DirtRidinz71
1/2 ton status
I just did a hydro assist on my 92 GMC 1500 with a ford dana 60 swapped under it and 38" boggers.
I'm using the stock Saginaw pump and box. I drilled and tapped the box the same as in the tech area here: Pirate4x4.Com - Extreme Four Wheel Drive
Using a 1-1/2"x8" cylinder, that I had to cut the fixed end off and rotate so that the fittings pointed up. I had the ram fully extended to keep the inner seals away from the heat of rewelding.
The hydraulic lines are 1/4" diameter
I also have a 4"x12" cooler that I have laying on the front bumper to keep it lower then the reservoir but its still close to being level with the center of the pump.
The reservoir is extended around 5" with a piece of rad hose and a top cut off of an old steering pump I had.
I hooked everything up and have tried bleeding it for hours with trying all different ways of doing it and it is still not working. The factory power steering is working as without the ram attached on one end the steering is easy, attach the ram and it feels stiffer. Raising the rpm does not seem to help and it never feels like the ram is helping with the steering but yet at full lock you can see it pushing out on the tie rod so it is getting decent pressure then.
The whole time the ram has been extending on its own after turning to the left to retract it. It only does this with the end unhooked and with it hooked up there is not enough pressure pushing it out to move the tires. Here is a video showing what it is doing, I just have the ram mounted on the bottom of the tab so it is easier to see in the video.
I'm at a loss, is it still air in the system? Or the seals in the ram allowing the pressure to leak by? The pump not having enough pressure? I did take the parts out of the old junk pump I had to do the "redneck ram mods" to it but haven't installed it yet.
Thanks for any help or directions to go with next.
I'm using the stock Saginaw pump and box. I drilled and tapped the box the same as in the tech area here: Pirate4x4.Com - Extreme Four Wheel Drive

Using a 1-1/2"x8" cylinder, that I had to cut the fixed end off and rotate so that the fittings pointed up. I had the ram fully extended to keep the inner seals away from the heat of rewelding.

The hydraulic lines are 1/4" diameter
I also have a 4"x12" cooler that I have laying on the front bumper to keep it lower then the reservoir but its still close to being level with the center of the pump.

The reservoir is extended around 5" with a piece of rad hose and a top cut off of an old steering pump I had.

I hooked everything up and have tried bleeding it for hours with trying all different ways of doing it and it is still not working. The factory power steering is working as without the ram attached on one end the steering is easy, attach the ram and it feels stiffer. Raising the rpm does not seem to help and it never feels like the ram is helping with the steering but yet at full lock you can see it pushing out on the tie rod so it is getting decent pressure then.
The whole time the ram has been extending on its own after turning to the left to retract it. It only does this with the end unhooked and with it hooked up there is not enough pressure pushing it out to move the tires. Here is a video showing what it is doing, I just have the ram mounted on the bottom of the tab so it is easier to see in the video.

I'm at a loss, is it still air in the system? Or the seals in the ram allowing the pressure to leak by? The pump not having enough pressure? I did take the parts out of the old junk pump I had to do the "redneck ram mods" to it but haven't installed it yet.
Thanks for any help or directions to go with next.