Hydro ram
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Hydro ram
My '75 F100 has a power assist ram on it... and I was wondering: Can I just take that ram off, and bolt on a different/better ram, and use the existing lines? I found a few rams that mount similar to the one on it, and it looks like it would be fairly easy to do..
Thanks.
Thanks.
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I have been doing some research on them... It looks like most people are tapping into their power steering boxes, and adding the ram assist. My ram assist lines come from the part ran by the belt, and go to a valve, then to the ram. The steering box looks like just a manual box, not a power steering box.. Does that mean it is purely ran from the ram? It seems as if I can just take that ram off, buy a new/more powerful ram and run the existing lines to it, and mount it the same way the old one is... ??
Will I notice any difference if I put a different ram on there?
I am just looking for a dependable way to turn my 42's. What is the best way?
Sorry for all of the questions...
Will I notice any difference if I put a different ram on there?
I am just looking for a dependable way to turn my 42's. What is the best way?
Sorry for all of the questions...
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From: Eccles, WV
Homeless, your question is quite interesting. I have never seen it before. I took it to my mechanic. His response was that it should work, but just to make sure that when the ram operates, that it does not go past the tolerances. Since your are running 42's, your turning radius is larger anyway, so his suggestion was to go with one with a little shorter stroke. He also suggested that you replace the pump with a higher pressure one and replace the lines as not to contaminate the new ram. He also suggested that you replace your shimmy shock and tierod ends with HD 250 shock and tierod ends and said that it would be a time and trial unless you can slightly bore out the spindle to accept the new ends.
Last edited by pmasley; Sep 3, 2007 at 11:14 AM.
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Dallas:
Lets talk about your intentions. You simply want a better steering set-up. Instead of your own trial and error, you should stick to the tried and true power steering with hydro assist.
How did you end up with power assist on an F-100? As I recall the 100's had coil springs up front and have a steering box that sweeps from left to right using an inverted "T" steering system. The 250's had a power assist and a box that swept from front to rear and had a drag link that connected to the driver side knuckle.
Either way, this is a crappy steering design, and if you are running 42's you are going to have to go to a crossover design. The short factory drag link kills turning radius because it is simply too short. During full driver side drrop, it is possible to have the steering wheel turned all the way, and have the front tires still straight. Again this is because the dumb drag link is too shart.
If you upgrade to hydro assist, you will have to be the judge, but crossover is a must.
Lets talk about your intentions. You simply want a better steering set-up. Instead of your own trial and error, you should stick to the tried and true power steering with hydro assist.
How did you end up with power assist on an F-100? As I recall the 100's had coil springs up front and have a steering box that sweeps from left to right using an inverted "T" steering system. The 250's had a power assist and a box that swept from front to rear and had a drag link that connected to the driver side knuckle.
Either way, this is a crappy steering design, and if you are running 42's you are going to have to go to a crossover design. The short factory drag link kills turning radius because it is simply too short. During full driver side drrop, it is possible to have the steering wheel turned all the way, and have the front tires still straight. Again this is because the dumb drag link is too shart.
If you upgrade to hydro assist, you will have to be the judge, but crossover is a must.
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Thanks for all of the help guys! The amount of help I get here allways amazes me. 
I believe the front axle and steering setup came out of a '78 F150 or F250. I took a few pictures of it.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k273/homelessduck_Again/1975%20Ford/DSC02506.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k273/homelessduck_Again/1975%20Ford/DSC02505.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k273/homelessduck_Again/1975%20Ford/DSC02504.jpg
I was hoping to be able to get a decent steering setup for under $400. I am planning on putting a d60 up front soon, and would rather not go all out with the d44, unless I have to. As I have been told, the built d44 will blow up very easily with the 42's, correct? I have no problem swapping in a d60, but I am not ready to do that yet.
I am hoping the pictures will help identify the setup as I do not know alot about these things.
In your opinions, what is the best route for me to take?
Thanks!
I believe the front axle and steering setup came out of a '78 F150 or F250. I took a few pictures of it.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k273/homelessduck_Again/1975%20Ford/DSC02506.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k273/homelessduck_Again/1975%20Ford/DSC02505.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k273/homelessduck_Again/1975%20Ford/DSC02504.jpg
I was hoping to be able to get a decent steering setup for under $400. I am planning on putting a d60 up front soon, and would rather not go all out with the d44, unless I have to. As I have been told, the built d44 will blow up very easily with the 42's, correct? I have no problem swapping in a d60, but I am not ready to do that yet.
I am hoping the pictures will help identify the setup as I do not know alot about these things. In your opinions, what is the best route for me to take?
Thanks!
Last edited by Homelessduck; Sep 3, 2007 at 06:22 PM.
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I do drive it on the road. I have heard that full hydro systems are not good for highway use, but I have also read/heard that if setup properly they will be fine for the highway. My truck never sees the freeway, only back-woods roads, and low speed limit roads.
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Dallas:
that is a very interesting use of the factory F250 power assist steering system.
I believe the best thing you can do is leave well enough alone until you swap to the 60. Once you install the 60 and you upgrade to a complete power steering unit with a real x-over steering, you will be much better off. You will also eliminate many of those hydraulic lines and obtain a more reliable unit. While you have are installing the new front end, you can modify the PS box to accept the fittings for you to use a hydro assist, trying to cut corners here is probably not the best thing in the world. After all this is the steering system. You can get a reasonably inexpensive ram, and should be able ti mainatain your budget, just don't go spending money on stuff that you might change later.
that is a very interesting use of the factory F250 power assist steering system.
I believe the best thing you can do is leave well enough alone until you swap to the 60. Once you install the 60 and you upgrade to a complete power steering unit with a real x-over steering, you will be much better off. You will also eliminate many of those hydraulic lines and obtain a more reliable unit. While you have are installing the new front end, you can modify the PS box to accept the fittings for you to use a hydro assist, trying to cut corners here is probably not the best thing in the world. After all this is the steering system. You can get a reasonably inexpensive ram, and should be able ti mainatain your budget, just don't go spending money on stuff that you might change later.
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I guess I will just expect to keep the truck down a little longer and do the d60 now. The problem is, if I do it now I will have to take it to a local shop to have them do the fab work to make it work on my truck, as I do not have the tools or place to do it at the moment. Also, from what I hear, the d60 caliper will need to be shaved way down to clear a 15" wheel?
While I'm at it should I put a d60 in the rear as well? It currently has a Currie 9".
Thanks.
EDIT: OR, can I get by with swapping in the power steering box/assy from my 78 F150 parts truck?
While I'm at it should I put a d60 in the rear as well? It currently has a Currie 9".
Thanks.
EDIT: OR, can I get by with swapping in the power steering box/assy from my 78 F150 parts truck?
Post Fiend
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You do not necessarily have to grind the caliper down to clear 15" wheels. You can run a pos. offset wheel that will accomodate decent wheels.
There is also an option using a bracket that will move the caliper closer to the axle centerline.
Have you looked at a decent crossover system that has been modified for hydro assist?
There is also an option using a bracket that will move the caliper closer to the axle centerline.
Have you looked at a decent crossover system that has been modified for hydro assist?
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I looked into the crossover kits, and they are around $500. I didn't really want to spend that much, when I know the d44 is going to break the first trip I take. I was thinking about just buying a seal kit for my ram, just to get me by untill I can do the d60 swap. Do you think I would even be able to steer with that setup? What if I swapped in the power steering pump from my '78, tapped that and ran a ram?
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I don't see why it would not, except for one thing. I believe that the stock ram has pressed and welded ends and are not rebuildable, so the leak can't be fixed. The valve has kits available, but I am pretty sure that the ram has some difficulties with regards to repairing leaks.
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I have heard that as well.. Bummer. Well, I can put the '78 pump on there, tap that and buy a ram, then have a local shop fab the mounts for it.. Or, I could find a good ram and put it in the place of the old ram, but I don't know how well that would work. I called around to Salvage yards and they want an arm and a leg for a used Ford ram.
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Yeah, I was afraid of that too. Hydraulic rams by themselves are not too expensive, but I was also thinking that you could just do a power steering conversion and do a crossover. Guys are running this with 44's and few issues. If you get really nasty in the rocks, you might break a sector shaft but that takes quite a bit to do.
Heak, you could even get away with a crossover for the new 60 and then upgrade to hydro assist later.
As far as the rear axle, I would have to say yes and upgrade it as well. You know you are going to have to get new wheels to accommodate the 8 lugs.
Might as well do it all at the same time.
Too bad you are so far away, I have a couple of 70's and 14 bolts at the shop.
Heak, you could even get away with a crossover for the new 60 and then upgrade to hydro assist later.
As far as the rear axle, I would have to say yes and upgrade it as well. You know you are going to have to get new wheels to accommodate the 8 lugs.
Might as well do it all at the same time.
Too bad you are so far away, I have a couple of 70's and 14 bolts at the shop.