So many questions! haha.
The steering isn't bad. I'm running inverted T style with high steer so the lingage is pretty flat. Maximizes steering strenth (force goes into turning the knuckle rather than bending the tie rod). I've never been unlocked in the front with the D44, so I can't say how much worse it is. It doesn't lock up on me too much, and if it does, it usually turns if I lightly spin my tires. You just have to know how to drive it. I find that tire pressure affects it more than anything. I run 10psi up front and 8 in the back. Any lower up front and the steering difficulty ramps up pretty good.
I have a hydro assist kit sitting in my room. I just need to figure out what I want to do about the box (drill/tap mine, buy new, etc).
I'll package it wherever I can. If i can keep it off of the cover I will, but I don't see that being a viable option. I still have my stock steering arms on the knuckles, so I've thought about using that as a mounting point rather than welding tabs to my tie rod. If I can do that I may be able to keep the axle mount off of the cover. I dunno.
In short, I'm not sure how I'm going to package it, but I'll get it on there one of these days. I hate to set deadlines, but it would be nice to have it on and all the kinks worked out before winter hits.
