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Hydro ram assist shut off valve

Install shut off valve

  • Yes

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No

    Votes: 1 33.3%

  • You're crazy

    Votes: 2 66.7%

  • All the above

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    3
Chevman88

Chevman88

I don't know what I'm doing
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Has anyone installed a valve on their ram assist to turn it off for street driving? After getting mine installed the truck definitely steers easier, but almost too easy making it a little squirly at interstate speeds. Just wanted to see if I'm crazy for wanting to do this.
 
If you cut off flow you will lock up the ram. Fluid can't compress. You would need to remove the ram from the axle to be able to steer with the vlaves closed
 
ChrisPerry said:
You would have to cap both lines and disconnect the ram from the tie rod completely.
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Yeah, after drinking some morning wake up juice I realized this would not work. And definitely not worth the work to disconnect/reconnect everything to go from off-road to highway driving.
 
You could do it but it would be complicated. Could you just shut the lines off? No. You would lock the cylinder up and it wouldn't move. Even if you looped the lines on the cylinder it would bind unless you have a balanced cylinder (shaft out each end like full hydro) because each end uses a different amount of oil as it moves in and out.
 
who's kit ? call them and ask if they have a way to make the assist a little less . . . maybe some sort of restricter valve setup is possible .
 
sweetk30 said:
who's kit ? call them and ask if they have a way to make the assist a little less . . . maybe some sort of restricter valve setup is possible .
Click to expand...
I was going to suggest a bypass with a restriction for on road driving.
I have to say though mine is very good off road and on road it feels like a Cadillac.
It's smooth but stable.
If you have issues it's your alignment and making the steering stiffer is a band aid
 
I'm no hydraulics expert but I wonder if you can do a flow restrictor to make the system work a little less good and therefore be less sensitive on the road. Obviously it would lose some performance off-road also.
 
This is an adjustable one that's been on my desk at work for the last year or so. Could even plumb it in cab to make adjustments from he driver seat to turn it up offroad and down when on the highway. I'll ask my brother in law about this theory. He's a hydraulics expert and knows alot. 15469749830471024399004.jpg
 
If you restrict I would say it definitely make it less reactive I work with hydraulics on a daily basis ... just my opinion though I say you would be putting to a lot of pressure on the pump ... and you would haft to restrict both your in line and return interesting topic though .
 
Maybe put a spring inside the cylinder to create some resistance ...
 
sweetk30 said:
who's kit ? call them and ask if they have a way to make the assist a little less . . . maybe some sort of restricter valve setup is possible .
Click to expand...

lots of ideas but this would be my first call since they deal with this stuff every single work day . . . its steering and street use best make sure its 100% correct no guessing .
 
I did not realize this was going to get any more attention thanks for the ideas! I thought of something soo crazy it just might work. A remote reservoir for the ram assist. The lines going from the gearbox to the ram assist have a diverter valve in them to either pressurize the ram when turning, or send/receive fluid to/from the reservoir from the ram when you don't want it on to prevent it from locking up - just make sure you have some fluid in there initially. You could probably even use a hydraulic solenoid valve to turn it on or off from inside the cab. Prepare to be amazed by my awesome MS Paint skillz.

Hydro Assist.png
 
imiceman44 said:
I was going to suggest a bypass with a restriction for on road driving.
I have to say though mine is very good off road and on road it feels like a Cadillac.
It's smooth but stable.
If you have issues it's your alignment and making the steering stiffer is a band aid
Click to expand...

While I have no doubt that my alignment is off, it's not so much that I have to keep correcting it like there's really loose steering linkage, it's more that it is now too easy to turn. Before the ram it felt like a typical squarebody. I definitely like having the ram assist for off-road, but the ability to turn it off/down for on road (specifically interstate) would be nice too.
 
Fix your alignment.

Hydro assist works like the biggest baddest steering stabilizer you've ever had. It wont move without you giving it input. Why are you having to give it input to make it dart? Get your caster and alignment in spec and i bet your issue goes away
 
I've had two different 2wd chevys that had super light steering due to the hydroboost/pump setups they had on them. They were almost too easy to steer but they still went down the road just fine. You just had to watch that you didn't do anything drastic with the steering wheel on accident.
 
Truckman4life said:
I've had two different 2wd chevys that had super light steering due to the hydroboost/pump setups they had on them. They were almost too easy to steer but they still went down the road just fine. You just had to watch that you didn't do anything drastic with the steering wheel on accident.
Click to expand...
RSWORDS said:
Fix your alignment.

Hydro assist works like the biggest baddest steering stabilizer you've ever had. It wont move without you giving it input. Why are you having to give it input to make it dart? Get your caster and alignment in spec and i bet your issue goes away
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As I said earlier.
I also noticed that at speeds under 40mph it was a little intimidating because it was on surface streets with rough roads and I almost didn't go on the highway but decided to try anyway and it was going down the road smooth and steady.
You just learn not to saw the steering back and forth.
 
Meh, mine is touchy but you get used to it. I like driving it over my sloppy '06 3500. POS steering wheel, TREs, or something is always loose
 
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