Modifying a Powersteering Pump (For hydrosteering)

Started by bmx0964, November 08, 2011, 06:13:20 PM

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bmx0964

First off credit goes to Matt Hodges at West Texas 4Wheel & Off-Road for this write up. I did not make this nor do I take any credit for it. Just sharing it with you all.

This was designed to work with hydro assist steering setups, but I will also explain certain things that can be done to upgrade for regular power steering. It should work on all Jeep pumps and as far as I know all Chevy pumps. They may be adaptable to other types of pumps and we will update as we learn more. All of this can be done with the pump still on the vehicle as long as you have room to remove the pieces.

Step one: Dis-assembly



These are the 3 main pieces that you should get out of your pump.

#1 is the main fitting. You'll have to remove the high pressure line from this before you remove it.

#2 is the flow piston. It doubles as the housing for the high pressure bypass. If it doesn't fall out then use a magnet to remove it.

#3 is the piston spring. It also can be removed with a magnet or a pic.

Step two: The fitting.(I don't feel that this is necessary for stock steering.)

Drill out this fitting a few sizes larger than it was. I drill them 1/16-1/8" larger than is comes stock but this may vary from pump to pump. I recommend that you don't go larger than 5/32. The purpose of this is to increase flow from idle to low RPM's.



Step 3: Piston (Increasing Pressure)



Place the piston in a vise and remove the end cap. Inside you find the items in the picture above.

WARNING: I highly recommend doing these mods a little at a time until you've reached a level that you are happy with. But remember, that if you go too far then you could blow the seals out of your box. I've actually built so much pressure that I blew a section of the top of the steering box about 40 feet across the shop. OOPS!

First off, some pumps don't have any shims. Some have one or two. If it does have a shim remove it and try that. I don't recommend doing anymore than that if you are going to run hydro assist but if you are just trying to get more power out of a stock system and that does not give you enough then you can place a small washer in the bottom of the piston housing beneath the spring. A #4 machine washer fits perfect but can be a little too thick. A 3mm washer also works and is slightly thinner. Remember little steps. These mods increase the blowby pressure.
You will also need to grind off some of the limiting stud so that It will still have room to travel. This is so that it doesn't block off all the pressure.

Step 4: Piston Spring



I have no hard evidence that this works but it does seem to help keep the pressure longer at higher RPM's. Just grab each end of the spring and stretch. I usually try to go between 2 to 2 ½ inches. This not  a precise mod as the spring rate does not change. I've also seen a piece of wire wound around the piston housing a couple of times on the area where the spring seats. This will also work.

BigFrank

still if theres not enough volume to the system as in having a reservoir it cant work proprly   2 quarts cant fit into ones space  by modifying the pump your only increasing pressure/volume of oil being moved   ya need enuff in reserve for the cylinder to be extended and still keep the pump full and vice versa  otherwise the pump will run out of oil and slow steering belt squeals  pump damage etc etc

71 Highboy

Quote from: BigFrank on March 06, 2012, 01:44:28 AM
still if theres not enough volume to the system as in having a reservoir it cant work proprly   2 quarts cant fit into ones space  by modifying the pump your only increasing pressure/volume of oil being moved   ya need enuff in reserve for the cylinder to be extended and still keep the pump full and vice versa  otherwise the pump will run out of oil and slow steering belt squeals  pump damage etc etc
x2
TNT BOGGING
71 F250 on 44 hawgs or tractors,71 429/c6/205 1 tons w/538s

bmx0964

If you do the math correctly you can get a ram that has the correct volume for the volume of your system.

If not, you can make a reservoir out of just about anything and plumb it into the return line right before the pump.

MR NASTY

If you didn't have enough volume you could have already burnt the pump up.  I did mine the same way as the posted link and never had a problem without a cooler, only thing I did was add a extender to the fill area for extra capacity of fluid. 
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4-play

Quote from: BigFrank on March 06, 2012, 01:44:28 AM
still if theres not enough volume to the system as in having a reservoir it cant work proprly   2 quarts cant fit into ones space  by modifying the pump your only increasing pressure/volume of oil being moved   ya need enuff in reserve for the cylinder to be extended and still keep the pump full and vice versa  otherwise the pump will run out of oil and slow steering belt squeals  pump damage etc etc
The oil level should never change, the oil is on both sides of the ram. If your level goes up and down when you move the steering....you have air in the system.

mudbillyredneck

Quote from: 4-play on March 07, 2012, 07:18:46 PM
Quote from: BigFrank on March 06, 2012, 01:44:28 AM
still if theres not enough volume to the system as in having a reservoir it cant work proprly   2 quarts cant fit into ones space  by modifying the pump your only increasing pressure/volume of oil being moved   ya need enuff in reserve for the cylinder to be extended and still keep the pump full and vice versa  otherwise the pump will run out of oil and slow steering belt squeals  pump damage etc etc


The oil level should never change, the oil is on both sides of the ram. If your level goes up and down when you move the steering....you have air in the system.


Hmmm...
If we don't remember Our history, then we are doomed to repeat it !!!

Thank a Vet , and dont forget our senior's

BigFrank

Quote from: mudbillyredneck on March 08, 2012, 02:42:02 PM
Quote from: 4-play on March 07, 2012, 07:18:46 PM
Quote from: BigFrank on March 06, 2012, 01:44:28 AM
still if theres not enough volume to the system as in having a reservoir it cant work proprly   2 quarts cant fit into ones space  by modifying the pump your only increasing pressure/volume of oil being moved   ya need enuff in reserve for the cylinder to be extended and still keep the pump full and vice versa  otherwise the pump will run out of oil and slow steering belt squeals  pump damage etc etc


The oil level should never change, the oil is on both sides of the ram. If your level goes up and down when you move the steering....you have air in the system.


Hmmm...
a guy i work with built hydro powered equipment for oil exploration vehicles for 20 years    this is how he explained it to me  he said more oil is always a good thing

TopFist


old school truck dude

Somewhere there is a cap that goes on those pumps with a hose that goes to an extra reservoir sitting above the pump like bolted on the firewall or somewhere like that, I know Ive seen it before..

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