Aftermarket trackbar mount compatible with PSC hydro-assist ram?

[Grant Lasson]

PSC box and pump seem to be working well. I have the parts to install the power steering coolerand I'm ready to start planning the install of the hydro-assist ram. It's obviously a tight fit with some potential for clearance issues. Is there a forum collective wisdom on an aftermarket trackbar mount that is stronger than OEM and is compatible with the PSC ram? Thanks.

An example: https://www.artecindustries.com/tjftbmount-stock

 

[hosejockey61]

@mrblaine sells a mount kit as well I believe.

 

[Grant Lasson]

@mrblaine sells a mount kit as well I believe.

Thanks. I would have loved to do @mrblaine's kit but I bought the all-inclusive PSC package (box, pump, reservoir, and ram) before I knew anything about it. If I understand correctly, he doesn't parse his kit into pieces (and there's no reason that he should). That's got me looking for options...

 

[mrblaine]

Thanks. I would have loved to do @mrblaine's kit but I bought the all-inclusive PSC package (box, pump, reservoir, and ram) before I knew anything about it. If I understand correctly, he doesn't parse his kit into pieces (and there's no reason that he should). That's got me looking for options...

Depends on what you need. I use PSC stuff a bunch, I sell it some, and I install a bunch of it so it is not my intention to strand PSC customers. If I can help at all, I will.

 

[mrblaine]

PSC box and pump seem to be working well. I have the parts to install the power steering coolerand I'm ready to start planning the install of the hydro-assist ram. It's obviously a tight fit with some potential for clearance issues. Is there a forum collective wisdom on an aftermarket trackbar mount that is stronger than OEM and is compatible with the PSC ram? Thanks.

An example: https://www.artecindustries.com/tjftbmount-stock

You're coming at it from the wrong direction. If you get the hydro assist working correctly, that takes a fair bit of load off of the track bar and negates the need for a stronger mount.

 

[Irun]

There is a bolt on and weld on option. If both are done correctly, if that's possible, is one better that the other?

 

[mrblaine]

There is a bolt on and weld on option. If both are done correctly, if that's possible, is one better that the other?

Too vague

 

[Irun]

Too vague

More direct. What's most important when installing a ram assist? Ram mount style, ram mount location, or something else?

 

[mrblaine]

More direct. What's most important when installing a ram assist? Ram mount style, ram mount location, or something else?

Most important is matching the throw of the cylinder to the steering gear stops and knuckle stops. After that, location which is best directly to a steering knuckle, second best is tie rod, worst is the draglink.

Weld on or bolt on doesn't matter as long as the design is proper.

After that is pump flow and pressure and a reservoir that can deliver the requirements of the box and cylinder.

Deviation of those parameters is not that much. It is easy to screw it up, it's also easy to get it right.

 

[Irun]

Most important is matching the throw of the cylinder to the steering gear stops and knuckle stops. After that, location which is best directly to a steering knuckle, second best is tie rod, worst is the draglink.

I don't yet understand this relationship, but will make a concentrated effort to do so!

 

[mrblaine]

I don't yet understand this relationship, but will make a concentrated effort to do so!

It is simple. If one stops before the others, the others try to keep moving or resist moving and that puts a bunch of stress on parts. If the knuckles stop short of full rotation and the cylinder stops at the same time, the box can keep trying to rotate the pitman and that tries to rip the box off of the frame.

If the box stops short and the cylinder keeps going, that tries to rip the box off of the frame.

If the knuckles stop short, the cylinder and box are trying to break the balljoints and or knuckles.

If they all stop at the same time, it all works better.

 

[Irun]

It is simple. If one stops before the others, the others try to keep moving or resist moving and that puts a bunch of stress on parts. If the knuckles stop short of full rotation and the cylinder stops at the same time, the box can keep trying to rotate the pitman and that tries to rip the box off of the frame.

If the box stops short and the cylinder keeps going, that tries to rip the box off of the frame.

If the knuckles stop short, the cylinder and box are trying to break the balljoints and or knuckles.

If they all stop at the same time, it all works better.

 

[Grant Lasson]

Depends on what you need. I use PSC stuff a bunch, I sell it some, and I install a bunch of it so it is not my intention to strand PSC customers. If I can help at all, I will.

Thank you.

 

[Steel City 06]

I used Blaine’s bolt-on kit. It is very straightforward, and basically replaces the steering damper with the ram. It includes brackets to reinforce the steering damper mount. All you have to do is paint it, drill a hole, and bolt them on. It also supplies a custom bracket to tie into a Currie drag link.

 

[Grant Lasson]

You're coming at it from the wrong direction. If you get the hydro assist working correctly, that takes a fair bit of load off of the track bar and negates the need for a stronger mount.

I am kind of working in the dark because I don't have any examples of how others have been mounted at the axle.

PSC's written guidance, was that the heims should be mounted parallel to the axle. That seemed to rule out using the stock/existing stabilizer mount. I have seen pictures of track bar mounts that have been broken and/or holes wallowed. I also thought that the ram would need to be mounted forward of the axle housing to create enough clearance. Cutting and welding is not a problem in my circumstances.

So, my thought was that I'd want or need a new bracket that was stronger than stock and that had a mounting point for the ram. I'd never heard of a bracket like that which seemed off to me because I've read quite a few threads/posts. (The reason for my original post.)

I planned to connect the other end of the ram to the tie-rod aspect of the Currie Currectlync (as opposed to the drag link) with this bracket:

PSC Steering TRCL08B Tie Rod Clamp

I would appreciate your guidance on the most effective ways to mount the ram on a TJ.

 

[Grant Lasson]

I used Blaine’s bolt-on kit. It is very straightforward, and basically replaces the steering damper with the ram. It includes brackets to reinforce the steering damper mount. All you have to do is paint it, drill a hole, and bolt them on. It also supplies a custom bracket to tie into a Currie drag link.

Doesn't that kit require a customized (shortened) ram to fit? It sounds great but I don't have one of those.

 

[mrblaine]

I am kind of working in the dark because I don't have any examples of how others have been mounted at the axle.

PSC's written guidance, was that the heims should be mounted parallel to the axle. That seemed to rule out using the stock/existing stabilizer mount. I have seen pictures of track bar mounts that have been broken and/or holes wallowed. I also thought that the ram would need to be mounted forward of the axle housing to create enough clearance. Cutting and welding is not a problem in my circumstances.

So, my thought was that I'd want or need a new bracket that was stronger than stock and that had a mounting point for the ram. I'd never heard of a bracket like that which seemed off to me because I've read quite a few threads/posts. (The reason for my original post.)

I planned to connect the other end of the ram to the tie-rod aspect of the Currie Currectlync (as opposed to the drag link) with this bracket:

View attachment 183518
PSC Steering TRCL08B Tie Rod Clamp

I would appreciate your guidance on the most effective ways to mount the ram on a TJ.

Stock TJ style steering is the worst to try and hook a cylinder to. I've been able to make it work. It is reliable, and because I ONLY use a 1.5" bore cylinder, it doesn't tear up much and gives the assist needed when combined with PSC's bigger bore box.

Nothing about it is ideal or what you would consider correct except that it works. I've seen it done with the tie rod, I am not well versed in that method. But, it will be like other things, mock it up, loosen the caps on the cylinder and cycle it. We can look at pics while you're doing and see if we can help.

 

[mrblaine]

Doesn't that kit require a customized (shortened) ram to fit? It sounds great but I don't have one of those.

Yes, but I can tell you how we do it in a couple of minutes.

 

[Steel City 06]

Doesn't that kit require a customized (shortened) ram to fit? It sounds great but I don't have one of those.

I thought it was just the standard 6” ram, though I could be wrong. The ram has two heim joints, one at each end, and bolts in place of the damper. A new drag link bracket is provided to accommodate the heim joint.

It does go against PSC’s recommendation of keeping the Heim joints in the same plane (they mount 90 degrees to one another), but cycling the axle showed no binding issue with the way it is set up.

 

[mrblaine]

I thought it was just the standard 6” ram, though I could be wrong. The ram has two heim joints, one at each end, and bolts in place of the damper.

It does go against PSC’s recommendation of keeping the Heim joints in the same plane (they mount 90 degrees to one another), but cycling the axle showed no binding issue with the way it is set up.

We shorten the rod ends and shaft and then lock them in place with 609 Loctite since we can't use jam nuts.