Hydro Assist Location

[CBNFPRT]

I thought I had a solid mount location for my redneck ram as it tracked smoothly, but alas, it’s not parallel enough to the tie rod and bent a little. I mounted the cylinder to the Duff track bar riser plate and it’s too far back from the tie rod. I’m having a bit of time thinking of other areas to mount to clear the movement of the Duff TRO so I’m asking if anyone has a pic of their setup that I can study. Thanks!

 

[ntsqd]

Could you rotate the tie rod clamp to put the stud horizontal and pointed to the rear? If so, I think that would go quite a ways towards lining things up better.

 

[CBNFPRT]

That was my first inclination when mounting it, but the cylinder will hit the diff cover as it tracks back and forth. I’m guessing I’m going to have to fabricate some sort of spacer or extend the ram tabs to the track bar riser mount to bring the back of the ram cylinder towards the front making it even. Or..... if anyone has another angle...

 

[ntsqd]

With the ram more or less "behind" the tie rod can it be moved far enough to the right to avoid diff cover contact?

 

[CBNFPRT]

Only spot I can see is to tack the tabs over the riser mount bolt which in theory that bolt should not have to come out specially now that I’m thinking of it, I’ve welded the riser plate onto the axle housing as well (I’m now remembering doing that and smacking my head that I didn’t realize that bolt ain’t coming out so weld over it! (and I’m aware I need taller bump stops))

 

[ntsqd]

Or put the ram tabs just outboard of that bolt so that you can get it out should that become necessary.

 

[CBNFPRT]

I’m going to investigate that route and hopefully with a little heat, straighten out the ram.

 

[ntsqd]

I'd send it back to be fitted with a new shaft. Less than almost perfectly straight and it will wipe out the bushing and seal. You might be able to get it pretty good, but it will eventually fail the seal and the bushing. If yours is like my luck, that will be in BFE somewhere.

 

[Terry760]

I can take some pics of mine later today and post them if still needed.

 

[CBNFPRT]

I can take some pics of mine later today and post them if still needed.

Thanks. I ended up making up a couple of new tabs that are 1/2 inch longer than what came with the ram to help push the back out from the axle housing a bit to allow for the tie rod mount to be adjust back in towards the axle to hopefully straighten it out a bit. Where I originally mounted it is the only place it will all fit and Duffs Hi Ho Silver has a very similar front end setup and that is where they chose their location so I think I’ll be ok. Ram came in yesterday and off of work tomorrow so we’ll see what shakes!

 

[Terry760]

post some pics of how your redoing it. I'd like to see what you come up with also. Theres not a lot of choices to mount that sucker.

 

[Terry760]

I made my mount like this.

 

[Terry760]

Here’s another

 

[CBNFPRT]

This is how I originally mounted it and it tracked fine, but angle is pretty aggressive. Upon further inspection, I think the ram bent when the tie rod got hit and flexed; not from the mounting location. Either way it can be improved upon so my thought for now is to flip the tabs so I get an extra 1.75” away from the pumpkin allowing the ram cylinder to clear the pumpkin completely as well as dropping them down a bit to for more clearance from trac bar. I might need to put a spacer in between tabs to compensate the loss of articulation from flipping tabs. I’m also only 2.5” suspension lift so it’s a tight fit between the tie rod and trac bar.

 

[CBNFPRT]

Here’s what I came up with... As parallel as I’m gonna get with 2.5” lift and TRO.