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Hydro assist w/ hydroboost?

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mil_act02

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Caldwell,TX
Is it possible to install hydro assist steering on a Fullsize Jimmy with hrdro boost steering box. I have heard that you need a 2wd steering box because you can clock the pitman arm at different positions. If is possible where could I find info and parts required to do it.
 
mil_act02 said:
Is it possible to install hydro assist steering on a Fullsize Jimmy with hrdro boost steering box. I have heard that you need a 2wd steering box because you can clock the pitman arm at different positions. If is possible where could I find info and parts required to do it.
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The 2wd box is for crossover which I would recommend before you go to Hydro Assist. But you can do assist with out the 2wd box but i would not recommend it.

Dik
 
You really need crossover before hydro assist, I've probably explained why half a dozen times before (you can find those with the search feature ;)).

Hydro assist with hydroboost may or may not work. You would likely need to have your hydroboost unit ported (by a company called Vanco IIRC, ~$300) or add a second power steering pump. Otherwise you may find that you can't brake and steer at the same time. Searching will find you many answers to this too.
 
I've been curious about that too. I have crossover steering and hydroboost brakes. I've been thinking and reading about hydro assist. I haven't read any success stories about running them together. I think it will need a high flow pump. I read a few articles about porting out the pump outlet. It's supposed to get you higher flow. I'm not sure how true that is as the pump is a positive displacement pump. Those have a fixed displacement per revolution. So if the flow is not going over the relief valve you are getting the maximum flow already.

unless I'm missing something....:doah:
 
kitimatdude said:
I've been curious about that too. I have crossover steering and hydroboost brakes. I've been thinking and reading about hydro assist. I haven't read any success stories about running them together. I think it will need a high flow pump. I read a few articles about porting out the pump outlet. It's supposed to get you higher flow. I'm not sure how true that is as the pump is a positive displacement pump. Those have a fixed displacement per revolution. So if the flow is not going over the relief valve you are getting the maximum flow already.

unless I'm missing something....:doah:
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I think the hydroboost unit still makes a bottleneck in the system unless it is ported.
 
i talked with a company that makes high volume pumps. After several conversations about what i was trying to do we came to the conclusion that it would take two of their pumps to run both. They are not cheap either. talking about 300-400 dollars per pump. then you have to buy fittings and hoses and whatever else. i would ditch the hydroboost in favor of the hydro assist steering. normal brakes will work just fine.
 
I'm running a completely stock PS pump (only one!), hydroboost and a 1.5" hydro assist cylinder. I haven't had a situation yet where it was a problem to have both. On a big truck with big tires, you aren't going to be swerving quickly around something while applying the brakes, and thats the only situation where there is really a loss of assist to either unit. My steering works just fine going through the hydroboost unit.
 
I agree with the both of you but who can really count of not doing both at the same time. I'm not going to take the chance of burning up the pump in a bad situation and possibly hurting myself or someone else. Just cause something works doesnt make it safe. Think about this. Why would people mod the pump for more pressure to use it with only hydro assist? Even then it still burns up the pump sometimes. When you add in the second factor (hydroboost), its requires even more work out of your pump when braking and steering at the same time

Bottom line here is, yes it can be done on one pump. Does it give you a good feeling though about your safety. I know it doesnt for me.
 
thedrip said:
I'm running a completely stock PS pump (only one!), hydroboost and a 1.5" hydro assist cylinder. I haven't had a situation yet where it was a problem to have both. On a big truck with big tires, you aren't going to be swerving quickly around something while applying the brakes, and thats the only situation where there is really a loss of assist to either unit. My steering works just fine going through the hydroboost unit.
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I'm with drip on this. I don't know about most of you but I don't hold my brakes when I turn. I'm running a stock 6.2 pump with the flow mods done (find it on westtexasoffroad). This give you a little more flow and somewhat faster response, depending on your size ram. Think about it, hydroboost is factory installed along with your factory steering pump. They were designed to work together. All you're doing when you tap in hydro assist is borrowing fluid volume, hence the added res or cooler for hydro assist. Everything else still works the same. The failure problems usually occur when the box isn't tapped correctly or you change the steering pump to flow at a really high pressure. just my .02
 
I never answered the question about using both:doah:. I run 1 pump that has been modded for flow and pressure with the WTO instructions and I run a 1.75" ram and have not had any issues with braking and steering and I drive mine on the street.

I do not however drive it like a sports car but like the large obese pig that it is. I also recommend not trying to whip into any spots in the parking lot as that can turn into a real adventure:doah:

Dik
 
From the research I've done here and on Pirate, it seems to be about 50/50 as to whether or not you can get away with 1 pump running hydroboost & assist.

Personally I plan to run 2 pumps because I don't want to make all the mods only to find it doesn't work well and I need to scramble and come up with a solution.

If you are running it all on one pump you definitely need a good cooler.
 
thedrip said:
I'm running a completely stock PS pump (only one!), hydroboost and a 1.5" hydro assist cylinder. I haven't had a situation yet where it was a problem to have both. On a big truck with big tires, you aren't going to be swerving quickly around something while applying the brakes, and thats the only situation where there is really a loss of assist to either unit. My steering works just fine going through the hydroboost unit.
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Did you have the steering box tapped for hydro assist? Do you have crossover steering? Do you have any pics? Any info is appreciated.
 
I used a tapped end cap replacement from JKW (I think, been a while), then drilled & tapped my own top cap. I had a local hydraulic house make up two 48" lines for me, and picked up a couple adapter fittings from there as well to make the lines work. I run a FSJ pitman arm on a 2wd box, and a Sky Manufacturing crossover arm. I got the ram from Surplus Center. In hindsight, I would have gotten the ram with the two orbital eye mounts instead of pin mounts. I have just realized I really don't have a good picture of the steering, this is about the clearest one I can find, and it's all just trial fitted.

motorin2.jpg



mil_act02 said:
Did you have the steering box tapped for hydro assist? Do you have crossover steering? Do you have any pics? Any info is appreciated.
Click to expand...
 
sandawgk5 said:
Here is the post that I did when I installed mine.

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193290&highlight=hydro

Dik
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So is everything still working good? How does it do on the trail with tires aired down?

Right now that's when I have trouble turning is with the tires aired down. That's also when I'd be concerned about having one pump for the entire system.

One more thing about hydroboost with assist; the other reason I want to run 2 pumps is because I've had my pump fail on the trail once. It was not fun coming back down with no steering or brakes. Of course this was a trail where you climb going up so coming back down was all downhill. :eek:
 
mrk5 said:
So is everything still working good? How does it do on the trail with tires aired down?

Right now that's when I have trouble turning is with the tires aired down. That's also when I'd be concerned about having one pump for the entire system.

One more thing about hydroboost with assist; the other reason I want to run 2 pumps is because I've had my pump fail on the trail once. It was not fun coming back down with no steering or brakes. Of course this was a trail where you climb going up so coming back down was all downhill. :eek:
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It worked fine while aired down. I was on dirt and sand mostly out in the desert no rock but it worked good. No leaks or anything and it still works good on the road also. The only time I have issues is when I try to whip into a parking spot between two other cars, so I do not do that anymore.


Dik
 
ThaMule said:
I agree with the both of you but who can really count of not doing both at the same time. I'm not going to take the chance of burning up the pump in a bad situation and possibly hurting myself or someone else. Just cause something works doesnt make it safe. Think about this. Why would people mod the pump for more pressure to use it with only hydro assist? Even then it still burns up the pump sometimes. When you add in the second factor (hydroboost), its requires even more work out of your pump when braking and steering at the same time

Bottom line here is, yes it can be done on one pump. Does it give you a good feeling though about your safety. I know it doesnt for me.
Click to expand...

I find this comment about safety kind of funny as I look at the truck in your signature that appears to have 40" tires and stock 6-lug axles (and brakes)...

Anyway, I have hydroboost brakes with hydroassist steering. Stock pump with flow mods and a 1.5" cylinder. I've played with it and can easily turn the tires (39.5x15 swampers) lock to lock while sitting still with the brake crammed on. The brakes are setup to have first priority, so if the pump is overloaded it will always supply the brakes first and neglect the steering. And at higher speeds on the road you should still be able to turn the wheel fine.
 
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