PSC Power Steering Upgrade vs Apex Power Steering Upgrade

[KayboKabuk]

I am sitting at 2 1/2” lift and 37s and wheel my Jeep. I am considering a power steering upgrade. I am considering three options: Apex Steering Boost Kit, PSC Adventure Kit, and PSC Cylinder Assist Kit. Anyone have pros and cons for these? One question is does the ram assist have any negative effects for on-road driving?

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[MoparToYou]

I put the Apex kit on my 392 after fighting to turn the tires when locked up in 4-low and having the power steering hot light come on a few times with 37" tires. I thought that it made a significant improvement in being able to turn the tires and decreased the incidence of having the overheat light come on. I've since only had the overheat light come on once, at the top of Cadillac Hill, on the Rubicon trail. I now have 40" tires with the same Apex kit, and didn't really notice a difference in steering effort with the larger tires.

The PSC kits are definitely going to provide more steering assist, but they can be up to 10x the price. The Apex kit may just be "good enough", and it doesn't change on road driving characteristics.

 

[Gasman]

Our 20 I bought from Barnes 4wd came the psc steering on it and so far I love it, I am on 37,s till they wear out and we do more road than off road no side effects yet.

 

[Jteakus]

I did the PSC kit on mine. It is the APEX boost kit with PSC cooler and lines and I like the packaging of the PSC kit better. I also have a Metalcloak steering box brace.
I was on 37 BFG AT's at the time and steering was great. I am now on 38's and when front is locked steering struggles. My next move is to the PSC steering box. I will be moving my cast JT steering box over to my JL so really both Jeeps get an upgrade. If the steering doesn't meet my needs it will be easy to add the ram in the future because the box is tapped.
I would also get the PSC pump ready to install. There is a plastic port on the factory pump that scares me to death every time I think about it and it is upgraded to metal with the PSC.
The ram will reduce driver feedback through the steering wheel. If you have ever driven a forklift you know. It isn't horrible, just be aware. The steering is powerful and the ram takes the load off the frame rail too.
Hope this helps with your decision.

 

[cmb396]

I did the PSC kit on mine. It is the APEX boost kit with PSC cooler and lines and I like the packaging of the PSC kit better. I also have a Metalcloak steering box brace.
I was on 37 BFG AT's at the time and steering was great. I am now on 38's and when front is locked steering struggles. My next move is to the PSC steering box. I will be moving my cast JT steering box over to my JL so really both Jeeps get an upgrade. If the steering doesn't meet my needs it will be easy to add the ram in the future because the box is tapped.
I would also get the PSC pump ready to install. There is a plastic port on the factory pump that scares me to death every time I think about it and it is upgraded to metal with the PSC.
The ram will reduce driver feedback through the steering wheel. If you have ever driven a forklift you know. It isn't horrible, just be aware. The steering is powerful and the ram takes the load off the frame rail too.
Hope this helps with your decision.

Did this set up help with street/interstate manners? I get the occasional bump steer/shimmy when hitting bumps or bridge transitions while in a swooping turn. Currently have synergy 1 ton steering set up, track bar, icon pass through ss, and steer smarts gear brace on 39" KM3, but moving to 40's soon. Do not need to move boulders out of the way while aired down and locked, we don't have those kind of trails in WV. But, looking for best possible on road manners.

 

[Jteakus]

I had the same shimmy with my 37's. I had them balanced numerous times and it was always there. I mounted up the 38" Nitto Ridge Graps bead locked and it is smooth as silk with no wheel weights at all.

 

[cmb396]

I had the same shimmy with my 37's. I had them balanced numerous times and it was always there. I mounted up the 38" Nitto Ridge Graps bead locked and it is smooth as silk with no wheel weights at all.

I really think its the KM3's. Have a friend with 37" km3 and has the same issues. My son is running 40" yokohama geolander MT's, with MC 3.5" and MC 1 ton steering, fox 2.0 ss, and it rides flawless, smooth as could be, with zero shimmy ever?!? IDK either.

 

[Jteakus]

I have the same exact lift and steering components as your son. I mounted the new tires on the same wheels with the same bead locks after I removed a pile of stick-on weights. I expected the new setup to shake the windshield out of the frame, I was pleasantly surprised when it was smooth. I drove it to Adventure Falls in February and it did great on the highway. Headed to Big Bend National Park in April then to Arizona and Utah in May with not a weight on a wheel.

 

[RodRecket]

I've been starting to read a lot on different PSC upgrades and have called them myself for info.

I am currently running the Apex boost kit, it's been in for over a year now. It does help boost the steering but I will say that locked up or in bound up it still struggles. I can tell the steering still gets hot and I have fade. Granted these are long trail days (8 hours or so) but it's noticeable. I'm running 38x13.5 on beadlocks.

Besides the power steering not really keeping up off road I've noticed my steering box is getting sloppy. It's the updated cast box. I have already done the tie rod and drag link, everything is tight. I tried "tuning" the steering box but if I tighten it up enough for my steering to feel normal (less center dead spot) my box starts clicking bad. So, I think I'm at the point where I upgrade the steering box. If I do the steering box I want to go to the big bore box (in case I want to run a ram later) and if I do that I'm looking at the adventure kit which swaps the pump to a belt drive and all the lines plus their cooler. It becomes a big investment. FWIW, the tech I spoke to says their adventure kit should be plenty of steering for up to 40s even though their site states an underwhelming 35s. I don't know if I'll get to 40's but its good to know it should be more than adequate for 38s.

The other option is to try to get another factory box, turn up the boost kit a little more, and hope for the best. It hurts the pocket book but I think it may be time to pony up for the PSC and make that a worry free part of the rig.

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