Front shot
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/277031/original/IMG_0711.JPG

Axle mount side
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/277032/original/IMG_0712.JPG

Same thing...different angle
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/277033/original/IMG_0713.JPG

Frame mount side...I love 3/8" material
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/277034/original/IMG_0714.JPG

Same thing...different angle
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/277035/original/IMG_0715.JPG

From behind on the drivers side
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/277038/original/IMG_0717.JPG

From behind on the passenger side
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/277039/original/IMG_0719.JPG

From the side...over the tire...passenger side
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/277040/original/IMG_0720.JPG

I hope these help...sorry it took me so long to post them.

That looks sexy

nice secure mount for the brake line union on the drop line:goodfinge

whats the point of using the trackbar? I thought one of the big bene's to leafs wsa no need for it? Did you find the axle was walking to much on you with the chevy leaves? Any bumpsteer now? Does that track bar like to clunk around cause of the misalignment bushings? Do you really need the misalignments? prolly more so with leaves, doesnt the axle move back more when you stuff as compared to a coil spring.

what bump stops are those(the rubber part) i still need to make some.

Why the sinlge shear on the ram? That hole (as you konw) will wont to "wallow" out. its easy enuf to run double shear on the tie rod and prolly just as easy on the mounts you made.


aside from all my questions, nice work as always scooter. I want to learn, sorry.

If you have cross type steering you should have a trac bar,Ford does on there 1985 and up F350's with the dana 60 monobeam.The steering gets a very loose feeling when the trac bar bushings get worn out.The bigger and softer the spring bushings the worse the problem.

nice secure mount for the brake line union on the drop line:goodfinge
Ahhhh....what are you gonna do? There used to be a zip tie on it.

whats the point of using the trackbar? I thought one of the big bene's to leafs wsa no need for it? Did you find the axle was walking to much on you with the chevy leaves?
The track bar was needed to keep the springs located...and some wobble issues.

The springs are really soft since they weren't designed for the load of the front end of an FSB. So when I'd turn the wheel the whole axle would move side to side until it bound on the bushings. As a result the lack of a track bar was playing no small part in the bushing eating issues I was having. In other words the springs alone could not locate the axle.

The track bar has made all the difference in the world. It doesn't cause any bind and it hasn't caused me to lose any articulation. I'm running 12.75" travel shocks and am using 11 + inches of that length.

Most of my "death wobble issues" have been norrowed down to my tires and wheels...as in the tires aren't balanced and the wheels are bent...ahhh rock crawlin'....but since I put the track bar and ram assist on there's no way to get death wobble now.

Any bumpsteer now?
No bump steer issues even with out the ram.

Does that track bar like to clunk around cause of the misalignment bushings? Do you really need the misalignments? prolly more so with leaves, doesnt the axle move back more when you stuff as compared to a coil spring.
.
The answer to all of those is yes.

what bump stops are those(the rubber part) i still need to make some.
They are rubber dock bumper that are made to go on the back of semi trailers. They work really really well. They don't rip like the poly ones do since they bolt down on both sides. Don't let their size/shape fool you. At full stuff they squish flat.

Why the sinlge shear on the ram? That hole (as you konw) will wont to "wallow" out. its easy enuf to run double shear on the tie rod and prolly just as easy on the mounts you made.
To be honest...it was easier. Also the material used for the tabs is 3/4" thick and IMO is a stronger set up then a double sheer made of 1/4" material. If it really becomes an issue I'll consider changing it.

I want to learn, sorry.
U kan't leern nuttin' frum me boie.:toothless

nice!

To be honest...it was easier. Also the material used for the tabs is 3/4" thick and IMO is a stronger set up then a double sheer made of 1/4" material. If it really becomes an issue I'll consider changing it.

you could always make it single shear with a sleeve. get section of DOM, like .188 wall that fits snug over the bolt. make the sleeve about as long as current length of the bolt between the nut and the head, and weld the DOM to the top side of the ram mount (this is for the axle end of the ram). The bolt will be about twice as long, but it will have alot more support, and wont wallow out as easy. You can make the sleeve a different length if there are clearance issues. On the tie rod side of the ram, and L bracket from the back of the tie rod, up over the heim and attaching to the bolt seems easier. but it looks fine the way it is.

I'm glad it works for you. If I'm going to run a track bar I might as well have coils. :shrug

http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/277031/original/IMG_0711.JPG

what is the deal with the hydraulic ram? what does it do? I take it it is tied into the power steering pump...for what purpose?

Cool, I just asked the same thing 3 times. :toothless

It's hydraulic assist. It's plumbed into the PS box. It helps you bend steering linkages. :toothless

Actually it helps in turning big tires. :thumbup

It's hydraulic assist. It's plumbed into the PS box. It helps you bend steering linkages. :toothless

Actually it helps in turning big tires. :thumbup
I once heard someone say power steering is great in 4x4s...for popping the bead on your tire. It's true, I've done it. I guess that would make it even easier and possibly do damage just like you say.

its baddass, when you wheel in rocks like we do its almost a "must have"

I plan on doing it eventually. Just make sure your steering linkages are up to the task and don't try to push mountains over with it. You can break stuff. You just have to pay attention.

It allows for 1 finger steering when in the rocks. It is amazingly powerful.

Yes you can break steering link. That's why all mine are really beefy. I wouldn't hook a ram of that size to a stock set up. It could easily pop 1/4 and some 1/2 ton TRE's out of there sockets if you bound a wheel on a rock. But with 1 ton Chevy TRE's and 1.5" DOM tube that has a .33 wall I'm pretty safe to some extent.

The ram allows me to run with the front ARB locked and still steer like it's not. It also makes to possible to steer over any line I want and not fight the wheel to keep it there. The other advantage is the fact that it works as a steering dampener. Meaning it's like a steering stablizer on crack. It's next to impossible to have the wheel ever "snap back".

It's not just tied into the PS pump. It's actually a total system which includes a large reservior, a ported high flow sag pump, and a ported and tapped high flow steering box and a cooler that can handle a high GPM flow.

The ported and tapped box regulates the flow.
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/263486/fullsize/IMG_0648.JPG

The reservior ensures there's a constant flow of fluid threw a 7/8" i.d. hose into the pump.
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/263488/fullsize/IMG_0650.JPG

Neat stuff.

Dude, that tie rod is 1.5"??? Looks kinda small... The Trac bar looks like 1.5"... Is it just an optical illusion???

So where did you get the rubber bumpers? I want to get (or make) a bumper and put those rubber bumpers on it also (like a cop bronco) so if I want to push something or someone it wont scratch. Did you find them at a truck supply store?

If you have cross type steering you should have a trac bar,Ford does on there 1985 and up F350's with the dana 60 monobeam.The steering gets a very loose feeling when the trac bar bushings get worn out.The bigger and softer the spring bushings the worse the problem.

Not necessarily. Ford did that because they used the "A" shackles up front '85+, there's no lateral stability provided from those.

So where did the bumpers come from?

what did that ram setup run ya and did you perform the sag upgrade or was it farmed

Dude, that tie rod is 1.5"??? Looks kinda small... The Trac bar looks like 1.5"... Is it just an optical illusion???
The track bar is 1.5" o.d. tube with a .250 wall. The tie rod is 1.25" o.d. tube with a .219 wall.

...and how you been? How's life in the outside world goin'? How's the family?

So where did you get the rubber bumpers? I want to get (or make) a bumper and put those rubber bumpers on it also (like a cop bronco) so if I want to push something or someone it wont scratch. Did you find them at a truck supply store?
I got them from a local truck supply company. They are designed for bumpers on the rear of semi trailers. They are about 2.5" thick. They will squish completely flat when the weight of the rig is put on them. They only cost about 10 bucks a piece. I really like them. The best part is that they have two 3/8 reinforced bolt holes to hold them on and they don't rip like poly bump stops tend to.

what did that ram setup run ya and did you perform the sag upgrade or was it farmed
I had a Cardone sag pump before I put the ram on.

I bought a complete kit from PSC which included a ported/hi flow sag pump and steering box, resivior, hoses, fittings and ram. I upgraded the ram to a 2" unit and bought a few other things from them at the same time. My bill totaled around $1600.00. I think the regular kit cost about $1400.00. Check out their web site for the actual kit cost thogh. The kit also included an adaptor to alow their pump to mount to the existing late model 351 power steering bracket.

The kit is not bolt on. You have to grind a notch on the bracket to allow proper fitment as well as mill out the power steering pulley to .7480 to fit the shaft of the PSC pump. You also have to build all the hoses as well.

If you want to run one of their pumps but don't want to run a ram you can but you need to convert your steering box to accept NA fittings or just buy one of their ported boxes.

It's woth the money.

All is good here.. Finally got the truck back on the trails after the SAS and did a bit of wheeling.. Got a mean DW, but I am pretty sure its because I didnt brace my trac-bar bracket to the x-member.. I figured that if i welded it to my coil bucket and bolted it through the frame, it'd be good emough.. I got my dad to turn the wheel while i watched everything, and just sitting still working the wheel back and forth, it probably flexed the fame about 1/2"-3/4".. Ill throw a brace on it in the next few days.. The wife and kid are good by the way.. When you heading up this way again??

I want to get some bumpers like that. I think I know of a truck supply place near my place. Fro some reasion I cant locate any would you be willing to pick me up two and ship them? I can send a paypal payment for the bumpers and the shipping.

I want to get some bumpers like that. I think I know of a truck supply place near my place. Fro some reasion I cant locate any would you be willing to pick me up two and ship them? I can send a paypal payment for the bumpers and the shipping.

I can but I don't know when I'll be over by the supply place again. It's completely on the other side of town from where I live (about 60 miles each way).

Hey XLTchris,

I found some on ebay. Search "dock bumpers"

Link (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-NEW-TRUCK-SEMI-TRAILER-LOADING-DOCK-RUBBER-BUMPERS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50466QQitemZ461 0041133QQrdZ1)