Trail-gear steering box

[Sidekicktodd]

So I’ve a question that I can’t seem to find an answer to. The TG Power Flow steering box, does that actually mean anything or is that just marketing hype. Does it just mean it’s drilled and plumbed for hydro assist. Have they made the box more powerful? I have it now and I’m super happy with it. I was changing my steering setup and hated getting junkyard boxes because they always leak and I figured I’d run hydro eventually.

Problem is that it works so good I don’t think I need hydro anymore. I’m running a 6v automatic locker and 37s.

I was running a junkyard ifs box then I went to a land cruiser box when I linked it. With a 4 banger 35s and auto locker before and they weren’t any better and probably a little worse then when I switched to my new frame and now I’m running the new TG box.

 

[Sidekicktodd]

 

[Chkn]

It's the 4th photo on the webpage

Trail-Gear Power Flow Steering Box

Power Flow IFS Steering Box Trail-Gear's new Power Flow IFS Steering Box has been designed and engineered to provide ultimate performance making it the perfect choice for those with solid axle vehicles who want to install high-steer. This is not a 30-yea

trail-gear.com

EDIT: I reread and understand better now. No idea. Its possible considering it comes pre-tapped for hydro assist. This is curious to me: "While designed to be a direct replacement for the 86-88 box, this steering box will also work in the 89-95 application by adjusting the steering input shaft."

 

[Sidekicktodd]

I was trying to find out what they did to make it better. like making ports bigger. I’ve seen things about tapping factory boxes for hydro assist but nothing about making them more powerful.

 

[J.Cole]

I’ve always wondered this too. Is it just a rebuilt box drilled and tapped or are they doing something special? I’ve always ran junkyard steering boxes that I’ve drilled and tapped myself. I have friends who have bought and ran the Trail Gear boxes and the PSC boxes and they all seem to work the same.

 

[Clb]

I hope they are using better seals. Everything t.g. I have has sealing issues.
If this all new box is special and not just an advertising gimmic, that's awesome.
Watching this.

 

[Sidekicktodd]

Something I just thought of. When I went to the new TG box I also changed the power steering pump to a stock gm pump. I don’t know if a more powerful pump will make a difference

 

[simmons3067]

My hydro assist with a tapped factory box is slow. If this box is an upgrade I would buy one.

 

[Clb]

After the 3rd stage mod on my factory pump was done to get the 35's to turn when locked I saw that psi bump overpowered ths seals but it turns.
Hopefully tg is putting out some bolt in upgrades

 

[simmons3067]

I have an upgraded pump and my hydro assist is still to slow for me. It has enough power but it’s not fast enough to correct on slick roads. I am piecing together a full hydro set up but I would prefer to keep my assist. All my research says the Toyota box is the limiting factor on hydro assist.

 

[Sidekicktodd]

I think hydro assist is just slow in general. My buddy ran a full PSC system from (pump,ram,box,cooler,res) costing almost $4k and the thing is slow. It gave me a bad taste about hydro assist. I’ll deal with the occasional locked steering. Only time it happens to me is when I’m all twisted up and I can usually just drive threw it. I figure it helps save knuckles anyway if you’re not forcing things with hydro. Just makes you drive smarter.

 

[Clb]

Fwiw
The big tire taco I sold,

had the t g. Hydro assist package, it rocked.

 

[Paul]

It seems like it's just a new box that is ported for ram assist. So you have a new box and also a more powerful pump - probably why it is working better

 

[richardskinner]

It's the 4th photo on the webpage

Trail-Gear Power Flow Steering Box

Power Flow IFS Steering Box Trail-Gear's new Power Flow IFS Steering Box has been designed and engineered to provide ultimate performance making it the perfect choice for those with solid axle vehicles who want to install high-steer. This is not a 30-yea

trail-gear.com

This is curious to me: "While designed to be a direct replacement for the 86-88 box, this steering box will also work in the 89-95 application by adjusting the steering input shaft."

86-88 was shorter. 89-95 was longer

 

[Clb]

I'M Sure matt will be forthcoming with details....

 

[richardskinner]

From this post

4Runner Power Steering Box Differences

I am trying to determine the difference in the 4Runner power steering gear boxes for 79-85 and the 86-95. I assume it has something to do with the solid axle and the IFS.

forum.ih8mud.com

"Externally the only difference is the length of the steering input shaft. The later style box has a 1" longer input gear. The later style box also has a slightly faster internal gearing ratio, requiring slightly less turns to get the box to full lock."

Being that the TG box is the earlier style, which takes "more turns" that tells me the gearing is deeper within the box. In my eyes that would mean it would have more leverage over the pitman arm and therefore feel more powerful. I haven't side by side tested them though, so who knows. I have a later style IFS box on my pile. I can't recall which my last rig had to compare to.