Models: all, Years: all

There are two ways to put PS on a vehicle: with an ordinary PS steering box, or with a hydraulic cylinder that connects between the chassis and some part of the steering linkage (on either the input or output side of the steering box, I suppose). I searched for a PS box that could be modified with a reasonable amount of work to fit the Pinz and never found one, so I chose the second method and connected the hydraulic assist cylinder below (on the output side) of the PS box.  I think a regular powered steering box would work a bit better, but maybe not (I'm still fine-tuning my setup).  Keep in mind that my truck seldom goes on pavement and then just briefly.

The main components are: PS pump, drive pulley, servo, cylinder, reservoir, hoses, steering wheel. The main tasks are: strengthening the body where the cyl attaches, supporting the outer cylinder mounting point to the frame tube (since the body and frame flex on rubber mounts), building steering stops, inserting the servo into the stg wheel -- stg box shaft, supporting that shaft's housing tube, affixing a steering wheel mounting hub, building a pump bracket, affixing a pump drive pulley to the crank pulley, routing hoses, and building safety shields around the servo and bulkhead fittings (in case a fitting fails).

I chose a pump from PSC that operates at 1,500 psi. and can flow ~5 gpm. I chose a 1-1/2" cylinder (but I may reduce this since I have plenty of assist and smaller cylinders minimize any tendency for the steering to search). I used a Woodward servo (see http://www.woodwardsteering.com/, catalog P.18), an excellent control valve that can be tuned in several ways.  I used a Woodward anti-frothing reservoir (P. 20).
 
Omitted from this are many small operations (e.g. installing an oil seal in the input neck of the steering box, attaching the servo splined coupling to the stg shaft). This installation can't be done without a good machine shop, machinist and welder.

But what an improvement! Steering is almost effortless and much quicker (in part due to the smaller stg. wheel). Also, ingress/egress into the driver's seat is much easier, esp. if you have a seat with bottom side bolsters.  The only downsides I've encountered after ~6 hrs. off road driving and ~10 min. hiway driving are a slight tendency for the steering to search (I think this can be tuned out) and a bit of noise from the hydraulic fluid flow. This is the second such system I've installed on off road trucks (the first was on a Unimog) and they've both been very effective.

Contributed by Lee Fikes