The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts FYI for Big Bolt owners w/ air brake systems...

I don't know if this is the right place to mention this....

But for you that have old BIG bolts with air brakes (aka an air system) and you want power steering, the old style air assist steering is still available new.

All that is available now is a 'universal' kit. You cut the drag link (excuse if I get the terms backwards, I get drag link and tie rod mixed up at times) and weld the air regulator there that controls the air cylinder. The air cylinder then mounts to the tie rod and another end is mounted to a mount bolted to the spring bolts. (A lot of factory hydraulic systems were set up similar.... kind of like the old Ford C series power steering, with the cylinder under it instead).

I put one on an old '77 KW K100.... I got lucky, an old stocking dealer had the drag link kit for the old K100. Who knows, maybe.... some stocking dealer might have old drag links for the Bolts. Company has been around since the late 40's. The system is by Maradyne called the Air-O-Matic.

Like I said, I hope this is the right spot to let ya know.....

Edit-
I scanned and 'archived' the install instructions to PDF file. If anyone is interested I can email you a copy for your any of you that are curious.

Good to know.
I had briefly considered it for a project of mine.

After some asking around I found that he general consensus is that air assist steering is really not worth the expense or effort for the results you get.

Not that it does not work, but I am told that they can have a sluggish and funny feeling, can use a lot of air.

It is worth the extra effort to use real hydraulic assist power steering, and stay way from the air.

Again, I have no actual experience with air steering, but this is what I learned when I was researching it for possible use on one of my projects.
Grigg

Well, on the KW I put it on, before the air assist, you could not turn the wheel w/out the truck 'rolling' just a tad. Granted, a K100 (for those who do not know) is a cab over.

If you are doing lots of maneuvering, it can use up lots of air. I parallel parked an IH semi w/ it's trailer (small trailer) I have that had it (was installed when I bought it) and it can use up a bit of air. But it also depends on how big the air tanks are. The literature said that the air assist only 'activates' when a certain amount of force is exerted on the control valve. So it's not really 'working' at high speeds when you don't need it.

As I said, it's an option for those who have an old Bolt w/ an air system and PS might not have been available for it originally.

edit-
For you out west, there was a stocking dealer in Portland, OR. They have been w/ Air-O-Matic for over 30+ years so said the guy I talked to.

Emailing Maradyne won't work. I did that and waited nearly 2 weeks before I just called them. They gave me the name of the "local" dealer....

Air steering is most annoying when in small spaces with a large vehicle and it uses up your air leaving you with the brakes locked waiting to build air again. Been there with a ground guide that thinks he is king and you are an idiot because you have stopped responding to his dumb a$$. I do so much love watching egotistical morons wave their arms around at me in my mirrors.

Ross air power steering is good as long as you have a shut off valve. Turn it on when you need it, off when you don't. Armstrong steering gives the best feedback through the wheel, I think, and the only time you miss power is in a very tight spot. Ross air power fixes that.

I was unaware that there was another "air assist" steering available. I tried talking to local shops and "old" mechanics and they all thought no one made them any more.

Does "Ross" have a website? My searching for air assist 'back then' didn't yield much.... only found Air O Matic.

HEVYHAULER,I've got a '51 640 w/air. Is there a different set of diaphrams for this rig that will give me the low air e-brake system that you are talking about. I loose air, I don't stop There is no manual e-brake on this thing.

Hy Clutcheadstew, Are you saying that there are no spring brake/maxibrake chambers on your rear axle[s] and no driveshaft parking brake either?

I think your system is air over hydraulic I don't know much about that system.
But if you have full air the parking brake should come on at about 60psi the remainder of the air in the system will apply the parking brakes. Trucks today have piggy back spring brakes on the air cans this is a mechanical parking brake and will hold the brakes even after all the air has drained from the system. If you have full air brakes without the spring brakes they can and should be added other wise don't ever forget to chock your tires because when all the air is gone so is the parking brake.

Yeah 3B and hevyhauler, all air and no drive shaft parking brake. Lots of modifications on this baby. Are the rear chambers available in another format? Remember 3B whats in this thing? I know this is off subject with the steering post but I'm not so sure I feel real comfortable running a 5-ton truck with no way to stop it if the air fails. This truck sat for 14 years and the lines look good but I need to drive it 27 miles to get it home on a mountian highway. I was going to try it this weekend but I'm not sure I want this to be my last post, if you catch my drift

Go slow enough and in a low gear down the hills so you don't have to use the brakes at all.

Drive it like it has none, and if you do need them chances are they will still work, assuming they do before you leave. Then when you get home upgrade to the spring brake cans.

Grigg

Grigg, so the cans can be up-graded? Were would I look? Also, I've driven this beast about 2 miles around in traffic locally and the brakes are real good. I just like looking at a E- brake handle next to me when the pedal goes to the floor and the little kid waving to the big old truck behind him gets a wierd look on his face you're right though, I'll drive it like it has none. thanks all for the input.....Rick

Hy Clutcheadstew, I'm sure we could find some spring brakes that would work for your application. Just to clarify the operation, once the air in your system drops to approx. 60 p.s.i. a valve trips which releases the air holding the spring brakes in the non applied position, a spring then applies your rear brakes. To get the brakes to release again you will need to have over 60 p.s.i. in your air system or the brakes can be released manually with a special tool called a caging bolt, hope that helps.

Thanks 3B I'm going to educate myself a little more on this system before I do alot of driving. I'll be seeing you as soon as I can get up to the Great White North again. We can dicuss parts for this beast...........thanks guys,Rick

MMmmmmmm........ I have an older semi trailer that has no spring brakes, but it does have an air parking system. It works by a different air valve. The valve that applies the service brake IS the emergency valve. If air from the emergency/supply goes away (IE setting the parking brake), it sends air from the tank to the air can, like you are appling the brake. And that's how it parks. But if all the air bleeds out, the brakes release....

I doubt a truck would have the same system.

Does the rear axle air cans have one or two hoses going to each can? If there are two, then it "should" have a spring brake set up.

Kaliburz should be just the same. That is how my 57 KW was spring brakes on only one of the drive axles till I added then to the other. Even with the spring brakes the emergancy air system still funcions the same all the axles will lock till the air is gone from the system.

Kaliburz, I have only one air line per can, front and rear. I just need to get the Bolt home to check every thing out. 3B said he'd help me get the brakes up to snuff. Thanks guys, Rick

3B knows his stuff. Trust him.