Full hydro steering on the street

[edones06]

What do you guys thank about full hydro steering on the street? I probly dont put 250 miles a year on mine on blacktop. Mostly just to town for gas. I know there probly be no feeling in the steering wheel but other then that is it a bad ideal? Im on 37's and 101" wheelbase. Wats yalls thoughts. I have hydo assist and a 78 2 wd box rite now and it all is due a good rebuild. So thanking of switching it up instead of rebuilding. Thanks

 

[treihesse]

yo can do it just need to get a orbital valve that returns to center and has a slower reaction as the fast ones are pretty darty on the street

 

[treihesse]

https://www.yotamasters.com/shop/full-hydro-orbital-valves/

 

[ScanmanSteven]

Only problem I see is the local police if you were to be involved in an accident, it's not street legal. At only 250 miles might be worth the risk.
.

 

[mavereq]

Check out the new 4500 class steering. It uses a double ended ram, a servo instead of an orbital valve, a manual quick ratio steering box, and a drag link. It's fully street legal. There are a few threads on pirate.

 

[ScanmanSteven]

That sounds like the ticket.

 

[Scoop]

The OTHER problem I see is if you loose hydraulic pressure (burst hose, lose of drive belt) you will loose all steering. Not fun at highway speeds!

 

[edones06]

My beadlock wheels aint legal either...

 

[edones06]

And is there a return to center you recommend? I know nothing about them

 

[Mountain Ram]

Having run full hydro on my crawler for years, I can tell it can be done on the stet, but as others noted, there are issues. I dont know anything about the street legal one...

I have a full PSC kit on mine- I dont know if it is a return to center, but it handles well at speeds, so I will assume it is. I have driven the rig on 44" TSLs (not balanced) up to about 60mph on back roads with no issues. You need to pay attention as there is literally no road feel. It kept the tires where I pointed them. I have only done this when around crawling parks to get fuel (this was in Harlan, KY- road was a 55mph zone)

As noted, if you get in a wreck, expect a lawsuit. Most systems are not street legal. I doubt if you got pulled over by a trooper that you would get a ticket, many have no idea what they are looking at.

Also as noted- without the hydraulics working and no mechanical linkage=no steering- period. I witnessed a hose failure on a road- the driver lost control and the rig flopped into a ditch. Luckily this was around 25mph, but the hose gave no warning that I am aware of, completely blew and with no pressure- no steering.

All that said- why not hydro assist? With 37s, hydro assist would be really beneficial and negates all the problems above- its legal and still retains the mechanical linkage.

 

[welndmn]

As with any item, it's all about the parts.
I'm full hydro with load reactive valve (correct turn for return to center) and with no mechanal linkage to oppose the trac bar, mine handles better than it did with a steering box.

Plan on spending 2k with Howe or PSC for a quality kit.

 

[edones06]

Iv streched my wheelbase and its tight up front. All my old stuff is wore out and getting in bad shape so im looking to upgrade. I know im only on 37's now but who to say that wont change. I do have a sterling and a hp 60 for it when ever the 44 gives up so im trying to thank ahead. I understand it may not be ideal set up but im not using it as a daily driver and its not at highway speeds.

 

[DRBRONCO69]

I drive mine around without problems. I've had my rig at 65 down the highway. It is a different feel, but still feels 100% safe. I also run front and rear sway bars( Currie Antirock ) which helps with stability as the hydro is a little touchy. My system is a PSC full hydo double ended ram and orbital.

 

[roundhouse]

Only problem I see is the local police if you were to be involved in an accident, it's not street legal. At only 250 miles might be worth the risk.

.

Won't be the police

It will be the victims lawyer

 

[mavereq]

There's a lot of debate about whether it's actually illegal. I've seen some scary homemade lift kits that should be illegal.