Ram Assist steering with PPS steering box. (1 Viewer)

[Beach80]

Any issues with drilling and tapping a PPS steering box(progressive powers steering, the one with the solenoid) and adding a ram assist steering?

1993 HDJ81 VX Limited

Thank you

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Lol.

Nope, put the holes wherever you want. Should work fine.

 

[Beach80]

Lol.

Nope, put the holes wherever you want. Should work fine.

That was helpfull....

 

[GLTHFJ60]

That was helpfull....

Ask stupid questions....

Since you edited the post with the model, I can be helpful. I have a ported 80 box on my truck and it's perfect, but I'm not sure what you mean by solenoid. AFAIK all j8x steering boxes are the same, minus rhd/lhd variation, so yeah, you can port them.

 

[Beach80]

Ask stupid questions....

Since you edited the post with the model, I can be helpful. I have a ported 80 box on my truck and it's perfect, but I'm not sure what you mean by solenoid. AFAIK all j8x steering boxes are the same, minus rhd/lhd variation, so yeah, you can port them.

They are not all the same unfortunately. A couple models have a solenoid on them that limits flow at highway speeds making the steering stiffer. The solenoid opens up fully at low speeds. My concern is will the solenoid interfere with fluid flow to ram. I don't think it will but was hoping to find someone that has done this mod on a PPS steering box.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

They are not all the same unfortunately. A couple models have a solenoid on them that limits flow at highway speeds making the steering stiffer. The solenoid opens up fully at low speeds. My concern is will the solenoid interfere with fluid flow to ram. I don't think it will but was hoping to find someone that has done this mod on a PPS steering box.

TIL!

Do you have a part number I can look up for the steering box variants with solenoids? I need to do some research to figure out if those can be ported the same way as the j8x boxes we got in the states.

 

[Beach80]

TIL!

Do you have a part number I can look up for the steering box variants with solenoids? I need to do some research to figure out if those can be ported the same way as the j8x boxes we got in the states.

Gear box: 44110-60220
Solenoid: 44020-60010

 

[gnob]

looks like you could just delete the solenoid and move on with your life.

 

[Beach80]

Ha

looks like you could just delete the solenoid and move on with your life.

I have considered that option and install a 105 steering box

 

[cruzinfj1]

@Beach80 why would you want to keep that box if youre going with ram assist? Wouldn't that kinda defeat the purpose of the solenoid assist?

 

[Beach80]

@Beach80 why would you want to keep that box if youre going with ram assist? Wouldn't that kinda defeat the purpose of the solenoid assist?

I Agree the ram assist could defeat the purpose of the solenoid.

 

[peesalot]

No it won't, depending on how you set up the ram assist ( size of hoses/ports ) & the pump pressure & ram size all determine how fast your ram assist is. It will slow the steering down which is what the solenoid is doing by restricting volume so with the ram assist and the solenoid you could find very slow/heavy steering when that solenoid kicks in. The solenoids effect on the ram assist when not activated is simply the size of passage in the solenoid will determine ram assist ram speed.

 

[cruzinfj1]

No it won't, depending on how you set up the ram assist ( size of hoses/ports ) & the pump pressure & ram size all determine how fast your ram assist is. It will slow the steering down which is what the solenoid is doing by restricting volume so with the ram assist and the solenoid you could find very slow/heavy steering when that solenoid kicks in. The solenoids effect on the ram assist when not activated is simply the size of passage in the solenoid will determine ram assist ram speed.

So exactly what I said earlier, defeats the purpose. Glad you agree.

 

[peesalot]

slowing the steering down and using a ram to augment the force applied and where it is applied are 2 different things. But ok, merry xmas.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

slowing the steering down and using a ram to augment the force applied and where it is applied are 2 different things. But ok, merry xmas.

Well, you're diverting pressure from the box to another ram, meaning you're using the same hydraulic pressure to drive more surface area, which makes it slower. So they are two different things, but it does make steering slower, but with more force.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Gear box: 44110-60220
Solenoid: 44020-60010

Looking at the parts diagram, it looks like the solenoid is an add-on to the standard box, like a bypass valve type of thing. Hard to tell exactly, but if that's the case, I'd eliminate the solenoid and run your lines right to the box. Parts diagram looks like the ports are still there on the box body.

I assume the porting locations are the same for the rhd box as the lhd box we got here, so you should be good to go.

If you pull it out of the truck post some pics and I'll try to help more. I'm most interested in how the solenoid attaches/integrates with the steering box.

 

[Mike Shull]

What do some of you mean when you say that the steering will be slower?

 

[peesalot]

Like go into a court and whip a U turn, on standard saginaw box it goes like butter, like your moms honda, add ram assist with smaller ports/hoses and you better slow down and take yer time or you'll end up in someones yard.

 

[peesalot]

It becomes all too clear when you hit Miller Lake Rd exiting Rubithon on Sunday and your matting it in 4th low, those burmed corners are fun but when you exit you just cant get it back without slowing down. and thats on leafs, if it was on links & coils it would have to be faster , IMO, to keep up.

 

[Broski]

Especially on a 80 as it's not convenient to add a high volume pump.
Not only is it slower but harder/stiffer and don't let off the gas in a turn.
I run a 1.5" ram but the cool kids are now running a 1" ram to help eleavate the issues