Hydro Assist Steering Question

[1-ton]

I put a new set of Interco IROK BIS PLY tires on my truck (36/13.50/16). I also have ORD heavy duty tie rod and ends. I also have ORD cross-over (every thing has new ORD tie rod ends). Where talking Dana-60 diff here. My problem is that these tires seem to be causing too much stress on the factory power steering system because they are big and heavy tires. This is also causing my truck to handle dangerously on the road. Would I need to go to a Hydro Assist system with tires as big and heavy as the ones I got, or is my situation abnormal for the tires I got?

 

[Smokinthehippies]

I don't know if you'd "need" to, but when I added my psc hydro assist kit from ORD, made a huge difference. Huge isn't even descriptive enough. At idle on pavement I have one finger turning with 40"s. You could probably do a new pump and keep using the stock setup, but it puts so much stress on the frame still which is already prone to cracking. If you can swing the kit, you won't be sad about it later.

 

[obijuank5]

Get the tires shaved and balanced to the vehicle. 36s shouldn't necessitate hydro assist.

 

[bp71k5]

Yea, sounds like out of balance tires. I have 37's with similar ORD components and it's fine so it's at least possible. Do you have death wobble or something else going on?

 

[sweetk30]

i worked on a truck with around 18-20" lift and old worn 44" tsl and new 46" m/t claws . no hydro assist and did just fine on the street . this truck was 1 hell of a mix-n-match of parts also .

 

[1-ton]

Several people on this site have said they are running bigger tires than mine without a problem. I am just going to have to keep looking for the problem. I do have balancing beads in my tires, and they seem to work great at anything over 15 miles MPH. Thanks for the replies.

 

[sweetk30]

bias ply and more so swampers tend to have a 35-45mph window of balance problem I have found over the years .

what exactly is your symptoms ?

 

[rpcraft]

Wait til he parks it and then finds the flat spots

 

[skunked]

Should have bought radials

 

[Bent77]

We used to call them Super Shakers. Friend of mine lost one at 55 MPH, came clear of the rim

 

[1-ton]

I fixed the problem. The king spring pins had too many washers, and the spring load was too tight for the steering knuckles to turn easily and smoothly.

 

[Stephen]

That's easy to fix! And will cause some weird feeling problems.

 

[sweetk30]

yep its called memory steer . . . .

 

[1-ton]

yep its called memory steer . . . .

That is a new one I have never heard before, but that is what the my steering felt like. I have balancing beads in my "Supershakers", and they are doing pretty good for a set of heavy 36/13.50/16 Bias Ply tires...as far as not shaking too much. I also replaced my 15-year old steering stabilizer with a new one. That helped make a difference as well. Even though my truck does not handle like a Ferrari with all of the lift and tires it is as good as it is going to get for now. A set of dual shocks up front could help. Here is a new picture I took of my truck last weekend.