Steering Ram

[pgilbeau]

I am looking at adding a ram assist to my steering and haven't done this before. Hooking the hoses and everything up seems easy. Is there a way to figure out what size ram I need/should? I am running full widths and am not sure what size I should use. Wild Horses sells an 8" but it is in a kit for a Bronco with EB axles.

[Digger]

Ram stroke should the same for full width or EB width. It's based on amount of throw needed to swing the knuckle lock-to-lock.

I would throw the front end on some jack stands, then turn the wheel all the way one direction, make a mark on the tie rod that you can reference to the axle housing, then turn the wheel all the way the other direction and measure how far the tie rod moved. Then buy the next longer ram.

After doing some quick Googling, 8" stroke is pretty common. Guys are running between 1.5"-2" diameter rams. 1.5" is quicker, 2" would be for trail rigs with huge meats. Some claim 1.75" is best of both.

What tire size are you running and what pump? If it were me, I would stick with 1.5"x8". I'm turning 37s okay with a Delphi 600 box and a Saginaw canned ham pump. 1.5" would give an extra bump without slowing steering response as much.

[pgilbeau]

I got the how to measure figured out and will do that soon. My current set up consists of a 4x4x2 box, AGR pump and PSC remote reservoir. I also have hydroboost brakes and 37" tires. Its fine on the street but was having some issues with not being able to turn as well as I wanted in big rocks. Just in the preliminary stages at the moment. If I thought I could do it myself I would just build a buggy frame and skin it as a Bronco.

[crawlercreations]

I ran a 2" ram before I went full hydro. It was a little slow I'm the street. I upgraded to a higher flow pump and it was better but still a little slower than I liked. Off road it was pretty good. Not quite full hydro good but pretty good. I installed a 1.5 on my uncle's bronco and it's great on the street and enough off road for a full size bronco on 37s. Her doesn't run very hard trails but it's been good on chinaman and spring creek along with the common moab trails. 1.75 would probably be perfect with your pump if you still drive on the street.

[Jesus_man]

I have a single ended Surplus center ram and a stock box tapped. I also run a junkyard astro van pump with res. Been very happy with it, but I can't find any documentation on what size I am running. I bought re-buildable connectors just in case I burst a hose in the field. They were a bit of a fight to build myself, but that is far better than being stranded somewhere.

[cw72]

I plan on running a 1.75x8 on my d60. I have a Toyota steering box that I need to figure out where to tap the holes, as well as a psc saginaw pump and remote reservoir. I do have a hydroboost system as well, but will hold off on porting it until I see how it performs as is. I do have an old fin cooler for the current system, but IΓÇÖm considering one of those heat sink styles they have now.


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[cw72]

I plan on running a 1.75x8 on my d60. I have a Toyota steering box that I need to figure out where to tap the holes, as well as a psc saginaw pump and remote reservoir. I do have a hydroboost system as well, but will hold off on porting it until I see how it performs as is. I do have an old fin cooler for the current system, but IΓÇÖm considering one of those heat sink styles they have now.

I believe 8ΓÇ¥ stroke is correct for most though. If you find itΓÇÖs too far, you can put limiters in it.


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[Jesus_man]

Cooling is important and can add capacity, which is good as well. Mine is an old tranny cooler mounted in front of the radiator.

[Justin]

I'm running a 1.5" with an 8" stroke and it's perfect. Some extra oomph without losing anything on the street. My full widths were 8" stroke on the nose, but go long if you're unsure. It's easy to de-stroke if needed.

[landshark]

If it helps I just measured my lock to lock recently on the stock Dana 44 and was 7.25ΓÇ¥ stroke but I adjusted my steering stops slightly.

[pgilbeau]

Thanks for all the good info everyone, I will be getting back on this soon hopefully. Debating on the way ahead, seems like I pretty much have everything already.

Cooling is important and can add capacity, which is good as well. Mine is an old tranny cooler mounted in front of the radiator.

I have the same thing and so far capacity has not been an issue.