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Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy

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Offline zrn777

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Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« on: June 04, 2011, 07:38:27 PM »
I just put a side kick steering kit on my 88 sammy and the steering is sticky.  it will not turn back to center unless i turn it back. anyone know what the cause might be... i am stumped and need some help

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Offline Skyhiranger

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Re: Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2011, 08:29:52 PM »
If the caster is off, it will affect the steering return to center.  Got a lift on it?  Longer front shackles?  Different than stock front springs?  Using different spring hangers other than the stock ones?  Did the steering return to center on its own before the PS swap?
If when you are turning it back to center you are feeling resistance, then you probably either have air in the system or have a bad pump/box.
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Offline zrn777

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Re: Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2011, 09:44:09 PM »
yes it has a sky yj conversion SPUA.  before the PS install the steering was normal.  the pump/box was rebuilt it came in a kit from trail tough.  i was wondering if the drop pitman arm will help?

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Offline Skyhiranger

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Re: Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2011, 07:21:03 AM »
  i was wondering if the drop pitman arm will help?

Doubt it.  SPUA shouldn't put much of an angle on the draglink.  Dropped pitman arms are generally to eliminate bumpsteer...which is not the issue you are trying to fix.
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Offline zrn777

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Re: Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2011, 09:22:26 AM »
thanks i think i will take it down and have the alignment checked out. what is bumpsteer?

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Offline Skyhiranger

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Re: Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2011, 10:22:58 AM »
thanks i think i will take it down and have the alignment checked out. what is bumpsteer?


If it was fine before the PS, then the PS addition will not cause it to be out of alignment. 
I don't know how the sky YJ conversion kit affects caster (or if it does).  But like I said, if the caster is off, then that will affect the "auto" return to center of the steering.
When you have to turn the steering wheel back to center, does it turn hard or easy?  Did you bleed the PS system after you installed it?
Bumpsteer.....
http://www.google.com/search?q=bumpsteer&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
Tracker and Sidekick parts for sale.....PM me with your wants/needs.

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Offline zrn777

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Re: Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« Reply #6 on: June 05, 2011, 03:55:56 PM »
thanks for the link.  it is not easy to turn it back to center.  i did not bleed the system but i have filled to resovior a few times and the level doesnt drop any more. 

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Offline Skyhiranger

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Re: Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« Reply #7 on: June 05, 2011, 04:15:21 PM »
thanks for the link.  it is not easy to turn it back to center.  i did not bleed the system but i have filled to resovior a few times and the level doesnt drop any more. 

It sounds like to me you might have air in the system and it needs to be bled.
I would suggest jacking the front tires off the ground, turn the wheels back and forth as far as you can like 50 times (with the engine NOT running), while checking the fluid level in the reservoir.  This will bleed the system and make sure you don't have any air in the system.
With the vehicle running, it should turn easily, if there is no air in the system and the box and pump are good and the fluid is at the proper level.
I have trackick PS on 2 of my samurais....one works a little better than the other.  On the best one, I can turn the wheels back and forth with 1 finger, with the engine running.  On the worst one, I can still turn the wheels back and forth by using the palm of my hand, when the engine is running.
Tracker and Sidekick parts for sale.....PM me with your wants/needs.

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Offline mbruce

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Re: Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« Reply #8 on: June 05, 2011, 05:38:09 PM »
How much difference does the drop pitman arm make on a SPOA? I ordered a tracker PS and full kit and looking to install it this week....

Any tips or tricks that will make it easier and/or better?
Ignorant questions lead to a wealth of knowledge

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« Reply #9 on: June 06, 2011, 11:38:28 AM »
How much difference does the drop pitman arm make on a SPOA? I ordered a tracker PS and full kit and looking to install it this week....

Any tips or tricks that will make it easier and/or better?

I would recommend going with a cross-over steering for a SPOA instead of a dropped pitman arm.
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
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Offline mbruce

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Re: Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« Reply #10 on: June 06, 2011, 06:13:18 PM »
My Sky cross-over steering will arrive this week....

I think every Samurai parts place or modification place is 20,000 miles from Louisiana.
« Last Edit: June 06, 2011, 06:15:09 PM by mbruce »
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Offline mrfuelish

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Re: Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« Reply #11 on: June 07, 2011, 10:13:00 AM »
try to loosen up the bolts on the top of your steering box and move the cap a little and tighten it back up, if it gets worse go the other direction.
1987,1988,1988,1990 samurai's,  1953 m38a1,  1996 x-90,blue.1996 x-90 red.1994 2 door tracker.   only Dead Fish go with the flow.                No Hairy Nosed Wombats were ran over on the trail today.       My ZUK is Xenophobic.

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Offline Skyhiranger

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Re: Sidekick power steering on 88 sammy
« Reply #12 on: June 08, 2011, 10:34:56 PM »
try to loosen up the bolts on the top of your steering box and move the cap a little and tighten it back up, if it gets worse go the other direction.

I would not recommend messing with the steering box gear mesh, unless you have the exact procedure for adjusting it and know what you are doing.
I would highly doubt that is the problem with the no "auto return to center" anyway.
Tracker and Sidekick parts for sale.....PM me with your wants/needs.