Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
I've gone through about 6 steering gears, last leg of my 4th pump, couple of steering columns, etc. Since this truck was stock, i've never had good steering. When i bought the truck with over 92,000 miles, the steering had lots of play and felt very heavy at the wheel. Never been able to turn the tires without the truck moving. Applying the brakes while moving makes it harder to steer even at speeds near 30 mph.
I've spent well over $2,000 trying a variety of parts from PSC and others. Custom pitman arms, even a few Hummer reverse rotation quick ratio, light valving boxes. I'm now running all 2006 Ford parts from the steering column at the firewall down to the axles. However, the axle sits over an inch forward of stock.
PSC made me an extended pitman arm. I've had a custom panhard rod built so that my linkage is about as perfectly lined up as it can be, aside from the overextending pitman arm. Bump steer was very bad before the new panhard rod but will still break knuckes and fingers off road. I've had the wheel ripped from my hands many times by large boulders.
I like how quick the steering is, though i haven't counted how many turns it is lock to lock since it really doesn't like to make turns. I'm pushing tires that measure about 34. 5"x13" when aired up to their max of 50 psi. Even like this i can barely make slow maneuvers on the street. Even making turns from a stop light is hard work.
Off road i get much better traction and ride quality when aired down to 20 psi but when i get back on the street, my truck takes up both lanes when making turns, lots of switchbacks in the mountains. When going uphill on pavement i can usually give enough pedal to swing the back tires around but i don't always have that option and it scares people.
I've modified my Saginaw pump by removing the shims, stretching the spring past 2", and relieving lots of metal from the main fitting. Steering felt slightly easier each time i drilled a little more, but the pump whines badly when cold or when turning. Replaced the hydroboost after having it tested over 1,400 psi pre hyrdoboost, less than 32 psi post. Haven't had the new one tested yet but it feels much better for the brakes.
The donor engine had vacuum brakes so there is only one return fitting into the pump. I've tried running lines directly from the pump to the steering with zero improvement. Also tried disconnecting a T fitting and having the second return line dump into the pump with the lid off and that also made no difference.
I was recently in Rollinsville and talked with Phat Jeeps about my steering situation. He was suggesting longer knuckles on the axle, which would be no different from a shorter pitman arm, right? And i would lose not only the quickness of my steering, but also the turning radius, which is excellent when i'm able to wrestle the wheel all the way.
His other suggestion was full hyrdaulic steering. I've been doing a lot of reading on it can can't find any verification that it is illegal for street use. Most heavy equipment uses no mechanical linkage but has no difficulty steering. The benefits seem enormous. The possibility of blowing a line and having no steering is discomforting. Return to center is not a concern of mine and yes, you can still steer even if the engine is not running.
I used to run a PSC ram with my stock axle and suspension, then using the Saginaw 808 gears, but it made absolutely no difference in my steering. Perhaps it didn't work because my hydroboost was not allowing enough flow or pressure. I've since been skeptical of a ram assist's abilities.
My question is, what should i do? Try another ram, perhaps bigger like an 8"x2", or start experimenting with full hydraulic steering? Would a 2" diameter ram be too slow on the street? Would it even be strong enough off road? I wouldn't mind the super responsiveness off full hydraulic steering on the street. I have about an inch of play in my wheel now, all steering linkage is tight, i assume play is in the box. I just want to be able to turn my tires. I love to 4 wheel, but it is extremely difficult to manuever off road and is so bad that i need to fix it even for street use. I plan to add a locker and bigger tires in the future. Who's had what kind of success with which systems?
Thanks,
Matt
I've spent well over $2,000 trying a variety of parts from PSC and others. Custom pitman arms, even a few Hummer reverse rotation quick ratio, light valving boxes. I'm now running all 2006 Ford parts from the steering column at the firewall down to the axles. However, the axle sits over an inch forward of stock.
PSC made me an extended pitman arm. I've had a custom panhard rod built so that my linkage is about as perfectly lined up as it can be, aside from the overextending pitman arm. Bump steer was very bad before the new panhard rod but will still break knuckes and fingers off road. I've had the wheel ripped from my hands many times by large boulders.
I like how quick the steering is, though i haven't counted how many turns it is lock to lock since it really doesn't like to make turns. I'm pushing tires that measure about 34. 5"x13" when aired up to their max of 50 psi. Even like this i can barely make slow maneuvers on the street. Even making turns from a stop light is hard work.
Off road i get much better traction and ride quality when aired down to 20 psi but when i get back on the street, my truck takes up both lanes when making turns, lots of switchbacks in the mountains. When going uphill on pavement i can usually give enough pedal to swing the back tires around but i don't always have that option and it scares people.
I've modified my Saginaw pump by removing the shims, stretching the spring past 2", and relieving lots of metal from the main fitting. Steering felt slightly easier each time i drilled a little more, but the pump whines badly when cold or when turning. Replaced the hydroboost after having it tested over 1,400 psi pre hyrdoboost, less than 32 psi post. Haven't had the new one tested yet but it feels much better for the brakes.
The donor engine had vacuum brakes so there is only one return fitting into the pump. I've tried running lines directly from the pump to the steering with zero improvement. Also tried disconnecting a T fitting and having the second return line dump into the pump with the lid off and that also made no difference.
I was recently in Rollinsville and talked with Phat Jeeps about my steering situation. He was suggesting longer knuckles on the axle, which would be no different from a shorter pitman arm, right? And i would lose not only the quickness of my steering, but also the turning radius, which is excellent when i'm able to wrestle the wheel all the way.
His other suggestion was full hyrdaulic steering. I've been doing a lot of reading on it can can't find any verification that it is illegal for street use. Most heavy equipment uses no mechanical linkage but has no difficulty steering. The benefits seem enormous. The possibility of blowing a line and having no steering is discomforting. Return to center is not a concern of mine and yes, you can still steer even if the engine is not running.
I used to run a PSC ram with my stock axle and suspension, then using the Saginaw 808 gears, but it made absolutely no difference in my steering. Perhaps it didn't work because my hydroboost was not allowing enough flow or pressure. I've since been skeptical of a ram assist's abilities.
My question is, what should i do? Try another ram, perhaps bigger like an 8"x2", or start experimenting with full hydraulic steering? Would a 2" diameter ram be too slow on the street? Would it even be strong enough off road? I wouldn't mind the super responsiveness off full hydraulic steering on the street. I have about an inch of play in my wheel now, all steering linkage is tight, i assume play is in the box. I just want to be able to turn my tires. I love to 4 wheel, but it is extremely difficult to manuever off road and is so bad that i need to fix it even for street use. I plan to add a locker and bigger tires in the future. Who's had what kind of success with which systems?
Thanks,
Matt
