it again anyways lol.

I havent had a whole lot of issues out of my hydro assist. Here is my setup.

2inch big chief ram from nothern tool 8 inch stroke.
stock gm pump with flow and pressure mods via redneck ram website.
2wd steering gear with the top plate tapped and a JKW offroad front cap.
extended reservior kneck for extra fluid capacity.
BG Synthetic Power Steering Fluid.

I burned up one pump by hammering it while pointed vertical for 1/2 an hour striaight. This was the same pump that I had run for 3 years prior very hard.

there is a problem with the stock gm pumps on extreeme inclines. The fluid flows back into the reservoir and starves the pump itself.

for the wheeling that we do I think Hydro assist will work just fine for you. I would be glad for you to drive my rig to see how it feels.

I have not yet had my rig not turn... Ive actually moved some pretty big rocks just by steering.

lets now break down the cost.

Hydro Assist

Lion Ram: $80 http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_48217_48217

Jkw End Cap: $50
http://jkwoffroad.com/offroadproducts.php

Hoses and Fittings:$ 80
I have a great hydro shop here in town... The last fittings I got I paid for with beer cause he wouldnt take any cash.

Drilling and tapping the top cap on your steering box: $0 , you bring the liquior and we can do it in about 10 min in my basement.

So $200 and you have hydro without finding any deals...


Full Hydro guys will have to chime in about the cost on that.
 
another issue i dont like about full hydro is the fact that if you did blow a line on the trail and didnt have a spare it would make for a hard hard extraction...if your running assist i feel you could get a plug (or bring some) and take the ram off to get it out the trail..i just like have something mechanical as backup..trail extractions cant make a trip no fun for anyone
 
twoslo4five0 said:
another issue i dont like about full hydro is the fact that if you did blow a line on the trail and didnt have a spare it would make for a hard hard extraction...if your running assist i feel you could get a plug (or bring some) and take the ram off to get it out the trail..i just like have something mechanical as backup..trail extractions cant make a trip no fun for anyone
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With most steering control (orbital) valves that we are interested in, they will supply steering even with no pressure from the pump.

That means that if you have a leaky hose you could remove the steering pump belt and make some kind of temporary repair on the hose. This would give you some steering, enough to get off the trail at least.
 
Now I know I'm a noob at this, but why dont all these people that have "pump problems", just get a good pump?

this is what I'm gonna run with my hydroboost and hydroassist...



SP-1200X-sm_MED.jpg
 
By the sound of it I'm running the same setup as gabe and have no complaints. Other then the ram getting compressed up into the oil pan (prior to front bump stops) I've had no issues. I have had the same pump for about three years now. My two cents would be go full hydro if you can get a cheap (money wise) setup. Otherwise go assist. Here's a shot of my setup
DSCF2015-1.jpg

.
 
twoslo4five0 said:
another issue i dont like about full hydro is the fact that if you did blow a line on the trail and didnt have a spare it would make for a hard hard extraction...if your running assist i feel you could get a plug (or bring some) and take the ram off to get it out the trail..i just like have something mechanical as backup..trail extractions cant make a trip no fun for anyone
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Same problem can occur with crossover, no hydro assist and no frame brace too... a friend of mine did that. Ripped the steering box off his K5 deep in the mountains/woods. Started the day with only a dent in one door, came out with every peice of sheetmetal smashed in. They had to use a winch attached to the front to pivot him around the trees. Took about 45 minutes to get in and about 8 hours to get him out.
 
kennyw said:
Same problem can occur with crossover, no hydro assist and no frame brace too... a friend of mine did that. Ripped the steering box off his K5 deep in the mountains/woods. Started the day with only a dent in one door, came out with every peice of sheetmetal smashed in. They had to use a winch attached to the front to pivot him around the trees. Took about 45 minutes to get in and about 8 hours to get him out.
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it happened to me as well but if i had a steering brace it wouldnt have happened where is a line fails thats really out of your control where a brace is something you SHOULD have
 
twoslo4five0 said:
another issue i dont like about full hydro is the fact that if you did blow a line on the trail and didnt have a spare it would make for a hard hard extraction...if your running assist i feel you could get a plug (or bring some) and take the ram off to get it out the trail..i just like have something mechanical as backup..trail extractions cant make a trip no fun for anyone
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I wondered how long before someone came up with the obvious about being able to steer the vehicle if a line broke and there was no spare to fix it.
 
4X4HIGH said:
I wondered how long before someone came up with the obvious about being able to steer the vehicle if a line broke and there was no spare to fix it.
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Thats why you have three lines made from the start, one for a spare. They cant be that much $
 
muddermilitia said:
Thats why you have three lines made from the start, one for a spare. They cant be that much $
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Unfortunately there is more than just a line that could break. How about breaking a fitting in the box, or ram perhaps that can't be repaired on the trail.
 
4X4HIGH said:
Unfortunately there is more than just a line that could break. How about breaking a fitting in the box, or ram perhaps that can't be repaired on the trail.
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I have two female fittings that just cap my hydro assist fittings just for that reason, now that won't help if one of those fittings breaks, but the likely hood of that happening are slim to none and slim died three years ago.......sorry. Worse case I would have to fill the res and pump if one of my lines or the ram breaks
Picture065.jpg
 
jk5blazer said:
I have two female fittings that just cap my hydro assist fittings just for that reason, now that won't help if one of those fittings breaks, but the likely hood of that happening are slim to none and slim died three years ago.......sorry. Worse case I would have to fill the res and pump if one of my lines or the ram breaks
Picture065.jpg
Click to expand...

You seem to have bigger issues with your steering than worrying about lines and fittings. :haha:
 
**** you're right down the road. Do you live in a subdivision over there? I'm trying to get a parttime job at that ace hardware they are building over there.
 
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