08 FX4 SAS

[Mr. Bossley]

I got to take the truck out in the snow last weekend. Snow conditions were good and the truck did well. Spend half the day clearing fallen trees though. Its that time of year.

Im still tinkering with the steering here and there. Tried over the knuckle steering but I would have to cut a bunch of brackets off the Core 44 so I decided against it. Im just gonna get a drop pitman arm to reduce the drag link angle. Then someday get a new toyota box. This one from the junkyard has some slop. But new ones are damn expensive.

Also one of my brand new Timken wheel bearings was shot after 200kms. Im calling it defective cause the other side is still tight. Got that replaced. Hopefully they last.

Oh and the wife picked up a brand new Jeep JL Willys! Pretty sweet ride. This was its first time out.

 

[ericbphoto]

I got to take the truck out in the snow last weekend. Snow conditions were good and the truck did well. Spend half the day clearing fallen trees though. Its that time of year.

Im still tinkering with the steering here and there. Tried over the knuckle steering but I would have to cut a bunch of brackets off the Core 44 so I decided against it. Im just gonna get a drop pitman arm to reduce the drag link angle. Then someday get a new toyota box. This one from the junkyard has some slop. But new ones are damn expensive.

Oh and the wife picked up a brand new Jeep JL Willys! Pretty sweet ride. This was its first time out.

nice!

I see calendar photos. Especially #6, 8, 12
Send email in if you’re interested.

 

[Mr. Bossley]

More snow wheeling! First good trip out since the SAS.

I also found some upgrades for my power steering setup. Big bore toyota box and a 1500PSI ford 4.0 pump. Theres a company just a couple hours from me building this stuff. I should have in all next week

 

[Mr. Bossley]

Doing my steering right this time. Hopefully this makes it drive a bit nicer.

 

[Mr. Bossley]

Been a while since I posted. I haven't been able to get the truck out lately. This power steering is whooping my ass. Like I mentioned before, I got a beefy pump and box to help the truck steer better. Turns out its not gonna be as simple as I thought.

First the pump pulley wasn't pressed on far enough and my pulley alignment was all out of whack. So I sent it back to have them correct the issue.

Then I cut the steering box input shaft down to accept my universal, but it turns out that totally messes up the box. The shaft isn't just one solid piece like I assumed. So I sent it back as well to have the input shaft replaced.

Now I got it back and have everything reinstalled but i'm not getting any power steering. There is a lot less play in the wheel but it's still very hard to turn. System is full and bled. I'm thinking there is an issue with the pump. It seems like the relief valve is staying open or something. Gonna pull it all apart again in the next couple of days. What a mess.

On the plus side I got my rear brake line installed. Stock one was a tad short.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Did you try to measure the pump pressure? Might be able to rent a PS pressure tester.

 

[ericbphoto]

Been a while since I posted. I haven't been able to get the truck out lately. This power steering is whooping my ass. Like I mentioned before, I got a beefy pump and box to help the truck steer better. Turns out its not gonna be as simple as I thought.

First the pump pulley wasn't pressed on far enough and my pulley alignment was all out of whack. So I sent it back to have them correct the issue.

Then I cut the steering box input shaft down to accept my universal, but it turns out that totally messes up the box. The shaft isn't just one solid piece like I assumed. So I sent it back as well to have the input shaft replaced.

Now I got it back and have everything reinstalled but i'm not getting any power steering. There is a lot less play in the wheel but it's still very hard to turn. System is full and bled. I'm thinking there is an issue with the pump. It seems like the relief valve is staying open or something. Gonna pull it all apart again in the next couple of days. What a mess.

On the plus side I got my rear brake line installed. Stock one was a tad short.

Congrats. You need at least one of those two systems. If you don't have steering, you better have brakes. If you don't have brakes, you better have steering. Loss of both is often disastrous.

 

[Mr. Bossley]

Did you try to measure the pump pressure? Might be able to rent a PS pressure tester.

No I haven't tried that yet. Would definitely be a good thing to check though. Would be a challenge to find somewhere to rent it in my area. Might have to buy one.

Congrats. You need at least one of those two systems. If you don't have steering, you better have brakes. If you don't have brakes, you better have steering. Loss of both is often disastrous.

Thats a good way of looking at it haha

 

[Uncle Gump]

Maybe some local dealer or repair shop could do the test. Just a thought.

 

[Mr. Bossley]

Well I haven't fixed my steering yet. I've just been driving it and putting up with it for know. Needed a break from working on it. Did a flex test on the forklift and also did some wheeling. Its getting muddy out there.

 

[bobbywalter]

a balanced ram is a better way to go.

its been keeping me from doing what i want to, but lil bob is forcing the fix. i was hoping to have already p.o.c. tested pjs electric steering setup as a boost to the system.

 

[Mr. Bossley]

a balanced ram is a better way to go.

its been keeping me from doing what i want to, but lil bob is forcing the fix. i was hoping to have already p.o.c. tested pjs electric steering setup as a boost to the system.

Ya i'm definitely considering ram assist now. I just need to find a pump that is up to the task. In the meantime i'm collecting parts to do the Jeep WJ knuckle swap for crossover steering. It seems tie rod roll is inevitable with my current steering setup. Also Ill reduce the angle of my track bar and drag link and hopefully it'll handle a bit better.

As for right now I'm replacing my wasted leaf spring bushings. Those rubber ones from skyjacker are junk. Got some poly ones to go in. The rears were easy but the fronts are a weird size that nobody makes. Have to machine them down a bit to fit.

 

[Mr. Bossley]

Thats better

 

[Mr. Bossley]

The truck has been getting a workout. Working great. No major issues so far. Have a bunch of trips planned for this summer so I'm leaving it as is for now. I did bend a wheel slightly though. I'll be hammering that straight tonight.

 

[ericbphoto]

Nice. Too bad that Jeep was in front of you.