Full hydro (1 Viewer)

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Jan 29, 2007
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Looking at going full hydro on my cruiser.

Its a SPOA Leafy.

How does one mount the steering ram when the springs are in the way and im using highsteer arms.

Cheers all
 
You would have to mount the ram up high if you were going to use the hy-steer arms. I am building a Hydro Assist setup, I am not sure of the exact process for full Hydro. It would NOT seem to me that you would use the same standard steering arms with full Hydraulic steering. I really don't know! I'd think that you would want something that is double sheared. Or built in some other way to except all the forces in two mounting points rather than four as with a standard setup.
All this despite the fact that a full Hydraulic steering ram should be much stronger than even a total hydro assist system.................................Or am I mistaken here??

Maybe a burly tie rod could be used? Or two rods, one on each end of the ram in the clevises. This would mount the ram in the center as if it were part of a single whole tie rod? We are talking about the same process of turning the wheels minus the steering box, drag link, and two joints. All of those components, especialy the rod ends help spread the load.
Either way your ram would need to be mounted high and away from the axle to line up with the knuckles. With some tuff bracketing to support all of it's forces. All this (mounting the ram away from the axle) in order to get the ram delivering it's forces in equal alignment with the knuckles.

Plumbing it all right, and getting all the valving and such correct would be more of an issue in my mind. This project would seem to me to be case specific to get it working happy.
 
Cheers fellas.

This is the setup in question


DSC02296.JPG
 
Great photos Tapage!!! Thanks that's exactly what I was trying to describe. I would think it best built like in your photos. The top design seems to be better protected.
 
This might be a bit amateur of a question, but by running full hydro do you eliminate the need for a tie-rod? I would love to full hydro my 80, but I still street it and don't think it would be a good idea b/c of that reason (also think it would be illegal).
 
If you look at the photos posted you can see that the ram is in the center of the tie rod. The tie rod is cut in two and the ram is in the middle, then mounted securely to the axle. Did you mean the drag link as in from the steering box to the passenger side wheel? That isn't there, as there is no steering box. I would doubt that a full hydraulic steering would be legal. You may get away with it, but it is a serious modification that is not dot approved. Technically here in utah I don't think even an soa is legal, as it isn't a dot approved modification. You get away with it because they dont ask during inspection. I have never gotten my cruiser to pass legit, always had help cheating.
 
Cheers fellas.

This is the setup in question


DSC02296.JPG



Single Sided Ram would be a nice easy way to do it. either off from the housing to the Tie Rod, or to the Spot where your Drag Link Used to connect..,

If you want a double ended, your just looking at more fab work..
IMO there is nothing wrong with having the steering below the leafs, if your hitting a rock with your steering, your Axle is going to catch anyway.

BTW your set up is all backwards ;) :cheers:

Why do you want Full Vs Hydro Assist?
 
ill give hydro assist a go, but i fear its going to respond a bit too slow.

I drive fast alot of the time
 
ill give hydro assist a go, but i fear its going to respond a bit too slow.

I drive fast alot of the time

I'm not sure which pump came on the 70 series trucks, but why not consider a ps pump upgrade along with hydro assist? You could get more flow that way so the steering isn't slow.
 
Anyone here have experiences with hydro assist and factory Toyota PS pumps .. 80 series pumps .. ?

Coz the 60 series pump or at least mine in my 2H have the pressure but not the flow ..
 
ill give hydro assist a go, but i fear its going to respond a bit too slow.

I drive fast alot of the time

I drive my cruiser VERY fast (50mph+ on single track, rocky, dirt roads) and hydro assist made a huge difference in handling at thos speeds. the steering is not slow at rpm, and only slightly slower at idle.

I absolutely love the hydro assist
 
Anyone here have experiences with hydro assist and factory Toyota PS pumps .. 80 series pumps .. ?

Coz the 60 series pump or at least mine in my 2H have the pressure but not the flow ..

i am running HA on an 80 series box and pump. so far it works well, i added an additional finned cooler to the setup.
 
i welded the mount for the stationary end of my ram to the top of the chunk and the other end to the back of the tie-bar (i have hi steer)....if you do it make sure the ram is the same distance from the tie-bar on both ends, i screwed that up the first time.....also my single ended ram full-hydro sucks at high speed, it feels completely uncontrolable over about 35 mph it turns the wheels so fast
 
i welded the mount for the stationary end of my ram to the top of the chunk and the other end to the back of the tie-bar (i have hi steer)....if you do it make sure the ram is the same distance from the tie-bar on both ends, i screwed that up the first time.....also my single ended ram full-hydro sucks at high speed, it feels completely uncontrolable over about 35 mph it turns the wheels so fast

Yeah easy as on the setup, it will just replace my current steering dampener.

What do you meen by completely sucks at high speed?

Its still directly relative to steering wheel rotation is it not?

its just alot lighter?

I drive at about 70kmph alot on the gravel and 110 onroad
 
it turns SO fast that if i get going too fast on dirt it's really hard not to overcompensate and start fishtailing....i think that part of it is that my orbital valve flows at a higher rate or volume or whatever than would be ideal.....i have heard that double ended rams are much more street friendly
 
yeah i agree that the speed of turning is all in the valve.....but i think the double ended one has a couple of features that makes it friendlier for higher speed/street driving- a return to center feel that you don't get with the single ended ram and has the same number of steering wheel turns for full right and full left
 

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