Hydro-Assist

[joshy]

leaning towards triangulated 4 link no panhard, but ive never done anything like this before so its a bit of a learning curve. lift height compared to stock navara will be about 6". i can get a measurement of the drop tomorow arvo.

[nzdarin]

I'm pretty keen too here this as I'm building a D21 with Patrol axles etc. I was planning on fitting complete patrol frotn end from box, panhard, radius etc but also like the idea of hydro assist instead of damper. If full hydro was legal then I'd go 4 link from and use the full travel the coil overs will allow but how would you make a 4 link controlable (and legal) with a panhard rod?
My understanding is without a panhard rod (and so 5 link or 3 link) theh the bump steer would make it undrivable unless you went full hydro with a ram on the diff. If there is another way that has a mechanical linkage and so can be legal I'd really like to know now before the real fab work starts!

On another note, some new cars are starting to come with complete steer by wire and they are legal. Surely it is only time before we'll be able to do something like that and get it legal. (well NZ law is a bit easier than Oz so maybe here it will happen)

[joshy]

sorry i havent gotten the measurements im still working out the placement of the diff. Im thinking ill just run normal steering for on road and gear/chain drive full hydro off the steering shaft for offroad.

[1MadEngineer]

sorry i havent gotten the measurements im still working out the placement of the diff. Im thinking ill just run normal steering for on road and gear/chain drive full hydro off the steering shaft for offroad.

so are you going to disconnect the shaft going into the PS box?
as this obviously has a limited number of turns lock-lock, whereas an orbital is variable depending on fluid losses in the system.

I really can't see why its so hard, just gotta think outside the square.

think IFS and #70series (hint!) If i told you that would just wreck the fun.

[joshy]

sorry i havent gotten the measurements im still working out the placement of the diff. Im thinking ill just run normal steering for on road and gear/chain drive full hydro off the steering shaft for offroad.

so are you going to disconnect the shaft going into the PS box?
as this obviously has a limited number of turns lock-lock, whereas an orbital is variable depending on fluid losses in the system.

I really can't see why its so hard, just gotta think outside the square.

think IFS and #70series (hint!) If i told you that would just wreck the fun.

Was thinking more just pull the draglink off when off road. That way i dont have to worry about anything happening to it either. sits in a pretty vulnerable spot...made up a makeshift one to check out the angle on it..


Thanks ill have a look at a 70 series.

[Squeak]

The angle of your drag link is pretty messed up. Is that at ride hieght?
Can you get a different Pitman arm with less of a drop?
I thought that your Drag link and Panhard had to be in the same plan. That would put your panhard in a pretty weird spot as well. Lucky your thinking of going down the 4 link road.

Not sure on the steering set up on Patrol diffs But a mate and I were tossing around the idea of fitting a double ended ram in place of the tie rod on a high Steer Hilux diff. That way it would still work like a normal tierod even if you lost all fluid. But would give you a hybrid between assist and full hydro. You would still need a drag link though.

[joshy]

Thats about ride height. If it sits in the negative on road then theres more travel for off road. If anything id try and do a high steer with a level pitman arm and lift where it bolts to the nuckle.

[Squeak]

high steer with a level pitman arm and lift where it bolts to the nuckle.

Someting like this?
This is off an 80 series front end

[joshy]

Yeah something like that. Still keen to not have to use the draglink offroad tho.

[redzook]

this might help you out

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthre ... oh&page=37

[joshy]

Interesting.., Thanks.

[Breaker Brother]

With Hydro Assist steering, will the wheels still turn if you take the draglink off? If not, is there away to make it so it runs with a draglink onroad and without one off road?

Cheers, Josh

One of the cars @ Cliffhanger actually lost his drag link on one stage and he managed to drive about 1/2 of a fairly difficult stage without it. but unless you have an inline orbital valve, it's not going to work, the pressure ports on the steering box just don't flow enough to run the ram on their own, even with an upgraded pump.