Red Neck Ram hydro assist steering

[wibornz]

Anyone use the Red Neck Ram? Did you install it? Any pointers or pitfalls that I need to be aware of?

I primarily run 37s on headlock wheels and at time, I and my wife have been in situations where a hydro assist would have been great and needed. Yes, we were able to get by, but I would like to upgrade to hydro steer. When we run difficult trails, my wife typically drives as I end up spotting for our group. She would really like to put on hydro steer.

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[1996cc]

I just got mine installed Saturday. So far it has exceeded my expectations. I drove it about 3 hours on the street and several hours in the sand dunes yesterday. On the street you can’t tell its there, except it is like a super-duper steering stabilizer. The only time I really notice it is quick transitions of turning from one way to another - or in the dunes, spinning donuts and drifting. But even then it didn’t really bother me. I was expecting more compromises. My buddy with a diesel JL (who’s wife daily drives it) is ordering one this week after driving mine. I’m wondering if the JL electronic pump helps offset some of the downsides of traditional hydro assist? But I’ve never driven another setup.

I am slightly worried about the longevity of the heim joints, but even if I have to replace them every so often, it’s not that big of a deal. I’m not sure why they make the shorter hose so long. It could be 6-8” shorter and a 45° fitting instead of a 90°. I may swap that one out.

Now if we could just get Jeep/Dana to fix the locker sensor issue...

 

[1996cc]

Oh, and I’m also on beadlocked 37”s

 

[wibornz]

About how long did it take to install the system?

 

[1996cc]

I was in my shop 8 hours, BUT I had 2 buddies stop by, one stayed and “helped”. And my wife and kids were home and I kept getting interrupted and having to walk back to the house to help them. I’d say 4-6 hours if all that wasn’t distracting me.

Oh, but I also didn’t have to swap out my gearbox. I was able to get the new steel one from the dealer and send it off to be ported first. Then the dealer installed it for me per the TSB. So I only did the ram portion. Almost forgot that. So 8 hours is probably realistic for all of it.

 

[1996cc]

Also, get the fluid WTO recommends from O’Reillys. Pentosin is the name, link below. It’s like a 1/3 of the cost of the dealer stuff and is the same. I only used just over a half a quart- but I didn’t have to bleed the whole system because the box was already in.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...tosin-hydraulic-fluid-1-liter/1405116/4650332

 

[wibornz]

This is on the short list of stuff to finish up what I want done to the Jeep.

 

[Renegade]

I was in my shop 8 hours, BUT I had 2 buddies stop by, one stayed and “helped”. And my wife and kids were home and I kept getting interrupted and having to walk back to the house to help them. I’d say 4-6 hours if all that wasn’t distracting me.

Oh, but I also didn’t have to swap out my gearbox. I was able to get the new steel one from the dealer and send it off to be ported first. Then the dealer installed it for me per the TSB. So I only did the ram portion. Almost forgot that. So 8 hours is probably realistic for all of it.

Wow! You have a very accommodating dealer service department.

 

[RhinoJLU]

I just got mine installed Saturday. So far it has exceeded my expectations. I drove it about 3 hours on the street and several hours in the sand dunes yesterday. On the street you can’t tell its there, except it is like a super-duper steering stabilizer. The only time I really notice it is quick transitions of turning from one way to another - or in the dunes, spinning donuts and drifting. But even then it didn’t really bother me. I was expecting more compromises. My buddy with a diesel JL (who’s wife daily drives it) is ordering one this week after driving mine. I’m wondering if the JL electronic pump helps offset some of the downsides of traditional hydro assist? But I’ve never driven another setup.

I am slightly worried about the longevity of the heim joints, but even if I have to replace them every so often, it’s not that big of a deal. I’m not sure why they make the shorter hose so long. It could be 6-8” shorter and a 45° fitting instead of a 90°. I may swap that one out.

Now if we could just get Jeep/Dana to fix the locker sensor issue...

Good job on the axle side mount. Im installing mine on the same axle in a couple weeks. I was thinking of welding 1/4" flat piece of steel on the front of the bracket for more surface area to wled the tabs on. It was an easier install on my jk just because I had the raised weld on artec bracket which made for plenty of room to weld on the tabs. Apparently drag link flips aren't that common on the jl due to having to run 4" of bumpstop. Not sure if that's true though. On my jk I ran the redneck ram for 7 years with no issues. Did you have to screw with your pump on the tazr setting or anything? This whole new electric pump stuff is confusing the hell out of me

 

[1996cc]

Didn’t change anything with the Tazer or the pump. It’s been working great, just finished a week in Moab with no issues.

 

[RhinoJLU]

Didn’t change anything with the Tazer or the pump. It’s been working great, just finished a week in Moab with no issues.

Cool good to know. I think I read about altering the pump here on another thread can’t remember which

 

[1996cc]

I guess I lied, after a couple thousand miles, wheeling in the sand dunes, and full week in Moab, the main bolt on my PSC clamp mount on the tie rod end worked loose and came off. Thankfully the threads were all fine and the bolt didn’t fall out. I never used loctite since it has a lock washer. Cleaned up the threads, added loctite, and away we went down the trail. But none of that is WTO’s fault, Ram is fine. I don’t think the heim joints will last forever though....

 

[RhinoJLU]

Those heims last a lot longer than you think. I just replaced mine after 120k miles. I just did it as preventive maintenance. There was slight play but not noticeable on the road.

 

[beckbuilt]

Anyone have any pictures of where WTO drilled and tapped their OEM JL steering gear?

 

[Glamisfan]

I pulled these from a Light Bright video.

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