Our friend Scott Arntz at Extreme Gear Off Road in Orangevale, California, will be installing the steering assist. Since this is a scratch-built installation, Scott first laid out all the components, took all the appropriate measurements, and then figured the entire steering system's movements, articulation, and proper steering geometry.
When installing this type of system, it is imperative that the proper clearances are taken into account for all moving parts. Routing of the hoses is also critical, making sure they are not rubbing or chafing on any moving components.
Installing the ram requires proficiency in math, geometry, and having a keen eye for all things mechanical. The vehicle's flexing and articulating on the trail means the ram clearances in respect to the tie rod and drag link are critical. This will be included in part two of this steering install.
The PSC pump bolted directly to the factory 5.9L Dodge engine mounting bracket without any modifications. | 
Once the pump's mounting bracket is properly secured, the belt pulley can be installed. | 
Once the PSC pump, factory bracket, and pulley are together, they can be securely fastened to the engine. |
When installing the hoses from the pump to the gearbox, Scott made sure the hoses and lines didn't rub or make contact with any other surfaces. | 
Next, Scott installed the fittings onto the PSC power steering fluid tank, making sure not to overtighten the fittings into the aluminum tank. These are not the components to be using power tools on. | 
The key to mounting the tank was placing it as directly above the gearbox as possible. This helps alleviate the problem of air entering the lines and permits fluid flow without the lines kinking. |
Before mounting the ram assist system, Scott needed to measure the overall travel of the ram. Proper measurement is imperative for full left-and-right turning movement. This also helps one determine that overtravel of the hydraulic ram doesn't cause any damage to any components. Overtravel can also break knuckles. | 
Measurements also need to take into account the flex and basic geometry of the overall steering system and articulation of the rig. | 
In part two of the PSC Extreme Duty Cylinder Assist installation, we will properly mount the ram and show an overview of the completely installed system. |