Power steering for the Deuce?

[m-35tom]

Question

The Ait assist on the M35a3 really dosent cut it. Is there a kit to upgrade to hydralic steering? Any idea who makes it?

Thanks Brad

don't know how i missed this post, but yes there is. see website below or look in classifieds.

 

[BradBMI]

Thanks for the reply. Just what I was looking for

Thanks!

 

[Pineknot]

just fyi on steering boxes $450.00 plus a $75.00 core

http://www.heavytruckparts.net/sear...rtID=5510&ManufMake=TRW/ROSS&Model=any&page=8

 

[jesusgatos]

There might be another option. Over on pirate we've been discussing the possibility of using something like a traditional power-steering box to operate a hydraulic cylinder (master) that would be connected with hydraulic 'steering linkage' to another hydraulic cylinder (slave) mounted on the axle. This would be a closed-loop system, completely independent of the power-side of the hydraulics. The primary advantage would be that if it works, you'd get something close to the benefits of mechanical steering linkage - without the linkage.

 

[Pineknot]

For dot regs have to have a mechanical connection and the power steering box HF54043 you can add a hydraulic assist cyl to axle

 

[Heath_h49008]

The hydro legality/safety has been beat to death..even just in this thread.

That drag link can be made from 2 tie rods and a link as well and be legal. (as well as adjustable)

Jesusgatos, love the engineering, but I think you're taking the long way around for no real benefit on the steering. But I'll still watch the build and rip off the idea if it's a good one!

I still need to find a pump/gear/etc, and reservoir. Box is sourced.

 

[m-35tom]

pump, gear and mount in stock

 

[jesusgatos]

For dot regs have to have a mechanical connection and the power steering box HF54043 you can add a hydraulic assist cyl to axle

Hydraulic assist with mechanical linkage is great if that meets your needs, but the stock steering linkage doesn't work for me, for reasons that I explained earlier in this thread (and others).

Jesusgatos, love the engineering, but I think you're taking the long way around for no real benefit on the steering. But I'll still watch the build and rip off the idea if it's a good one!

I still need to find a pump/gear/etc, and reservoir. Box is sourced.

Oh, but there are potential benefits! By maintaining something like mechanical linkage, but using hydraulics, we would effectively eliminate the 'wandering center' problem that we get with orbital valves and we'd get feedback too (depending on how we build/tune the system). And over-think things? Me? Naw...

 

[mudguppy]

however, this would not apply any power assist.

...or are you only looking to eliminate the drag link?

 

[jesusgatos]

Oh, well yeah, I'd use that in conjunction with hydro-assist. In my case, I'd still use that 3" double-ended steering cylinder I got from PSC. Think we've figured out a pretty slick way to do this, but the guy I've been talking to about it is building a new Ultra4 racecar and has asked me not to share too many details until they debut their new car.

 

[Heath_h49008]

I was toying with the thought of a ram and an orbital valve timed to the steering gear and run off a spur gear/chain/other linkage. Stock gearbox in place, but the ram would take the load as long as it was functional.

I decided the HF54 was cheaper and less complicated...

 

[jesusgatos]

If I'm understanding you correctly, that's basically how a Sweet servo works. Spliced into the steering shaft and opens/closes hydraulic ports. Cheap/easy way to add hydro-assist to a vehicle with a manual steering box, and there are lots of other uses for them too.

 

[steve6x6x6]

After the 2013 trail rides having the steering wheel taking from my hands twice and receiving a bad steering wheel burn on my right hand, rounding up the items i need to convert my M35A3 to the HF54 power steering. I will post pic's and info. as i go.

 

[gringeltaube]

Hey Steve, guess you forgot to mention that that happened to you even while having the original A3-air-assisted system operating normally...

G.

 

[steve6x6x6]

The air-assiste system offered no hold back at all. I have gathered a lot of info. on your steering setup and looking for the HF542996 / PN#54050 / LN8000

 

[jatonka]

Gringeltaube's power steering is the nicest I've seen, and he did it way long time ago. But, if the air-o-matic is truly functioning correctly, you would have to be doing something insane at high speed to get a steering wheel whiplash in off road conditions. I don't sell these items or work for the company, but I have been using many of them at work for years and have no regrets. JT out

 

[steve6x6x6]

My left tire locked up on something and the steering wheel spun so fast it burned my hand, bad.

 

[patracy]

Might I add my $0.02?

After seeing the failures the Morgans have had in their trucks on the trails. I've come to this conclusion. I would not run a power steering box with large tires. I mean that as no disrespect to what we've discussed here. But in the two failures I've seen from them, the steering linkage has failed. (Once sheering the output shaft off the box, the other sheering the bolts off the steering arm at the knuckle) It's my opinion that the "best" solution for a large tire/off road truck would be a stock steering box fitted with a servo on the column and a hyd. ram on the axle connecting the tie rod. This would eliminate the heavy stresses on the linkage. Course, this setup would require welding, more plumbing, and cost.

I believe if I ever do a "trail deuce". I'll opt for the system I described.

 

[steve6x6x6]

The selector shaft on the stock duece and haft is 1.312" diameter with grade 5 studs on the steering arm. The selector shaft on the power steering box 2.00". an increase of 152% and with ARP studs for the steering arm over double strenght. The setup you have selected does by pass these two areas and is a good choose, made by C&C equipment.

 

[JasonS]

Might I add my $0.02?

After seeing the failures the Morgans have had in their trucks on the trails. I've come to this conclusion. I would not run a power steering box with large tires. I mean that as no disrespect to what we've discussed here. But in the two failures I've seen from them, the steering linkage has failed. (Once sheering the output shaft off the box, the other sheering the bolts off the steering arm at the knuckle) It's my opinion that the "best" solution for a large tire/off road truck would be a stock steering box fitted with a servo on the column and a hyd. ram on the axle connecting the tie rod. This would eliminate the heavy stresses on the linkage. Course, this setup would require welding, more plumbing, and cost.

I believe if I ever do a "trail deuce". I'll opt for the system I described.

This can easily be done with a 4-port HF54 box and either mounting the slave cylinder to the axle/ tie rod or like the 5-tons do with a slave cylinder actuating the passenger side steering arm.