Hi, I'm new here , but I recently bought a 404 in pretty good condition. I already have many plans for it, and the first is power steering.
I've looked around and so far the options I know of are:
Conversion to a 406 powered box.
Finding and spending big money on a 404 factory powered box.
Some torque amplification system with dubious on-road performance (no thanx).
I'd like to do this quite cheaply (too many projects to spend my money on). My preferred route is either a hydraulic ram system or a conversion to a hydro box.
I emailed West Texas Offroad who alledgedly made a ram system (must be ram assist, not full hydro, for legality), but no response. Any other ideas? I'm thinking something like the one found here (in principle): Easyfit Series Land Rover Power Steering
Alternatively, a friend has a spare G-Wagen power steering box. Has anyone ever though of fitting one of these?
I'm in the UK if anyone knows of any useful bits floating about that could help...?
You want a sweet power steering spool valve. This allows you to retain the factory manual box, and add a ram. They come with a few different strengths. These are not torque multipliers or orbitols. They are simple a remote steering vavle jsut like any other power steering unit in the world but separate from the steering box. Then you will want a saginaw power steering pump, and an 8" PSC single ended ram. This is a very legal way of doing this, and will make your steering feel like a modern car, and will allow alot of extra power if you mod the pump a bit.
I personally run full hydro, on and off the street. My X even drove my 404 with full hydro on the street, and she found it to be a little easier to drive than it was in full manual. But I guess if your freaked out about the 1 in a billion chance that a cop will stop you cause your steering is to easy, it not for you. Id say your more likely to be stopped for watching a moving on your fold out DVD player in your dash than a truck running full hydro.
Bottom line, all the other systems for mogs suck. They all either leak, dont work well, or have 100 turns lock to lock. Some of the big 1 ton steering boxes seem to work well, but they are not very reversable. My setup is 100% bolt on. The sweet steering valve will be 100% bolt on as well. You will have to hack up your steering column, or get a 404.0 steering box.
This is something I am also very interested in for my 404. Some type of hydro assist that leaves the stock system in place would be perfect. Cheap is always nice too.
I've never designed any type of hydraulic system, so I'd have to do a lot of reading before I could even start looking for parts to see what's out there.
If you do this please post pictures and techical details.
I have a complete setup from a 406. But since I'm in the U.S. the cost of shipping would kill you! I would look for a 406 setup and spend the extra $$. At least you know it won't brake and it will be relieable, safe and road worthy. And you would only have to do it once!
Von
No designing involved. You can pick any of the sweet valves, I would go for the lightest action. Then you need a power steering pump, any saginaw pump will work fine, but they are a bit big, and might be hard for most to fit. You can also use something like a howe power steering pump as well. then you simply need a 1.5-1.75" bore 8" travel hydro ram with heims on both ends. This replaces the stock steering stabilizer with quite a few mods, but they are simple. Then you have hydro hoses made and your done. Any time spent researching is a waste. These parts are designed specifically for this purpose. Messing with any funky industrial setups or ancient automotive style stuff is a waste and you will end up with steering that either does nto work well, or cost you $1000plus, or leaks like a sive because you cant get parts for it. For any US orders, I suggest TOM at power steering customs in tyler texas. His company is under PSC. Tom will know all the parts I am talking about, and will make sure you are using the appropriate versions of it all. He knows more about hydro setups than anyone I have ever talked to.
only hard work I "feel" in driving my manual 404 is in reverse. That takes some real struggle. Course I'm in VERY good physical shape cause of my job of tossing kids around all day (their getting fatter every year)
No designing involved. You can pick any of the sweet valves, I would go for the lightest action. Then you need a power steering pump, any saginaw pump will work fine, but they are a bit big, and might be hard for most to fit. You can also use something like a howe power steering pump as well. then you simply need a 1.5-1.75" bore 8" travel hydro ram with heims on both ends. This replaces the stock steering stabilizer with quite a few mods, but they are simple. Then you have hydro hoses made and your done. Any time spent researching is a waste. These parts are designed specifically for this purpose. Messing with any funky industrial setups or ancient automotive style stuff is a waste and you will end up with steering that either does nto work well, or cost you $1000plus, or leaks like a sive because you cant get parts for it. For any US orders, I suggest TOM at power steering customs in tyler texas. His company is under PSC. Tom will know all the parts I am talking about, and will make sure you are using the appropriate versions of it all. He knows more about hydro setups than anyone I have ever talked to.
That was exactly what I am thinking for my 404 & will probably go this route. I have enough fabrication to do on this thing elswhere to be messing with different boxes & steering columns etc. I've never heard of Power Steering Customs however - I'll have to look them up when the time comes. Thanks for the info DOKATD!!
, but I recently bought a 404 in pretty good condition. I already have many plans for it, and the first is power steering.
, Al.
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