Question About Hydro Assist? (update)

[MAXMAN]

If you are going to run hydro-assist with hydro-boost there are some issues with the booster that need to be addressed. If you want to do it right, contact Vanco Power Brake Supply. They can sell you a modified ready to install booster, or I believe that they will rebuild and modify yours. They can explain what the differences are and how they effect braking and assist when you call.

 

[ChrisPerry]

Run 2 ps pumps, problem solved

 

[1-ton]

Do you have a single belt or 2 on the pump?
With hydroboost you need 2

My truck has a 2-groove power steering pulley. One goes to the water pump, and the other would go over the A/C compressor pulley if my truck had an A/C compressor, but right now it does not. I might buy a new compressor and install it, but not connect the power to it, just so I can run the second belt over the power steering pump pulley.

 

[K85 Octane]

I'm sure you can find an old one from a member here. No need for a new one.

 

[1-ton]

I'm sure you can find an old one from a member here. No need for a new one.

I would probably just get a new or reman one because I want one that I know has a good pulley bearing. Shipping a used one of those A4 compressors could cost as much as buying a new or reman one.

 

[imiceman44]

My truck has a 2-groove power steering pulley. One goes to the water pump, and the other would go over the A/C compressor pulley if my truck had an A/C compressor, but right now it does not. I might buy a new compressor and install it, but not connect the power to it, just so I can run the second belt over the power steering pump pulley.

Yeah I had the same and when my a/c compressor seized I removed it and had squealing so yeah I had to put another compressor and the belt

 

[6.2Blazer]

My truck has a 2-groove power steering pulley. One goes to the water pump, and the other would go over the A/C compressor pulley if my truck had an A/C compressor, but right now it does not. I might buy a new compressor and install it, but not connect the power to it, just so I can run the second belt over the power steering pump pulley.

You can run two belts over the p/s and back to the crank pulley, they just have to be different sizes...assuming the pulleys are different diameters. As I mentioned in a previous post this is what I do. My '90 originally had A/C which I deleted years ago. The two grooves on the p/s pump are different diameters, and the two corresponding grooves on the crank pulley are correspondingly different. Just had to spend some time measuring the difference and then buy two belts of different lengths. Started with using a new stock length p/s pump belt that was properly tensioned and then measured the distance using the other set of pulleys and bought the correct length secondary belt so both have similar tension on them. Probably did this 10 years ago and have never had a problem. Can't remember right off hand the two lengths as I haven't had to mess with it for years, but have spares in the toolbox of each size.

 

[Stephen]

hydro assist will drop demand on the pump. You get more force at the axle for a given amount of pump pressure. Another way to look at it is that if it takes X amount of torque to turn the tires, you can generate that torque with less pump pressure with the assist cylinder. It's not a free lunch, like several have said, you can fight speed since the pump has to flow enough to full the box and the cylinder. With a 1.5" cylinder it's typically not a big problem, especially with a high flow box and pump system.

All that said, you probably should not have problems with 37"-ish tires and street driving. Take it offroad and especially aired down, you will need assist but you should be able to make it work on the street without a cylinder. As long as you have reasonable wheel width and backspace and tire width.

 

[1-ton]

I found an article on increasing flow on the stock saginaw steering pumps. It says to enlarge the pump flow piston port to 5/32". The 1-ton trucks like I have are already supposed to be 5/32", but as many steering pumps as my old truck has been through...who knows what it may have for a flow piston port diameter.

 

[Fordum]

I'm in turkey season, so my thought processes are suspect, but lots of trucks over the years had the pulley system designed for air conditioning, but were sold without it.
To keep from having to use different belts for the two, and to keep the geometry right, they came with idler pulleys that mounted where the AC compressor did. Don't know if your model ever had that, but there are a lot of others out there with extra idler pulleys and arms. Might be cheaper, lighter, and better bearing to adapt one of them.
Certainly easier long term to replace a worn idler pulley bearing than find another used compressor.