My entire steering system is from a 92 Explorer Eddie Bauer 4dr w/tow package (unmodified) if that helps, turns the 38's with one hand, oh wait it has Lucas in it, lol. I have a tractor ball on the steering wheel for one handed steering. Even in deep ruts or against ledges it still isn't hard to steer mine, as long as the tires are rotating even slowly it will turn them to lock without a lot of effort from the me.
Now we don't have rocks here so it may not be great in the rocks I don't know, but on hard surfaces and in the soft stuff we have around here, I haven't had any problems as of yet. It's no hydro assist, but I haven't felt like hydro assist is necessary on this rig, if I can turn the wheel with one hand why go to the trouble of fabbing in hydro assist?
If I had to use 2 hands to steer I wouldn't have installed the suicide knob on the steering wheel, lol and I certainly wouldn't have stated it's easy to steer, but one handed guys, what more can I say?
My expectations came from driving my 68 Rover with Toyota power steering and Toyota axles leaf over (small block Chevy/th350/np205) GMC Saginaw pump with the power valve mod and it was stiff steering all the time with 35's and front and rear locked, I always came home with sore arms after wheeling that thing all day, same with my GMC short box 4x4 with half tons and locked front and rear on 36's, it was a challenge to steer so most of the time I just had one front hub locked just so I could steer it around. The Bronco turns no problem with 38's and locked at both ends. I'm not a muscle bound body builder either, at 6foot 190lbs, I'm just a regular guy with average build and a beer gut, lol.
Maybe the Explorer steering system has a better output force than the stock BII steering?? Or maybe yours is worn out and takes more effort to steer now?? Just asking no offence intended.
IDK. Since they looked exactly the same and bolted right up I figured they were the same components, maybe they are not?
Sorry guys, not trying to miss lead anyone here.