setting up hydro assist

[camcruiser13]

is it something that a first timer could do, where do you drill and tap. or should i get someone to do it for me. i got a saginaw box. thanks

 

[peesalot]

you have to disassemble box. you can ship to west texas and they will fix it up....

 

[Isotel]

seems pretty easy, if you can drill and use a tap, and rebuild a PS box

I like the way Billavista did his
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/HydroAssistTap/index.html

i dont like this way as much, but i guess it would work the same
http://www.ih8mud.com/tech/ps-ram.php

http://www.ee.nmt.edu/~offroad/tech/index.php/Hydro_Assist_on_a_Saginaw_Steering_Box

 

[bustanutley]

Its easy as pie, I did my own, bought my ram and hardware from PSC, I run the 1.75" ram and it is perfect. Hydro assist is awsome, I my steering used to get bound up now it is unstopable.

I used this website for port locations

http://www.ee.nmt.edu/~offroad/tech/index.php/Hydro_Assist_on_a_Saginaw_Steering_Box

Just make sure every thing is very clean before reassembly

 

[camcruiser13]

awesome work guys, thats perfect. thanks

 

[Poser]

Having seen the aluminum cap on a Saginaw gear fail before, and it was not modified for hydraulic assist, there is no way that I would configure my steering gear in such a manner....

 

[camcruiser13]

what would you do poser? is there a certain box i should have?

 

[72cruiser]

what would you do poser? is there a certain box i should have?

so which aluminum cap are you talking about poser?

and i'm with camcruiser here...drop some knowledge on us, ha ha


malphrus

 

[bustanutley]

Poser is talking about this method

http://www.ih8mud.com/tech/ps-ram.php

And I agree I wouldn’t dare tap into the caps, my setup doesn’t have room for it anyway.

 

[66fj40x2]

hmmm, I'm using the EMS Off-road billet front cover and a tapped top cover. I've run it for a couple years now without issue.

Is the top cover going to be an issue??

I like that I can buy a "lifetime warranty" gear box, run it til it pukes, swap the stock covers back on and exchange it.

 

[camcruiser13]

hmm i have no room to do it that way, bumper would most likley be in the way. im thinking i should just ship it out to someone, since i have no clue as to what im doing, anybody know a good place?

 

[66fj40x2]

hmm i have no room to do it that way, bumper would most likley be in the way. im thinking i should just ship it out to someone, since i have no clue as to what im doing, anybody know a good place?

It's tight. I notched the bumper a bit then added a 1/4" plate to the bottom of the bumper to protect it. Either it's well work the effort!

 

[green73]

While we are on the hydro assist steering topic. Should an inline power steering cooler be added with this? Does anyone know how an FJ60 steering pump and box will handle this? I only ask because I just ripped a spare box and pump off of an FJ60 as cores for this.

 

[CruisinGA]

While we are on the hydro assist steering topic. Should an inline power steering cooler be added with this? Does anyone know how an FJ60 steering pump and box will handle this? I only ask because I just ripped a spare box and pump off of an FJ60 as cores for this.

A big cooler is always a good idea. I run a 12x12" transmission cooler. You need a large amount of reserve fluid capacity, at least equal to the displacement of the ram. The fj60 box will not have a problem. The FJ60 pump might need to be modified for large capacity, and you might want a smaller pulley to flow more fluid. Unless you already have a FJ60 pump installed, I would go with a saginaw pump.