Proving the Internet WRONG! | Jeep TJ Hydro Assist

The internet said putting hydro-assist steering on a Jeep Wrangler TJ required a higher-flow power steering pump, especially for street use. We set out to prove you CAN have hydro-assist with a STOCK un-modified pump, stock reservoir, and no cooler. Here's how we did it safely and inexpensively.
0:00 Intro
0:15 Jeep Details
0:37 Hydro Assist Explained
0:56 TJ Power Steering Challenges
1:40 Mercedes (ZF) vs Saginaw
2:00 Hydraulic Ram Sizes
2:36 Results
3:34 Is it right for you?
#Jeep #4x4 #jeeptj #offroad #fabrication

[@philip4x4guy]

But, but, but, i thought everything had to be the biggest and baddest to be cool!?! Very nicely laid out, more people should hear this!

[@ozarkgarage]

Thanks!

[@lelson5176]

Thank you, I've been looking into how to do this on a budget!

[@ozarkgarage]

Glad I could help! The hoses were made by the local NAPA, nothing terribly complicated.

[@wvjeepguy8178]

Who said it was "impossible"? Of course you can do it, it's just not as optimal. A pump from a V8 Grand Cherokee with hydraulic fan is the same external casing with better internals and you can grab it out of a junkyard for around $20. After a couple easy mods and a smaller pulley, it is plenty of flow for cylinder assist.

[@erniesautowerks4803]

If I had a running TJ I might give that a go….great content! 👍

[@ozarkgarage]

Now you have some motivation!

[@autotek7930]

I like it. Where yall from? I'm from Lepanto Arkansas so Ozark got my attention then you kept it with proving the internet wrong lol

[@ozarkgarage]

We are quite a ways north of you

[@user-tp8qn3uk9v]

How's that Red Head steering box holding up? Gonna install mine this weekend and want to do this same setup.
What length hoses did you go with,and how did you modify the trac bar bracket? I tried to screen shot and zoom but its hard to tell. Thanks!!!

[@ozarkgarage]

Steering box is holding up great! I took rough measurements for the hoses with some fuel hose I had lying around. The hoses were made at the local NAPA, I had them crimp one end on and leave the other end off, went back home and cut them to length myself (just to get it perfect) and then went back and hand the other end crimped on. The hoses go over the grille support bracket and wrap around behind the radiator on the ram. I originally had a bungee cord holding the slack up toward the frame, but it rotted off. If you are asking about how the axle end of the ram is mounted, I welded a piece of 1" ODx0.5" ID DOM as a sleeve on top of the old steering stabilizer mount and gusseted it. Since it is a single shear setup, its important to be able to torque it properly.

[@user-pm5od6rk4v]

So … your ram is attached to the drag link and not tie rod ?? Should be attached to the tie rod. Drag link doesn’t stay parallel to the ram … thus bending the ram eventually. IMO no way would I attach to drag link

[@ozarkgarage]

On a TJ neither the drag link nor the tie rod stay parallel to the ram/axle. The drag link goes from the steering box to the passenger knuckle and the tie rod connects the driver knuckle to the drag link on the passenger side. The tires do toe-in as the axle drops away from the frame. Mounting the ram to the drag link is the correct way to prevent bump steer and death wobble.