Should I add hydro-assist?

So one should not wheel until one obtains HA?

No, you should wheel with or without it.

However, if you start really getting into the rocks (especially with bigger tires like 35s) you're going to be in store for a serious arm work out.

I still took mine wheeling without hydro-assist and 35s, but every time I did I knew that hydro-assist was the next mod I was doing. When I say it's almost impossible to turn the wheel, I mean it.

35s aired down to 5 psi in the rocks...it's a PITA!
 
No, you should wheel with or without it.

However, if you start really getting into the rocks (especially with bigger tires like 35s) you're going to be in store for a serious arm work out.

I still took mine wheeling without hydro-assist and 35s, but every time I did I knew that hydro-assist was the next mod I was doing. When I say it's almost impossible to turn the wheel, I mean it.

35s aired down to 5 psi in the rocks...it's a PITA!
Yup. 35s aired down in any terrain suck to turn. I already have had a cylinder in my sights for a while. But it is a process unless you have $3k to do it all at once.
 
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Yup. 35s aired down in any terrain suck to turn. I already have had a cylinder in my sights for a while. But it is a process unless you have $3k to do it all at once.

Yes, with Blaine's kit and the parts from PSC, I think it was around $2500 or so for all the parts plus tax.

Certainly not cheap, but I don't like having to fight with my steering wheel.
 
All that time tuning shocks and no time for PSC? You'd better up your game!
Priorities. It's on the list, but it's a few steps down. Sliders that I can rely on are much more important to me at the moment. At the point where I'm using them, the value of hydro should become more evident.
 
Sometimes I wonder how I manage.

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Yes, with Blaine's kit and the parts from PSC, I think it was around $2500 or so for all the parts plus tax.

Certainly not cheap, but I don't like having to fight with my steering wheel.
Blaine's kit is super nice and clean, although not "cheap ".

I'm almost afraid to mention how "cheap" and redneck I added hydro assist on my old squarebody in here.

Less than 500$ for everything. But would not fly on a TJ. It does work well on my ole beast though.
 
Blaine's kit is super nice and clean, although not "cheap ".

I'm almost afraid to mention how "cheap" and redneck I added hydro assist on my old squarebody in here.

Less than 500$ for everything. But would not fly on a TJ. It does work well on my ole beast though.
Oh there’s cheaper ways for sure. But finding a solution that works and doesn’t cause other issues to over come is more rare. West Texas or agr would be cheaper ways and could be used with this cylinder mounting kit. Most likely one could get them to work.
Has anyone seen a cylinder mounted any different on a TJ with stock style steering without causing issues?
 
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I can’t tell you to do it but I can tell you that you will absolutely not regret adding it. I love my hydro assist. I just wish I had added the Ram sooner. I drove around with the PSC box and pump for over a year before I added the ram I had sitting in the garage.
 
How much stress does hydro assist place on both ends of the track bar? Should there be any frame reinforcement (cross-brace from frame rail to rail) factored into a hydro-assist install? And I realize factory TB mounts are a no-no..
 
How much stress does hydro assist place on both ends of the track bar? Should there be any frame reinforcement (cross-brace from frame rail to rail) factored into a hydro-assist install? And I realize factory TB mounts are a no-no..

Stress on the track bar is reduced because much of the steering force is moved to the axle and drag link. The stock TB mount is fine without a brace.

If one is cracking track bar mounts like I have, hydro is a good idea.
 
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How much stress does hydro assist place on both ends of the track bar? Should there be any frame reinforcement (cross-brace from frame rail to rail) factored into a hydro-assist install? And I realize factory TB mounts are a no-no..
It’s my understanding that if you have everything set up correctly, it should not place any additional stress on your front end components. In fact it should relieve stress since it assists you with turning.
 
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Blaine's kit is super nice and clean, although not "cheap ".

I'm almost afraid to mention how "cheap" and redneck I added hydro assist on my old squarebody in here.

Less than 500$ for everything. But would not fly on a TJ. It does work well on my ole beast though.
Some folks can make it work on a TJ. Some can't. I get calls from both who buy the bracket kit.
 
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Alot of folks on here would benefit greatly from the big bore box and high volume pump.
Amen here! I couldn't believe the difference after swapping to PSC steering. It is one of my top favorite mods. Steering on the rocks before was miserable. There were times were I'd have to reposition the vehicle, just to turn the tires. The box and pump alone was night and day difference. I'm like @Rescue6 though, the cylinder has been sitting in the garage and I need to get it installed!
 
How much stress does hydro assist place on both ends of the track bar? Should there be any frame reinforcement (cross-brace from frame rail to rail) factored into a hydro-assist install? And I realize factory TB mounts are a no-no..
The opposite actually. We only moved to hydro assist to save the trackbar and mounts. We started about the end of 2000 running big bore boxes with hot rodded TC pumps and remote reservoirs, no problem turning. Then the track bar mounts suffered, we braced them, steering gear mount suffered so we braced them. Then the frame started cracking between the track bar mount and the steering gear.

Went to hydro assist and now we can run the stock track bar mount, no brace on the steering gear and nothing suffers. The cylinder takes a lot of the load off of the frame because it reacts against the axle housing. Factory track bar mount is just fine to use.