As long as I'm welding brackets to my axle, it's got me thinking about hydraulic assist. It's fairly inexpensive and doing it all at once will allow me to make sure everything clears all the other parts. From what I'm reading it looks like the hot ticket is a 8" stroke 1.5" ram. Any considerations about the best way to mount it or what to pay attention to? Jason, remember when you told me I should tap my steering box before I put it in, and I said, "yeah, you're probably right." You were right.

For a Bronco that will see a lot of street duty the 8" stroke 1.5" ram is great. I just installed that size ram on my uncle's full size and it works great on the street. His stock 96 Bronco ps pump does lag at times but it's still faster responding than my bronco with a Saginaw pump and an 8" stroke 2" ram. Having said that; my ram will beat his in the rocks. Mine is very close to full Hydro in the rocks with the power it has. The full width axle is SO much easier to mount the ram than the stock Bronco axle. I mounted his and mine on the trac bar bracket. My ram body will just touch my diff cover at times, barely enough to rub the paint off where his is no where close to the diff cover.

The steering gear is really easy to drill and tap. Let me know if you want/need help with any of it. I've done quite a few on various vehicles.

Now is a good time! You won't be sorry. If it's done well, you won't notice it on the street, but it will certainly be evident offroad!

Here's how I did mine:




I got a shorter nut for the backside and the bolt still ticks the diff cover, but it's a non-issue for me! Aside from a leaking fitting now and then, I have had zero issues with my setup!

What ram are you guys using? I'm seeing a lot of info about the 1.5x8x.75, but the one from Surplus center doesn't come with swivel links. Those seem important. Any reason to not go with the 1.5x8x1 that does? Jason, thanks for the offer. I'll probably take you up on it. From the reading I've done it doesn't look hard to do, but the consequences of screwing it up are potentially expensive.

I am using a trail gear ram. My uncle's is a psc ram. Mine had been installed, leak free and working flawlessly for 3 years now and is in good shape. After installing his I would highly recommend a psc. Seems to be very well made and comes with nice rod ends and brackets. I have never looked in to the surplus rams so I don't know how much they cost but steering is not something I would cheap out on. My trail gear ram was the same cost as the psc ram.

I wish I could remember, but mine does have the swivel eyes in both ends.

I'm a bang for the buck guy, and that's why I chose the Surplus center ram. I can't compare quality to other rams, but it's been trouble free since Apr. 2009 and I know it was among the cheaper rams I could find. I even looked at farm supply shops.

Justin you need to stroke your steering to see how big of a ram you need. Take a square on your axle tube toward the drag link and make a mark on the tie rod. Turn left make a mark turn right make a mark . Measure how much you have and make your ram the same stroke. My dana 60 was 7" stroke so I had crawler tech put a 1" spacer in the 8" ram. I would do a 8" ram with a smaller bore as it will be quicker. I'm running a psc but west Texas off road setups are nice. I have there pump in mine and the 39.5 tires turn like butter

Here is the one JD linked to before:
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydraulics ... 7258-8.axd

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1793&p=15243&hilit=ram#p15243

I run the surplus center ram as well. Turns welded diff Dana 60 running 42's just fine. My 2 cents say save your money. No need for psc or west Texas stuff. Ram from surplus , lines from farm implement and BAM! Done.

Thanks, guys, this is really helpful. I'll have to see what the budget looks like when I get to the point of mounting the ram.

I'll be darned! I have it bookmarked as well...

Here's another I had saved:
http://www.rockstomper.com/catalog/stee ... assist.htm

Just wanted to share a good deal for hydro cylinders. I just ordered a PSC 1.5" 8" stroke ram from Poly Performance for $139. They've got 10% coupons all over the place, making it about $125. Compares well to the Surplus center rams, which go for $100. May not be a difference in quality, but the rod ends are pretty. https://www.polyperformance.com/shop/PS ... -1159.html

Reviving a dead thread to ask another question on this. My track bar setup is essentially identical to Trei's photo above, except that I'm running tie rod over so I can't put the ram in the same spot he did. My track bar is also mounted one hole lower in the bracket (about an inch lower than his). Could I get away with running a longer 9/16" bolt and mounting the ram on the face of the track bar bracket? This would have one bolt supporting both the track bar and the hydro assist, but I'd mount both in double shear. Think Big Mac, with metal plate for the 3 buns and the components for meat.

My other option is to mount the ram directly below the track bar inside the track bar bracket. It'll work OK, but there is more angle between the tie rod and ram, so I'm a little worried about added wear on the tie rod ends and creating a rotational force on the tie rod. I can take pics tonight if this is clear as mud.

LOL, it was in your thread "Shorter Pitman Arm"

Figures. I ought to start a "Justin's random questions" thread so that all this stuff stays in the same place. I spent a little more time in the garage and have run into clearance issues with almost any mounting on the face of the track bar. Below are pics of the current plan. I don't think the angle is too steep, but it's steeper than I'd like it to be. Driver's side is at full stuff and the steering is cranked fully to the passenger's side, which is the worst case scenario for clearance. Everything is pretty tight, but clears well enough.

Chad - no toes stepped on, in fact I appreciate it!

Justin - I don't see a thing wrong with what you have, so long as you can route hoses so they don't contact anything. And if they are rubbing on stuff, a piece of 1" heater hose works great as a chaff protector.

Justin I have 1/4 to 1/8 inches in some areas. That geometry looks pretty good. Remember when you have a tire on there the fender will most likely limit you anyway. I like the track bar to be as flat as possible. I would say run it don't over think it