Just installed Apex Through Shaft Ram - High Mount

[gonzoflick]

It was very intensive as I had to remove and reinstall steering box by myself in the driveway. Holy shit that thing is heavy. It kinda feels a little strange. Like I don't feel much of an improvement on road, but Im already running the Apex boost kit. Maybe I will feel it on the trail. I hope its working I can't actually tell. Like is fluid flowing like it should? I ported the box myself. I also feel some dead space in my wheel when I turn back and forth. I was coming froma Fox ATS stabalizer and steering was tight.

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[Buddy Lee]

I have the Apex boost kit as well and have been considering this. My concern is creating a situation where the steering feels sluggish or dead. I have heard some complaints about the PSC doing that especially when driving on roads. Currently my steering is doing a good job of turning my 38” tires. Has your on road driving response gotten worse?

 

[3TV]

I have the Apex boost kit as well and have been considering this. My concern is creating a situation where the steering feels sluggish or dead. I have heard some complaints about the PSC doing that especially when driving on roads. Currently my steering is doing a good job of turning my 38” tires. Has your on road driving response gotten worse?

I wonder if you are thinking of an older version from PSC? My PSC system does not feel sluggish or dead. If anything, it is the exact opposite of that. It is super sensitive and just the slightest steering input causes a direction change. And there is no questioning if it is working either. Steering is so effortless that when I change from a Jeep with stock steering or even the Apex boost kit to my Jeep with the full PSC set up it almost makes you think the steering wheel isn't connected to anything at all because it turns so freely. You would never know it is connected to a set of 40" Toyo MTs.

This thread is one of several that reports lack luster performance from the thru shaft Apex ram assist. I wonder if the amount of assist can be increased?

 

[Buddy Lee]

Interesting, I will keep that in mind. My neighbor had an LJ with PSC and his Jeep was so squirrelly on road he disconnects it to and from the trail. Now I know that’s a very different comparison to the systems on our JL’s. I have a 2.0 and have read they don’t do a kit for that engine, although I know with some careful engineering it has probably been done.

 

[gonzoflick]

So far I am feeling some sluggish. Going to drive and maybe flush a couple of times

 

[BAKNBLK]

Interesting, I will keep that in mind. My neighbor had an LJ with PSC and his Jeep was so squirrelly on road he disconnects it to and from the trail. Now I know that’s a very different comparison to the systems on our JL’s. I have a 2.0 and have read they don’t do a kit for that engine, although I know with some careful engineering it has probably been done.

Its setup wrong I've done 2 LJ's, 2 JK's and a stretched CJ7 with PSC's kit and they steer perfect.

 

[gonzoflick]

UPDATE: my issues were all around the drag link being lose and me not following instructions to weld the bracket to tie rod.


Jeep drives amazing now. Took it on some hardcore rocks this weekend. The TSR didnt bat an eye. I had full lock to lock steering on rocks aired down to 10psi and full lockers. This thing is a must consider if you are thinking hydro. It looks much better than PSC, operates the same even maybe better because of design. Way cheaper too. Do it!

 

[mattfl]

UPDATE: my issues were all around the drag link being lose and me not following instructions to weld the bracket to tie rod.


Jeep drives amazing now. Took it on some hardcore rocks this weekend. The TSR didnt bat an eye. I had full lock to lock steering on rocks aired down to 10psi and full lockers. This thing is a must consider if you are thinking hydro. It looks much better than PSC, operates the same even maybe better because of design. Way cheaper too. Do it!

Glad to hear you got the issues worked out. I have a built 4XE on 40s and this or the PSC kit is the next upgrade on my list. We have a trip planned out to Sand Hollow this september and I'll be doing one of those before that trip.

How is the on road/daily driving experience? Biggest thing I'm curious about is how the thru shaft ram is vs a standard ram. I had a hydro assist setup on the JK I used to have so I'm familiar with a standard ram setup so just curious how the thru shaft feels.

 

[wibornz]

The Apex Design Pass through Ram is on my list after getting the 5.7 hemi installed.

 

[ASSFROW]

UPDATE: my issues were all around the drag link being lose and me not following instructions to weld the bracket to tie rod.


Jeep drives amazing now. Took it on some hardcore rocks this weekend. The TSR didnt bat an eye. I had full lock to lock steering on rocks aired down to 10psi and full lockers. This thing is a must consider if you are thinking hydro. It looks much better than PSC, operates the same even maybe better because of design. Way cheaper too. Do it!

What was loose, the bolts, worn ends, etc.? What wasn't welded that you then welded? I looks like you still have a bolt on clamp on the tie rod.

 

[JeepinPete]

The Apex Design Pass through Ram is on my list after getting the 5.7 hemi installed.

In process or in the planning stage?

 

[wibornz]

In process or in the planning stage?

The 4.5 Metalcloak long arm kit is being installed now. I should get my Jeep back in the middle of next week. I dropped it off at the shop Tuesday. The hemi swap is scheduled for July 20. Both are already paid for in full.

I have not ordered the Apex design stuff yet and I am also looking at the PSC set up. I can't do the steering set up until the hemi is in as the steering is belt driven vs the electric set up on the 3.6.

Unfortunately, I would love to talk to Apex Design, but they do not have any real customer service. I needed a TPMS sensor mount and it took three orders and filling out an online forms multiple times and ordering the wrong part, no way to send it back no way to get a refund, parts taking two weeks plus for shipping. Like it took me almost a month to finish mounting my 40s because of the hassle of getting a $5 TPMS sensor mount for their rapid deflate valve stems. I love the valve stems.

The fact that I have almost 10 hours into getting a $5 part and holding me up for almost a month, makes me hesitate on Apex Design. Like if there is a problem with the Apex Design searing set up while we are out Jeeping all over the country, having to sit for a month to get a part is terrifying and potential very expensive.

For instance, let's talk about steering products. I am in Alaska and I call Steer Smarts, they shipped me a new set of nuts for the Tie Rods. The nuts kept working themselves loose. I had them int two days. A group of us are wheeling in Colorado and one of the guys breaks the steering stablizer shock. It also breaks the mount for the shock. I called Steer Smarts they overnight shipped it to the local post office in Silverton the next day. I bent a tie rod end in Moab one year. Called Steer Smarts and they shipped it to me and I had it in three days. The Jeep was still drivable while I waited for the part to show up.

I just know that we wheel hard and that if we had to wait about a month for a part to show up, it could easily run into thousands af dollars while we wait for a part. The fact that filling out an online form and waiting two days for a response and then a couple weeks for it to arrive is kind of terrifying to me. It is one thing to order a part from Apex Design that is like an hose or something non critical, is completely different than ordering something that is absolutely necessary for the Jeep to function.

I just know from personal experience that a tow off of the Dalton HYW in Alaska cost me $874 and six months of insurance hassle to get reimbursed for the towing. I was lucky that a girl I met on the internet let me drop my Jeep and camper in her yard and loaned me her Jeep so I could secure parts to fix the Jeep after breaking the wheel hub assemble, breaking the RCV axle, ruining the brake rotor, destroying the brake caliper and brake pads. It also separated the Dynatrac ball joints, but I was able to reassemble them. I had all the part in two days after ordering them or sourcing them from local and dealer part stores. If I would have had to sit in a hotel, it would have been $400 a night while waiting on parts. So waiting two days for them to potentially send me an email.....maybe, would be costing me $800 when a simple phone call could address the issue like almost immediately.

Fuck, I am going to have to call PCS and have a talk with them and see where they are for customer service.

 

[Dyolfknip74]

The 4.5 Metalcloak long arm kit is being installed now. I should get my Jeep back in the middle of next week. I dropped it off at the shop Tuesday. The hemi swap is scheduled for July 20. Both are already paid for in full.

I have not ordered the Apex design stuff yet and I am also looking at the PSC set up. I can't do the steering set up until the hemi is in as the steering is belt driven vs the electric set up on the 3.6.

Unfortunately, I would love to talk to Apex Design, but they do not have any real customer service. I needed a TPMS sensor mount and it took three orders and filling out an online forms multiple times and ordering the wrong part, no way to send it back no way to get a refund, parts taking two weeks plus for shipping. Like it took me almost a month to finish mounting my 40s because of the hassle of getting a $5 TPMS sensor mount for their rapid deflate valve stems. I love the valve stems.

The fact that I have almost 10 hours into getting a $5 part and holding me up for almost a month, makes me hesitate on Apex Design. Like if there is a problem with the Apex Design searing set up while we are out Jeeping all over the country, having to sit for a month to get a part is terrifying and potential very expensive.

For instance, let's talk about steering products. I am in Alaska and I call Steer Smarts, they shipped me a new set of nuts for the Tie Rods. The nuts kept working themselves loose. I had them int two days. A group of us are wheeling in Colorado and one of the guys breaks the steering stablizer shock. It also breaks the mount for the shock. I called Steer Smarts they overnight shipped it to the local post office in Silverton the next day. I bent a tie rod end in Moab one year. Called Steer Smarts and they shipped it to me and I had it in three days. The Jeep was still drivable while I waited for the part to show up.

I just know that we wheel hard and that if we had to wait about a month for a part to show up, it could easily run into thousands af dollars while we wait for a part. The fact that filling out an online form and waiting two days for a response and then a couple weeks for it to arrive is kind of terrifying to me. It is one thing to order a part from Apex Design that is like an hose or something non critical, is completely different than ordering something that is absolutely necessary for the Jeep to function.

I just know from personal experience that a tow off of the Dalton HYW in Alaska cost me $874 and six months of insurance hassle to get reimbursed for the towing. I was lucky that a girl I met on the internet let me drop my Jeep and camper in her yard and loaned me her Jeep so I could secure parts to fix the Jeep after breaking the wheel hub assemble, breaking the RCV axle, ruining the brake rotor, destroying the brake caliper and brake pads. It also separated the Dynatrac ball joints, but I was able to reassemble them. I had all the part in two days after ordering them or sourcing them from local and dealer part stores. If I would have had to sit in a hotel, it would have been $400 a night while waiting on parts. So waiting two days for them to potentially send me an email.....maybe, would be costing me $800 when a simple phone call could address the issue like almost immediately.

Fuck, I am going to have to call PCS and have a talk with them and see where they are for customer service.

Thats crazy. I have their booster and cooler kit on order from a Canadian distributor and by the time I see it, I think it will be 6 weeks. Ordering shit from the US right now is a bit of a shit show because no one has time to navigate all the dumb border rules that have come into play, even though CUSMA is still in effect. Sigh.

 

[gonzoflick]

Glad to hear you got the issues worked out. I have a built 4XE on 40s and this or the PSC kit is the next upgrade on my list. We have a trip planned out to Sand Hollow this september and I'll be doing one of those before that trip.

How is the on road/daily driving experience? Biggest thing I'm curious about is how the thru shaft ram is vs a standard ram. I had a hydro assist setup on the JK I used to have so I'm familiar with a standard ram setup so just curious how the thru shaft feels.

Drives fantastic on road. Don't notice any difference between this and my Fox ATS. Offroad though this thing moves bulders.

 

[gonzoflick]

The 4.5 Metalcloak long arm kit is being installed now. I should get my Jeep back in the middle of next week. I dropped it off at the shop Tuesday. The hemi swap is scheduled for July 20. Both are already paid for in full.

I have not ordered the Apex design stuff yet and I am also looking at the PSC set up. I can't do the steering set up until the hemi is in as the steering is belt driven vs the electric set up on the 3.6.

Unfortunately, I would love to talk to Apex Design, but they do not have any real customer service. I needed a TPMS sensor mount and it took three orders and filling out an online forms multiple times and ordering the wrong part, no way to send it back no way to get a refund, parts taking two weeks plus for shipping. Like it took me almost a month to finish mounting my 40s because of the hassle of getting a $5 TPMS sensor mount for their rapid deflate valve stems. I love the valve stems.

The fact that I have almost 10 hours into getting a $5 part and holding me up for almost a month, makes me hesitate on Apex Design. Like if there is a problem with the Apex Design searing set up while we are out Jeeping all over the country, having to sit for a month to get a part is terrifying and potential very expensive.

For instance, let's talk about steering products. I am in Alaska and I call Steer Smarts, they shipped me a new set of nuts for the Tie Rods. The nuts kept working themselves loose. I had them int two days. A group of us are wheeling in Colorado and one of the guys breaks the steering stablizer shock. It also breaks the mount for the shock. I called Steer Smarts they overnight shipped it to the local post office in Silverton the next day. I bent a tie rod end in Moab one year. Called Steer Smarts and they shipped it to me and I had it in three days. The Jeep was still drivable while I waited for the part to show up.

I just know that we wheel hard and that if we had to wait about a month for a part to show up, it could easily run into thousands af dollars while we wait for a part. The fact that filling out an online form and waiting two days for a response and then a couple weeks for it to arrive is kind of terrifying to me. It is one thing to order a part from Apex Design that is like an hose or something non critical, is completely different than ordering something that is absolutely necessary for the Jeep to function.

I just know from personal experience that a tow off of the Dalton HYW in Alaska cost me $874 and six months of insurance hassle to get reimbursed for the towing. I was lucky that a girl I met on the internet let me drop my Jeep and camper in her yard and loaned me her Jeep so I could secure parts to fix the Jeep after breaking the wheel hub assemble, breaking the RCV axle, ruining the brake rotor, destroying the brake caliper and brake pads. It also separated the Dynatrac ball joints, but I was able to reassemble them. I had all the part in two days after ordering them or sourcing them from local and dealer part stores. If I would have had to sit in a hotel, it would have been $400 a night while waiting on parts. So waiting two days for them to potentially send me an email.....maybe, would be costing me $800 when a simple phone call could address the issue like almost immediately.

Fuck, I am going to have to call PCS and have a talk with them and see where they are for customer service.

I emailed them and their lead tech called me and gave me his cell to text or call him anytime. They've been pretty solid for me. .

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