APEX TSR Through Shaft Ram with Port Kit for Jeep JL and JT

On big tyres and real rock work the factory JL steering box has the force it has - and the tie rod starts flexing where it should hold.

The TSR adds assistance to the factory system rather than merely damping it, and at the same time acts as a steering stabiliser.

Key benefits

• it adds assistance to the factory system rather than only damping it
• the through shaft gives equal assistance in both directions and displaces no fluid in the body, so no larger reservoir is needed
• shaft and body diameters are matched to the factory electric power steering, so the wheel does not lag the way it does with larger rams
• it also works as a steering stabiliser and reduces feedback through the wheel
• clamps close to the knuckle limit tie rod deflection and improve precision
• a hard anodised body, a hardened and chromed shaft, sealed bushings and an antiflop bushing
• a reversible body cap allows use in different axle configurations

Technical data

• Manufacturer part number: X02-10-001
• Version: with the steering box port kit
• Version without port kit: part X02-10-003
• Design: through shaft ram
• Body: hard coat anodised
• Shaft: hardened, chromed
• Bushings: sealed, plus an antiflop bushing
• Axle: M210 Wide D44
• Not compatible with: the narrow front axle in Sport, Sahara and non-XR Willys models
• Steering boxes: aluminium and steel; aftermarket boxes with ports may need extra adapters
• Tyres: the greatest effect on tyres up to 40"; on tyres up to 35" it can be fitted with or without the Boost Kit
• Works with: the Steering Boost Kit - parts X02-04-001 and X02-04-002

Who it is for

For Jeep JL and JT owners with the M210 Wide D44 axle, running big tyres and genuinely loading the steering off-road. This is the answer for vehicles where the Boost Kit alone is no longer enough.

Installation and notes

The factory steering box has to be ported - in this version the manufacturer supplies the port kit. On trussed axles you have to fabricate your own axle mounting brackets, as none are supplied for direct bolt-on. If the tie rod has no factory holes for a stabiliser, an additional bracket is needed, sold separately. The manufacturer provides separate installation and porting instructions as PDFs. It publishes neither the shaft nor the body diameter, nor the working pressure, so those are not here. The stroke it does publish: 7.450 inches — it is in the install instructions linked from its own product page.

Tie rods the TSR does not work with

The manufacturer publishes an aftermarket tie rod compatibility sheet as an image in its gallery. For the Standard Mount versions (parts X02-10-001 and X02-10-003) it reads:

• Does NOT fit: Synergy 8825-00, Metalcloak 7622 and 7643, Rock Krawler 1.75 inch
• Fits: the factory Jeep JL and JT tie rod, Steer Smarts YETI XD DANA-KIT-02-AA, Rock Jock Currectlync, Apex Chassis KIT125

If you run a Metalcloak tie rod, check its part number before ordering — two of them are excluded outright.

Installation: what the manufacturer requires

Difficulty and time. The manufacturer rates the install at the high end of its difficulty scale, quotes 7-8 hours of work and states plainly that the product is not intended to be installed by a novice — a buyer who is not a skilled mechanic should hire one. Drilling, tapping and nutsert installation are involved, including opening a factory frame hole out to 9 mm.

The prohibition that protects the ram: do not allow the ram to bottom out internally — it is not designed to be the steering stop and using it as one destroys it.

Torque figures appear at each step; the main ones are 99 ft-lbs on the mounting bolts, 70 and 75 ft-lbs on the ram connections, 77 ft-lbs on the drag link at the pitman arm, 12 ft-lbs on the hose fitting, 10 ft-lbs on the guard, and a 5 then 20 ft-lbs sequence during preliminary assembly. Frame and axle bolts go to 52 ft-lbs plus 115 degrees.

If your gear is already ported: the manufacturer requires an adapter with a minimum pressure rating of 2500 psi — male 1/4 NPT to female 1/8 NPT on a factory gear, or female -6 AN to male -4 AN on a PSC gear.

Oils and bleeding: the manufacturer names MOPAR 68088485AB, PENTOSIN CHF 11S or REDLINE 30404. After fitting you fill the reservoir, start the engine and turn the steering back and forth for five seconds, repeating until the system takes no more oil.

Returns: read this before unpacking

The instructions open with a return warning, and it is worth knowing before the box comes open. The ram cannot be returned unless it is in new condition, and the packaging must not be destroyed or discarded — without the original packaging a return is not possible. The manufacturer also states that it is up to the installer to determine whether the ram will work on a specific vehicle, given how many aftermarket tie rods, suspensions and accessories exist. If you test fit it, protect it from scratches and do not fill it with oil until the setup has been verified.

Frequently asked questions

Does it fit every JL?

No. The manufacturer lists the M210 Wide D44 front axle. The narrow front axle in Sport, Sahara and non-XR Willys models is not compatible.

Does the steering box have to be ported?

Yes, and it is worth knowing what that means in practice: the gear has to come out of the vehicle, its case drilled with a 1/4 inch bit and then 21/64, tapped with a 1/8 NPT tap and blown out with 100 psi air for 30 seconds to clear the swarf. This version includes the porting kit; the version without it is part X02-10-003.

Does the TSR require the Boost Kit?

The manufacturer goes further than compatible: it states that to achieve maximum performance it HIGHLY recommends the Steering Boost Kit, because without it you do not get the full power of the ram. On tyres up to 35 inches it can be fitted either way, but above that the kit stops being a someday option.

Is a larger fluid reservoir needed?

No. The through shaft displaces no fluid in the body, so the manufacturer does not require a larger reservoir.

Why it is worth it

• real assistance instead of damping alone
• a design matched to the factory electric system, with no lag at the wheel

Fitting the TSR requires porting the steering box - we do that in our own workshop, get in touch for details.