WeGotMud

Projects & Parts => Garage/Tech => Topic started by: Jthomas on September 14, 2012, 07:53:30 PM

Title: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 14, 2012, 07:53:30 PM
Anyone here run manual steering?
How much lift? What size tires?

What's it like? Lol

Was thinking about just removing the pump and get a couple hp? But Idk what it will be like. Haha
Title: Re: Manual steering on a my truck
Post by: xjs3667 on September 14, 2012, 08:02:46 PM
I had it on my s-10 and my camaro.....  I prefer it.... sometimes a byTch to turn into a parking spot loll   ....... but look at it like your axles..... you can always change the gearing in the steering box to accomidate the bigger tires.....
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 14, 2012, 08:05:55 PM
Yea the el camino has it. I like it too.

But, one time the truck stalled, I tried to turn it, an broke the rubber steering disk on the box to the shaft.         But it could have just been from old age.

I only have 40s"

Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: betterbeaters on September 14, 2012, 08:42:57 PM
DONT DO IT!!!  it will hurt you! hydro assist is a great idea! you wont get enough hp to be worth it! lets just say I did it and had a broken hand to prove it.. if its toy only hydro is the only for the street hydro assist!
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 14, 2012, 08:44:27 PM
How exactly do I go about hydro assist? And what kind of $?
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: betterbeaters on September 14, 2012, 09:15:44 PM
they sell kits or I think you can make one? never did it I dont drive my toys so Im full hydro and would never give it up!!!!!!  works great and steers with 1 finger on 44s
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: KORNBREAD on September 14, 2012, 11:42:00 PM
I had manual steering on the truck I sold Alex (betterbeaters) years ago, and I was flying threw a pit once and when I came out and hit the ground the steering wheel went ape p00 and when I tried to straighten it out, I damn near broke my wrist. I had no problems before hand when out playing around with it like that, but after that day, I never went back to manual steering.
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: ice87 on September 15, 2012, 12:46:44 AM
Yeah I take it you have never had a 40 rip the steering wheel outta your hands. Its not a good feeling. A mud truck can go without alot of things. Power or hydro steering is something you really should have.
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 15, 2012, 12:49:31 AM
Ok thanks. I'll look into it.

I really like the manual steering on the elcamino. It makes it feel "muscle" and it all solid mounted, so it rumbles the whole thing.

But I figured I'd ask how it was on a mud truck.
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: the harvester on September 15, 2012, 01:34:18 AM
you may like the way it feels but you wont when it hurts you
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 15, 2012, 01:53:04 AM
Quote from: the harvester on September 15, 2012, 01:34:18 AM
you may like the way it feels but you wont when it hurts you

Lol yea, I've herd.

I can't imagine hitting a log or rut or something.
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: xjs3667 on September 15, 2012, 03:00:17 AM
you just got to get used to it, and know not to put a death frip on the wheel when you do hit a nice rut or log or what not...... pretty much let the wheel do its own thing loll    or yea  its guna feel real good
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: BAD APPLE on September 15, 2012, 03:59:42 AM
If your bogging it and u are running manual steering, I suggest point it in the direction punch the gas and let go of the wheel, it will jerk around bad when its bouncing around, you will have sore wrist and broken thumbs if u try to take control of the wheel
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: 7387chevynut on September 15, 2012, 04:23:39 AM
power steering....=.....only way to go.........
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: fast78ford on September 15, 2012, 05:44:01 AM
Quote from: erikmud on September 15, 2012, 03:59:42 AM
If your bogging it and u are running manual steering, I suggest point it in the direction punch the gas and let go of the wheel, it will jerk around bad when its bouncing around, you will have sore wrist and broken thumbs if u try to take control of the wheel

x2 been there haha
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 15, 2012, 11:31:34 AM
Idk if this would help at all? But what if u put in a large steering wheel?
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Hammerlane on September 15, 2012, 02:23:59 PM
Quote from: xjs3667 on September 15, 2012, 03:00:17 AM
you just got to get used to it, and know not to put a death frip on the wheel when you do hit a nice rut or log or what not...... pretty much let the wheel do its own thing loll    or yea  its guna feel real good


what he said, started driving big trucks back in the day of "strong arm" steering..
it is a learned aspect (respect) of the capabilities of physics..
its like PTO on farm equipment.. it dont care and will eat you..
once you have that figured out and respect it accordingly you'll be fine.

been wheelin strong arm for many years.. still got all my fingers.
like a bad relationship.. gotta know when to let go!
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 15, 2012, 02:26:34 PM
Lol ahahaha
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: BigFrank on September 15, 2012, 04:35:04 PM
havin a non power steerin box is one thing runnin a power box with no power is a   SOB   id get some brackets too use power steerin pump and put a hydraulic assist  cylinder off a semi tractor on it  for the streetable option  or just strong arm it and hope for the best
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 16, 2012, 03:14:38 AM
The only thing thats a real pain in the ass, is I can't research the web that well, a phone is way different than a pc. So it makes it really hard to research a topic effectively.
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: xjs3667 on September 16, 2012, 10:24:18 AM
what it really comes down to is what is the truck going to be seeing more of..... street or offroad..... if on the street manual is just fine, other than slow speeds/ tight turns then you find your forearm muscles real good loll   if its guna be offroad only you can go either way just take it easy while you get used to manual steering off road......  I to have been there as I had one them 3 spoked steering wheels with the holes in it and the dumbass I was had my fingers in the wholes just messin around a old 2 track... jit a good bump and it about ripped all 3 fingers off my hand..... luckuly my wrist disloacted and saved my fingers,  its just like everything new you have to have a respect for it, or man up and go balls to wall and find out on our own and learn from mistakes thats the only way you can compare the 2 some people like and some dont,

kinda like comparing a Chevy to a ford..... and we all know Chevy is the best   :)
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: BigFrank on September 16, 2012, 01:17:16 PM
summit racing   part #  sum 340112    big block short water pump power steerin brackets  polished aluminum  129.95
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 16, 2012, 01:29:00 PM
I'm thinking ill go manual, until I get my power steering back in order

Yeah, i know I'm stupid.
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: xjs3667 on September 16, 2012, 05:06:01 PM
I do have a couple pumps for V-belt and both have brackets if your interested?
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: xjs3667 on September 16, 2012, 05:06:29 PM
^^ sbc    as far as I know...
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 16, 2012, 05:08:35 PM
I have the stock pump off a sbc. But im not sure if I can find the bracket. Or if it will even work.
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Thumper on September 16, 2012, 07:30:32 PM
been boggin long long time full arm strong manual steering and have never had a problem. I never wanted to give up that extra horsepower to run the pump, don't care how little hp I save, power is power. Just recently switched to hydro and love it but I really miss the work out. Running a power box with out the pump will really get old fast, get manual box geared to pit your tires and a big steering wheel
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 16, 2012, 07:58:57 PM
Where do I take my box too? Or is it something I could do?
I already have a big wheel
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 17, 2012, 01:35:45 AM
Anyone have a problem breaking the rubber disk?
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: xjs3667 on September 17, 2012, 01:58:05 AM
I have once but it was pretty worn out... I could pull it apart with my fingers loll      fixed that by removing the rubber disc altogether and just bolting the 2 flanges together...... but once again by doing that it is some what like a shock absorber, so by removing it you feel everything and with manual steering it is instant, just know not to have a death grip on the wheel when you go into a pit, a rut , or even over a good bump, just let the steering wheel slide in your had a little and do its own thing, unless your guna hit some thing like a tree.....   been there done that, and me and my pass. were pulling on the wheel as hard as we could to try and get out the rut but ended up nose into the tree ahhh the good old days
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 17, 2012, 02:04:41 AM
That's a good idea. I don't really care about the shock absorber.

Would re gearing my box be something I could do? Or do I have to send it out?
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: xjs3667 on September 17, 2012, 02:15:54 AM
you could do it, its actually real easy to do, but you want to get a manual steering box, if you use a power steering box its a instant fail... Im sure you have had power steering go out on ya before and it would be the same, manual boxes are geared different and are different gears in them,

pretty much to change the gears, I am assuming its a saginaw box, take the 4 bolts off the top cover and you have access to all the gears and there should be a few snap rings in there, also pull the pitman arm as that gear comes out first, and then the shaft gear......

where to buy the gears.... i got no clue  loll  I'll do some calling around and see what I can come up with, what size tires you running or plan on running and what type of system, like is it a crossover?   
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 17, 2012, 02:19:23 AM
Stock GM front end lol. 40" hawgs. Maybe going 42s.

Don't bash the axles. I'll upgrade when I get the time.
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Hammerlane on September 17, 2012, 03:56:44 PM
Quote from: Jthomas on September 17, 2012, 01:35:45 AM
Anyone have a problem breaking the rubber disk?

Called a rag joint.. and yea.. failure is going to happen esspecially if your strong armin it.
need to get a ujoint type in there.

uh.. and that would be a DIY type repair.
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 18, 2012, 03:18:52 AM
Do I just plug the lines, or have to get a manual box?
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Hammerlane on September 18, 2012, 03:59:44 PM
done both,  PS type is harder to turn..
i've even run them w/open lines before..
don't take long to trash em' that way though.
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: Jthomas on September 18, 2012, 04:06:52 PM
Hmm. Looks like I'll be getting a workout till I get a bracket.
Title: Re: Manual steering on a mud truck
Post by: xjs3667 on September 18, 2012, 07:55:04 PM
wtf...my other post didn't show up loll.....

anyways yes you are going to want to get a manual steering gearbox... im sure you have had ps go out on ya before and you know how hard it is to turn, the gears and gearing are different in a manual box, and yes they are easy to change yourself, if you get a saginaw box all you have to do is pull pitman arm, disconect steering shaft, take out the 4 bolts on top of the box and theres your gears, theres a couple snap rings in there, and then push up on the pitman arm shaft and that gear will come out, then same thing for steering shaft gear, idk where to buy the gears but what size tires are you planning on running?  I'll make a few calls and find out where to get the gears and what gearing is the best for ya and how much :)