PSC Big Bore Steering Upgrade

[DOOKEY]

I'll find out. I'll do a few trails before making up my mind about ditching the hydro. I would however take it on black bear and not worry. VERY sure I wont be going fast on that trail. lol It's a pretty easy trail, but not paying attention will have you paying the price. lol

I always plan for what could happen. Needing to steer quickly without being able to isn't a situation I want to be in.

This setup isn't my first hydraulic steering experience. I had full hydraulic on my last Jeep and didn't have this issue.

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[twisty]

I always plan for what could happen. Needing to steer quickly without being able to isn't a situation I want to be in.

This setup isn't my first hydraulic steering experience. I had full hydraulic on my last Jeep and didn't have this issue.

Good point.

And really? I was told the JL idles very low and the reason for it. Was your last hydro setup on a manual where you could bump up the idle? Wonder if the JL's with an auto could be adjusted??

 

[DOOKEY]

The JL does idle very low. I believe you can bump it up. My tazer allows for that winch mode which will bump up the idle and hold it for awhile but I never use it. If you're going down hill it would be a nice feature. Going up hill would be different.

My TJ was an auto with full manual control and I never had to worry about the low idle thing because the setup was tuned properly.

The low idle sluggish steering will make you readjust your driving style. My JL is my DD so I drive it all over everywhere. Pulling into parking spots seems to be the worst. I just adjusted how I pull in to spaces.

 

[Kreepin1]

The low idle sluggish steering will make you readjust your driving style. My JL is my DD so I drive it all over everywhere. Pulling into parking spots seems to be the worst. I just adjusted how I pull in to spaces.

Have you checked with PSC to see if a smaller bore ram is available?

 

[DOOKEY]

Have you checked with PSC to see if a smaller bore ram is available?

I have discussed the issues at length with PSC. I've been working with them for well over a decade. They aren't afraid of me asking questions to discuss a path towards the truth. Tom went well above and beyond what I could have ever expected to help me cure issues I had with my TJ. Which is why I put my faith in them with the JL.

A smaller diameter ram isn't the proper method of approach. I'm running 40's and bead locks with a locker. So the ram size is important.

The right method is to get a pump that will survive at higher RPM's so you can run a smaller pulley which gives you the pump RPM's needed at low engine idle. Like the Trimarco pump posted before.

Or dare I say it.... an electric pump that you can control the output PSI at any engine RPM's. (This isn't a popular opinion at PSC.)

I feel like the low idle power is a 5% problem with 95% acceptance. The 95% side is great. So I just live with it.

 

[Kreepin1]

A smaller diameter ram isn't the proper method of approach. I'm running 40's and bead locks with a locker. So the ram size is important.

Point taken.

The right method is to get a pump that will survive at higher RPM's so you can run a smaller pulley which gives you the pump RPM's needed at low engine idle. Like the Trimarco pump posted before.

Couldn't you also use a larger volume pump and the same size pulley? I guess I'm assuming you could fit it in the available space...

 

[DOOKEY]

Point taken.


Couldn't you also use a larger volume pump and the same size pulley? I guess I'm assuming you could fit it in the available space...

Volume isn't the issue. It's pressure. If you can keep from bouncing off the red line you could just swap to the smaller diameter pulley and nobody would have been the wiser. But they had to account for the Jeeps red line.

I believe PSC did what they could to fix the majority of problems people can have. This issue is something a small change in your driving style can make you not really notice it. How fast do you need to turn the steering wheel in a Jeep to park at the grocery store?

Keep it in mind when you're off road and you hopefully won't have an issue. I didn't build my JL to go super fast off road and so far the low idle thing hasn't been a problem. I've gained enough trust in the system that I could run Black Bear now and plan to as soon as the snow allows.

 

[bongoray]

I'm currently running a stock Dana 44 on my 2018 JLUR with all Steer Smarts components and a Rock Krawler 3.5" lift. I had to get creative with my mounting. I was originally using my steering damper's bracket, but that quickly broke during my first wheeling trip with it installed. I swapped out the trackbar mounting bolt for a longer grade 8 version to mount the ram to the axle, then used the supplied clamp to the tie rod.

I want to run a double shear setup and weld tabs to the trackbar and then get a different diff cover and mount the ram to that. How did you mount your ram? Any other suggestions?

Here is the before pic:

And the after:

 

[DOOKEY]

I made my own bracket that bolts through the track bar bracket and is welded all the way around. I had to rotate the ram fittings back towards the axle tube to stay away from the frame at full compression.

 

[bongoray]

I like that bracket idea. That looks really good. I'm still wanting double shear on the tie rod attachment and I want it closer to the tie rod end. Something to this effect. Pardon the sketch.

 

[DOOKEY]

No reason that wouldn't work.

 

[Gorilla57]

I'm running the Next Venture hydro mount on the axle and the Doetsch clamp on the tie-rod. Both sides are double sheer and works great. The tie-rod does just barely hit the PSC ram, just enough to wear off the paint.

 

[bongoray]

I'm running the Next Venture hydro mount on the axle and the Doetsch clamp on the tie-rod. Both sides are double sheer and works great. The tie-rod does just barely hit the PSC ram, just enough to wear off the paint.

You have a double shear clamp? Can you post a pic? Thanks!

 

[Gorilla57]

You have a double shear clamp? Can you post a pic? Thanks!

Here ya go.

 

[twisty]

Volume isn't the issue. It's pressure. If you can keep from bouncing off the red line you could just swap to the smaller diameter pulley and nobody would have been the wiser. But they had to account for the Jeeps red line.

I believe PSC did what they could to fix the majority of problems people can have. This issue is something a small change in your driving style can make you not really notice it. How fast do you need to turn the steering wheel in a Jeep to park at the grocery store?

Keep it in mind when you're off road and you hopefully won't have an issue. I didn't build my JL to go super fast off road and so far the low idle thing hasn't been a problem. I've gained enough trust in the system that I could run Black Bear now and plan to as soon as the snow allows.

I drove to ACE hardware (similar to grocery store example) and fought steering there and it was annoying. I got back and looked at the reservoir and it was empty again. Clearly it's not done bleeding yet. 3 mile round trip.

SO now you are ready for black bear. WHat changed?

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