PSC Pump woes - and possible brake issue (maybe)

[Scooter]

1974 Scout II - 4.0 motor from 1990 Jeep chit
this will be somewhat a long post - sorry. Only trying to clarify as much as possible of what I have and possible issues.

I currently have installed:
rebuilt gear box - taped and caped for hydro assist - which I had purchased from Jeff at iho

rag joint - replaced for borgeson joint

psc pump w/remote reservoir - set up to adapt hydro boost brake return line to reservoir

master cylinder and proportioning valve: 4 wheel disc on both and purchased from Jeff at iho

first off - ever since I had installed the psc pump w/reservoir, it seemed a little stiffer to steer than the stock set up. And after driving for what ever period of time, the fluid and reservoir always seemed to get hot to the touch. Unfortunately I haven't been able to afford to get a cooler yet for this set up.

Well - I finally got around to doing SOA conversion. I already had both axles build a few years ago for my 72 Scout (which I have to put on hold) and got tired of these axles just sitting around wasting away. Every thing seemed to go fairly well and steering was acting like before the SOA - still slightly stiff, but worked as power steering should.

After installing all new brake lines and rotors on all 4 corners, new master cylinder & prop valve, the brakes felt way too mushy to be safe to drive. Bleed the brakes so much that I lost count. Then I decided to replace the vacuum booster and install hydro boost. The hydro boost did seem to help

I finally was able to go for a test drive yesterday. Brakes May still need to be adjusted for the rear.

Main issue now - is with steering. It's acting as if I had no power steering. More like manual steering, but worse - it seems. King kong would have a problem trying to steer this beast. Even when in motion, it's hard to steer.

My first inclination is that the power steering pump is bad. No leaks from the hoses or pump or hydro boost. I even bypased the hydro booster and hooked pump up to gear box like normal - with out hydro boost. I still get the manual steering effect. I jacked up the front end and it becomes very easy to steer. But when on the ground it become almost impossible to steer

btw the axles I installed for the SOA are Dana 44 front and rear with ARB air lockers.
Front = 35 spline inner axle(made by ctm), ctm u-joints, warn 30 spline outer axles and manual locking hubs
rear = 35 spline axles. Along with xplorer rear disc brakes
tires = 31x10.5x15

any other thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Rock Tractor]

A couple things you did not mention.
Do you have a locker in the front axle?
What size tires?

Just trying to get all the info we can.
Because it can be real simple fix or a bad ps box.

 

[Scooter]

Edited my first post that includes that info

and I am more inclined to say that it's more like the psc pump. Mainly due to me bypassing the hydro boost and connecting the pump directly to the gear box.

 

[ihpartsjeff]

Have you called psc? I would start there as no one knows their product better then them. Their customer service number is 817-270-0102. If psc cannot resolve your problem or if you have questions that psc cannot answer let us know as we will be glad to help.

 

[Scooter]

Thanks for the reply Jeff. I had just called them this morning before I read your post.

Some what a simple fix, but messy. Inside the pump just underneath the pressure hose fittings is a piston and spring. And the piston was jammed (stuck) all the way down in it's hole, and was not moving freely. Once put back together it was all working like it was suposed to, for all of like 5 or 10 minutes. Sigh