hydro assist woes

[pennsylvaniaboy]

So since i added my hydro assist and new motor i have been having troubles with the steering in my rig.

i running an aggie ram and tapped box with a boosted factory pump. doing the WTO flow mods..only did at bit more to them. my problem is that it turns for crap and has no pressure below 2-2500 rpms. so any suggestions on how to fix this? Its a lifetime pump form auto parts store so do i need to turn it in and get a new one?

 

[cegusman]

Try a new pump. Make sure all the air is bleed out of the system. Took me a few hours to do that.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

A good working pump is worth way more than a ported/modded used one.

As mentioned, make sure all the air is out of the system.

But, if there's no air, it's probably the pump.

I modded the pump (as per the articles that claim the mods to be safe with the stock steering box etc.) that was in my truck, it worked ok (hydro assist, locked front, 42's). Eventually I felt the steering wasn't as good as it could be so I warrantied the pump. I put the modified valve setup into the new pump and instantly blew all of the seals out of the steering box.

The good, new stock pump is IME much better than the modified used one.

 

[pennsylvaniaboy]

A good working pump is worth way more than a ported/modded used one.

As mentioned, make sure all the air is out of the system.

But, if there's no air, it's probably the pump.

I modded the pump (as per the articles that claim the mods to be safe with the stock steering box etc.) that was in my truck, it worked ok (hydro assist, locked front, 42's). Eventually I felt the steering wasn't as good as it could be so I warrantied the pump. I put the modified valve setup into the new pump and instantly blew all of the seals out of the steering box.

The good, new stock pump is IME much better than the modified used one.

what method are u guys using to bleed the system?

 

[sawzall]

I recently ran into a jeep on the trail who said that instead of modding the pump, he just put a smaller pulley on it so that it would spin faster. has anyone ever had any experience with this?

 

[kgblazerfive]

What size ram ?

 

[sawzall]

Not sure if that question was to me or not but the jeep was running a D60 so i'm assuming 8" stroke, not sure on bore.

 

[miniwally]

I recently ran into a jeep on the trail who said that instead of modding the pump, he just put a smaller pulley on it so that it would spin faster. has anyone ever had any experience with this?

I have been running a smaller pulley and modded flow valve on the buggy for years.

It had a TC pump on it so not quite apples to apples but still close.

The pulley size is mainly just to speed the pump up and increase flow and pressure at lower engine RPM.

When changing pulley size you have to be careful not to over speed the pump and cause problems at high engine RPM.

 

[Fred_M1010]

what method are u guys using to bleed the system?

I just slowly turned the steering wheel back and forth a few times with the wheels in the air.
First with the engine off, then with the engine turned on.
I had the filler cap of, and watched the level and added a little oil at a time.

I don't think it took me more than 10 minutes, but maybe I just got lucky...

I think it sounds more like your pump has given in.
Did you do any mods to it?
And is it the same pump you have used before?

 

[sawzall]

I have been running a smaller pulley and modded flow valve on the buggy for years.

It had a TC pump on it so not quite apples to apples but still close.

The pulley size is mainly just to speed the pump up and increase flow and pressure at lower engine RPM.

When changing pulley size you have to be careful not to over speed the pump and cause problems at high engine RPM.

So where can you get these different sized pulleys at?

 

[kgblazerfive]

The size of the bore matters a bigger bore is going to move slower

 

[miniwally]

So where can you get these different sized pulleys at?

PSC has pulleys. I don't know the sizes but I know they sell some different stuff.

My original setup was a Howe system and I have switched over to PSC as the parts are just as good and the cost is lower.

 

[mnstrburbon]

So where can you get these different sized pulleys at?

I got one at pick a part look at car ones for some reason they had smaller pulleys rent the tool from the local auto parts store and remove just the pulley. Measure the stock one so you know the one you get is smaller.