Hydro Assist mount

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Jun 2, 2018 | 09:13 PM

Baddad

Thread Starter

Seasoned Member

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 302

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From: Seattle

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

Hydro Assist mount

Adding West Texas Off-road hydro assist steering. The ram fits almost perfect in the stock stabilizer bracket but I need to reinforce it so this is what I did.

Jun 2, 2018 | 09:15 PM

Baddad

Thread Starter

Seasoned Member

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 302

Likes: 22

From: Seattle

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

This is factory.

Holds up incredibly well for heavy sheet metal!

Jun 2, 2018 | 09:18 PM

Baddad

Thread Starter

Seasoned Member

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 302

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From: Seattle

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

Started by cutting this chunk out.

Cleaned up the surfaces.

Used more cad design!

And cut the piece out of 1/4” plate.

Jun 2, 2018 | 09:21 PM

Baddad

Thread Starter

Seasoned Member

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 302

Likes: 22

From: Seattle

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

I utilized the mounting tabs from the kit. Since the stabilizer mount is at an angle from the track bar mount, I needed a shelf to mount the tab.

Jun 2, 2018 | 09:23 PM

Baddad

Thread Starter

Seasoned Member

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 302

Likes: 22

From: Seattle

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

I decided to tie in this area for more strength.

Like this.

Jun 2, 2018 | 09:26 PM

Baddad

Thread Starter

Seasoned Member

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 302

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From: Seattle

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

The inner mount was more tricky. Cut a piece like this.

Fits into the mount like this

And welded it in. I added a couple washers tacked on for spacers.

Jun 2, 2018 | 09:29 PM

Baddad

Thread Starter

Seasoned Member

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 302

Likes: 22

From: Seattle

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

Then I fully welded in the rest.

Think it turned out ok.

I ran outta time tonight, but I’ll add a small piece here to gusset it al together.

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Jun 5, 2018 | 06:56 PM

Baddad

Thread Starter

Seasoned Member

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 302

Likes: 22

From: Seattle

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

Decided it would be better to reinforce at the back of the mount.

Did the normal CAD pattern, and cut out this piece. It needed a slight bend for the angle to work but since this is 3/16” plate I was able to do it with a hammer in the bench vise.

Then welded it in.

No project is done until it’s got bedliner on it! “I put that s**t on everything!” 🤣

Jun 8, 2018 | 01:40 AM

Baddad

Thread Starter

Seasoned Member

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 302

Likes: 22

From: Seattle

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

Ran into a bit of clearance issue. With my stock type steering setup, the drag link was hitting my bracket.

So I had to cut about 1/4” off and taper it to the left. If I were to do this again I’d raise the shelf 1/4-3/8” higher and the steering would have cleared. Live and learn...

Jun 8, 2018 | 01:49 AM

#10

Baddad

Thread Starter

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Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 302

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From: Seattle

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

So, I’m gonna get a lot of grief for this but I decided to try the hydro steer setup on my stockish steering. I do have the ZJ V8 tierod so we’ll see how it holds up. This is the bracket I built to attach the ram to the draglink.

I don’t have build pics but I used a steering stabilizer stud with the straight wall end cut off, drilled and welded it into a 5/16” plate piece, then welded the tabs to it. On the other side I put another set of tabs and fashioned a cam bolt at arrangement so I could tighten the bracket snug against the drag link.

I’m curious to see how this holds up. Not the brackets, but the steering linkage itself. I’ll report back after a trail run.

Jun 8, 2018 | 09:11 AM

#11

89eliminator

aka Wade-O

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 3,703

Likes: 10

From: IN

Year: 1989 Comanche

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

i'll be curious about that will hold up. get in a bind and the ram may overpower the strength of the draglink and bend it.

Jun 9, 2018 | 06:13 AM

#12

Baddad

Thread Starter

Seasoned Member

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 302

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From: Seattle

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

Quote:

Originally Posted by 89eliminator

i'll be curious about that will hold up. get in a bind and the ram may overpower the strength of the draglink and bend it.

Yea, me to. More concerned with the tierod. But we’ll see what happens 🤞. Gonna be conscious of it on the trail and try not to stress it to much. As soon as the budget allows, thinking of going with the IRO setup.