Hydraulic Power steering tech

SKULLYOTA

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Joined
Jun 30, 2023
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Just wanted some info thread about non-electic Suzuki samurai power steering. Who’s done what, what’s worked or what hasn’t. had an idea to start this thread after a buncha DM-ing with crisbee1 and we both wondered about using a Saginaw ham can

Yes there’s electric power steering but im not interested in that. Seems like a huge power draw and not good for the little ****ty ass stock manual box

So anyone want to share their traditional/hydraulic PS setups?

I’ll start with mine.

Started with a parts store TC pump, custom bracket and old Toyota metal reservoir. Track/kick steering gear with the trail gear adapters for AN/hydro fittings. surplus center hydraulic hose
IMG_9397.JPG

IMG_9398.JPG


Packaged nicely and worked but it whined its ass off even with tiny tires and just all around sucked. Coulda bought a better brand TC pump but didn’t.

Next setup was track/kick box with track/kick pump. Same Toyota reservoir and added a large hydraulic spin on filter for more fluid capacity. Best setup so far, turned the 31’s on dry pavement with no whines or issues. cant find the pics but anyway.


Never ran a cooler on any of mine, didn’t feel like it was needed, never noticed hot temps

Anyway, anyone ever use a canned ham pump in a samurai, or Toyota, TC pump with the built in reservoir, astro van box, celica box, etc?
 
LBS do you remember what application or PN the TC pump with reservoir is? i was thinking about going back to TC pump if i could find a better brand and get one with a built in reservoir

i was wondering if my TC pump with the stock box and no hydro assist was making it bypass all the time because it put out too much?
 
SKULLYOTA said:
LBS do you remember what application or PN the TC pump with reservoir is? i was thinking about going back to TC pump if i could find a better brand and get one with a built in reservoir

i was wondering if my TC pump with the stock box and no hydro assist was making it bypass all the time because it put out too much?
Click to expand...

Take a look at a ~2015ish ram 2500 6.4L pump on Rockauto
 
Got mine back together and snapped pics.

Hydraulic filter and Honda odyssey reservoir

IMG_5443.jpeg
 
17792012555903845577173340297053.jpg

I put a gm performance pump on mine,same as psc uses. Just made a bracket and ordered a small pulley for it.
For some reason it seems to be extra sensitive and can make noise. I had to run a big return and pressure valve on the cap.
 
Tc pump from a 95 yj, has Psc ported An fitting for feed line. The 2.5 4 cylinder has remote reservoir while the 4.0 L has it attached. No issue on 42s with water and rear steer
 
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The last pump I’ll ever use for anything is canned ham P-pump. Hate those pieces of ****.

Don’t let one cheap whiney trailgear TC pump shy you away from the TC platform. TC’s and CB’s are the good stuff.
 
well it was a cardone TC pump :laughing: i wondered if it was just constantly bypassing because the little tracker box couldnt take it? i dunno

I am curious if anyone has one of the old toyota celica or whatever it was PS swaps in their zuk.
 
SKULLYOTA said:
well it was a cardone TC pump :laughing: i wondered if it was just constantly bypassing because the little tracker box couldnt take it? i dunno

I am curious if anyone has one of the old toyota celica or whatever it was PS swaps in their zuk.
Click to expand...
IIRC, that isnt how the bypassing works. If it was bypassing, it would have been building a ton of heat. The tracker pump would likely be struggling too. Whining is often from aeration of fluid. I wonder if the TC flowed more and maybe was drawing air from the resi. From seeing different options over the years, the TC is likely going to give you the best performance. Find a WJ pump/resi from one with the hydro fan.
 
I may have had too small of a resivoir then, used a stock Toyota hilux metal reservoir. I wonder if a bigger reservoir woulda made a difference. I mean the tracker pump and box handles the 31’s fine but if I go yota axles and 35’s then I might revisit the TC
 
I run a tc pump from rock auto on mine. It has powered a tracker box and now an orbital for full hydro. I have an all star performance reservoir and a plate and fin cooler. I used the low range offroad bracket and v belt pulley
IMG_1048.jpeg
 
thanks for all the posts, makes me wonder if i didnt have enough reservoir for the TC pump
 
I feel like you just had a bad pump. I've wheeled a samurai with a stock track kick box and parts store tc pump. It could steer 35x12.50s with a lockrite and lots of scrub radius pretty decently.

You're overthinking the reservoir, it's not going to to make that much difference. Remote is usually preferable over integrated.

My Sami is just all track kick stuff. I think the res was from my 2000, but it doesn't really matter.

It works pretty well for what it is.

I also say **** ham cans, just why? Tc pumps are the standard for offroad and work great.
 
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SKULLYOTA said:
I may have had too small of a resivoir then, used a stock Toyota hilux metal reservoir. I wonder if a bigger reservoir woulda made a difference. I mean the tracker pump and box handles the 31’s fine but if I go yota axles and 35’s then I might revisit the TC
Click to expand...
The hose size from resi to pump matters more than the resi size. As long as it isnt getting empty during operation, it is likely big enough.

Im with ^^ that it was likely a junk pump.
 
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