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Anyone regret adding power steering?

I like the ram assist for the same reason. It takes a lot of load off the sector shaft and pitman arm. With the ram, the work is being done in a straight line, like a woodsplitter, instead of at a 90 degree angle, (pitman arm). Would I want it on a daily? No, it's just for a trail rig.
 
I have a 1970 CJ5 V6 with the Ross TL125999 steering box. When I got the CJ5 the steering was very loose and sloppy. I removed the grease someone had put in the box and flushed it several times with gear oil, serviced the dragline and installed a tight steer which all made a huge improvement with very little slop now and always returns to center. Won’t even consider changing it.
 
I would never not have power steering. They just drive better. I will say that the ratio of a power steering gear with failed assist in the rocks is the most miserable experience ever. One year our club ran the Rubicon backwards from lake Tahoe in. Right away coming up out of Rubicon springs I broke a brand new dutchman axle and lost power steering from a strange cavitation issue. The rest of the run was exhausting and slow. The next morning I literally needed two hands to hold my coffee cup. One of those years...
 
I didn't think this posting would survive this long. Here's an example:

Went out a couple weekends ago in my CJ with a 289, 31s and a manual box. Had to turn around on a narrow wash with some incline and sand. The whole time I was wishing I brought out my CJ with 35s and power steering and a small dia steering wheel. It would have been so easy like night and day. I explore a lot and this happens quite a bit. Go down a bad trail and have to turn around. Manual and Ross are outa the question.
 
Patrick Reynolds said:
is there anyone out there that has gone with power steering and ended up regretting it?
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Funny you should ask....
FinoCJ said:
Yes ...me ....I am probably the only one though ...maybe old pappy as well.
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Because I asked as well... Knowing James had gone power on his wagon.

I was curious mainly due to test driving a Wagon several years ago that had PS and an auto. Maybe it was that combo that had me a tad turned off and concerned.
I dealt with Ross steering in my '60 Wagon, and it was annoying at best. I did get to drive a later model with the bell crank and a very well built Ross box. It steered better than earlier versions...
In my '62, I have the '73 CJ-5 manual Sag box. Steers very well in 90% of situations, but having to parallel park every time I want to drive it just plain sux. And last summer's trip to the San Juans doing all the passes with all their tight switchbacks was not as fun as it could have been. I'm also a fan of old "necker knobs" but I've broken 2 with the manual box.
It's funny; at one time I owned a '73 CJ-5, 304 with power everything. It was such a blast to drive and wheel! I think I'm gonna try to relive that childhood.
I do have a favor to ask: would like to see/read what boxes would easily replace my current 3 bolt CJ, and directions to the hydro assist builds. Always looking for better ideas than my own. Thanks!
 
Re which will work, all the Saginaw gears have the same bolt pattern. Some are 3-bolt, some 4-bolt. The 3-bolt just eliminates one of the bolts in the pattern - you can use a 4-bolt gear with the 3-bolt bracket, or a 3-bolt gear with a 4-bolt bracket, or match 3 with 3 or 4 with 4. The manual gears are all 3-bolt AFAIK.

The input shaft diameters change, but the proper bell coupling is all that's needed to match the shaft to the gear. Available aftermarket. I expect easiest for you would be the CJ power gear same year as your manual gear.

The CJ OEM gears are 4-bolt, and the S10 gears are 3-bolt. The CJ input shaft is larger, but the S10 input is the smaller size, matching the CJ manual gear.
 
Tralehead said:
I'm also a fan of old "necker knobs" but I've broken 2 with the manual box.
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This is THE reason I upgraded from my manual saggy box to a power unit. We were out wheeling and the front tire rode up on a tree. As it passed center, the wheel whipped out of my hand. the "brody knob" I was using swung around and hit my fore arm so hard I thought I broke it. The knob was made out of plastic, which exploded on impact, probably saving me a trip to the ER.
A good read on the variations of boxes and how to identify them.
 
jeepdaddy2000 said:
This is THE reason I upgraded from my manual saggy box to a power unit. We were out wheeling and the front tire rode up on a tree. As it passed center, the wheel whipped out of my hand. the "brody knob" I was using swung around and hit my fore arm so hard I thought I broke it. The knob was made out of plastic, which exploded on impact, probably saving me a trip to the ER.
A good read on the variations of boxes and how to identify them.
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And why I have never installed one of those on a Jeep, or for that matter, any "normal" vehicle. I have one on my Bobcat 5600 but with full hydro steering, virtually no feedback in that machine, rocks, dirt, snow, or anything else.
 
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