Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
petersonj
TDR MEMBER
Power Steering Pump / Vacuum Pump Conversion
This project (courtesy of @mace on the Moparman1973 site) replaces the OEM gear driven vacuum pump with an electric remote mounted vacuum pump and replaces the piggy-backed OEM power steering pump with a direct mount power steering pump accompanied with a remote reservoir. The replacement power steering pump is a vane pump with flow rated at 3.4 GPM and an operating pressure of 1,450 psi. Prior to starting this project, I performed the APPS throttle assembly relocation. Here’s that link:
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/removing-the-complete-apps-assembly-from-engine.275636/
My purpose for doing this project was for a few reasons:
* I wanted to eliminate the OEM gear driven vacuum pump (no more potential oil leaks or difficult access).
* I wanted an accessible location for the power steering pump reservoir.
* I wanted to use the space where the APPS assembly used to be for the remote power steering reservoir location.
* I replaced my old direct-mount PacBrake exhaust brake (vacuum operated) with an upgraded in-line PRXB PacBrake (compressed air-operated) exhaust brake. This exhaust brake performs much better at low rpms.
Here is the direct drive power steering pump that I installed.
I started the project by finding the specific location for the new power steering reservoir, which was going to be right where the APPS assembly used to be. Then I built a mounting bracket for the reservoir (shown below). The first part of the bracket assembly is designed to let the weight of the reservoir and the contained fluid rest into the V slot.
In the photo above, note the welded nut where the tab on the top of the reservoir is screwed into the bracket (a little out of focus in the photo).
In the photos below, more brackets are added to fasten the unit to the engine.
Below is the new location for the reservoir in the engine compartment - lots of space available for mounting with the removal of the APPS mounting assembly.
The time and effort spent on this project (and the previous APPS relocate project) has been very worthwhile. Much engine space has been freed up and the power steering reservoir is right where it should be for easy fluid check / fill. The reservoir is like the brake master cylinder reservoir – you can see the fluid level through the reservoir.
An unexpected benefit was that this direct mount power steering pump outperforms any previous power steering pump that has been on this truck. There is no more stopping / stalling of the steering wheel when the power steering is under high demand, such as when maneuvering in tight spaces, steering from stop to stop with little forward or backward movement of the truck.
Also, less steering effort is required in just normal driving going into curves and when operating in parking lots. I am not sure why this pump outperforms the other pumps since the specs are the same, but it does. Mace observed the same results with his truck, as well.
John
This project (courtesy of @mace on the Moparman1973 site) replaces the OEM gear driven vacuum pump with an electric remote mounted vacuum pump and replaces the piggy-backed OEM power steering pump with a direct mount power steering pump accompanied with a remote reservoir. The replacement power steering pump is a vane pump with flow rated at 3.4 GPM and an operating pressure of 1,450 psi. Prior to starting this project, I performed the APPS throttle assembly relocation. Here’s that link:
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/removing-the-complete-apps-assembly-from-engine.275636/
My purpose for doing this project was for a few reasons:
* I wanted to eliminate the OEM gear driven vacuum pump (no more potential oil leaks or difficult access).
* I wanted an accessible location for the power steering pump reservoir.
* I wanted to use the space where the APPS assembly used to be for the remote power steering reservoir location.
* I replaced my old direct-mount PacBrake exhaust brake (vacuum operated) with an upgraded in-line PRXB PacBrake (compressed air-operated) exhaust brake. This exhaust brake performs much better at low rpms.
Here is the direct drive power steering pump that I installed.
I started the project by finding the specific location for the new power steering reservoir, which was going to be right where the APPS assembly used to be. Then I built a mounting bracket for the reservoir (shown below). The first part of the bracket assembly is designed to let the weight of the reservoir and the contained fluid rest into the V slot.
In the photo above, note the welded nut where the tab on the top of the reservoir is screwed into the bracket (a little out of focus in the photo).
In the photos below, more brackets are added to fasten the unit to the engine.
Below is the new location for the reservoir in the engine compartment - lots of space available for mounting with the removal of the APPS mounting assembly.
The time and effort spent on this project (and the previous APPS relocate project) has been very worthwhile. Much engine space has been freed up and the power steering reservoir is right where it should be for easy fluid check / fill. The reservoir is like the brake master cylinder reservoir – you can see the fluid level through the reservoir.
An unexpected benefit was that this direct mount power steering pump outperforms any previous power steering pump that has been on this truck. There is no more stopping / stalling of the steering wheel when the power steering is under high demand, such as when maneuvering in tight spaces, steering from stop to stop with little forward or backward movement of the truck.
Also, less steering effort is required in just normal driving going into curves and when operating in parking lots. I am not sure why this pump outperforms the other pumps since the specs are the same, but it does. Mace observed the same results with his truck, as well.
John
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