Ram-assist test - Take 1

I've spent the last week and a half trying to fit my PAS cooler for the ram-assist. I purchased the unit from a scrapped discovery. The overall dimensions were not too bad for fitting purposes but a bit tighter than I would have liked.

after multiple trips to the hardware store/ hydraulic supply I decided on 2 x 1/2" NPT 90degree elbows (pictured above) and 2 x 3/8" barb male fittings on the cooler and 2 1/2" barb unions for the plumbing into my low pressure return. I got some cheap and cheerful 3/8" i.d hose (dont say it yet) that should've done the trick. Yada yada, all hooked up and everything looked tidy as fuck if I say so myself

Time to test.

1. everything tightened - Check
2. fluid in the reservoir - Check
3. key in ignition - Check

Action time!!

Td5's are notoriously hard to start if they've been sitting for a while, in this case a few weeks, I think it's to do with the fuel pump personally. So I had to do a bit of the old gasolene doping trick in the MAP sensor port. BAM! it lives again.

"Jesus..." I thought to myself, "that pump sounds loud, maybe I should turn the wheel to get some fluid going" so I turn the wheel and the noise subsides but then I get the almighty *WHAPAXX* "Holy Fuck!!, what was that?" then I notice that there's fluid everywhere on my walls. A quick shutdown ensues, "What in the hell??--" I then go to take a look in the engine bay and EVERYTHING is covered in power steering fluid. After a quick inspection I realised it was my budget hose that decided it had enough and was going on vacation in grand style. Updates to come soon, as I've just purchased the 300psi hose today

Hydrauphobia

Well, here are some photos of a second hand hydro assist kit I obtained for the defender.

I'd describe the install, but there's already an excellently detailed writeup here by a guy under the forum name 'Robhybrid' who has saved me endless horrors because I'm clueless about the inner workings of a landrover PAS box and without him I'd never have figured out the circuit for the lines as everything was disassembled when I got it.


I'll have to do a bit of grinding to get the rose joint to fit in the steering rod but that's not too bad given the ease of the install itself. I've also, on the recommendation of many interweb forums, decided to integrate a PAS cooler which gets plumbed into the reservoir's low pressure return line (sitting on the bumper in the last photo) I got it from a scrapped auto discovery and it works a treat with the limited space I've got left as the intercooler takes up most of it.

I'm also trying to do some machinations to relocate the ram directly to the steering knuckle, but it is very tricky business with the standard defender suspension getting in the way.

C.V. Replacement

This space is dedicated to the c.v. joint install that I'm scheduled to do sometime this weekend.

I can't really say I'm looking forward to it, but I think I've achieved a reasonable level of confidence when it comes to front axle strip-downs.


Hang on.....I did I mention before that I broke a C.V joint, right??............

Silicone hoses

Self-explanatory. I picked up a cheap set in the UK. Not much to say here really, wax off - wax on.