SUSPENSION AND STEERING 253
the inner bearing race, roller assembly, shim,
and bearing spacer from the spindle support.
8. Check the size of the old shim and, if
the dial indicator reading exceeded 0.008 in.,
replace it with one that is thinner by the re
quired amount to bring end-play within al
lowable tolerances. A dial indicator reading
of less than 0.001 in. requires a shim thick
enough to move the end-play beyond the
0.001 in. minimum.
NOTE:
Shims are available in 0.003 in. in-
crements and range in thickness from 0.097
in. to 0.145 in.
9. Insert the spindle bearing and seal in
the spindle support and install the bearing
spacer and shim.
10. Place the inner race and roller a sem-
bly on the spindle and a suitable spacer to aid
in pressing the bearing into position.
11. Start the nut onto the spindle and
against the press spacer. Tighten the nut and
press the bearing in a sufficient amount to
permit the installation of the spindle drive
flange.
12. Remove the spindle nut and washer
and discard the nut. Use a new replacement
for assembly.
13. Tap the replacement inner seal in
place, install the dust deflector, drive flange,
spindle washer, and nut. Torque the nut to
100 ft. Ibs. and install a new cotter pin.
REPLACEMENT
Outer Bearing
1. With the wheel spindle removed, at
tach a bearing puller around the bearing and
secure the tool and spindle in a press, and
remove the bearing from the spindle.
2. Remove the outer seal and replace if
necessary.
3. Position the replacement seal on the
spindle before installing the bearing assem
bly.
4. Pack the replacement bearing with a
high melting point grease and place it on the
spindle, large'end facing the spindle shoul
der.
5. Support the spindle and press the bear
ing into position. Install the reassembled
spindle to the spindle support.
STEERING
The 1963-82 Corvette steering system is a
recirculating ball, relay type. A pitman arm
connects the steering gear to the relay rod by
way of a pivoted joint. The opposite end of
this transverse relay rod attaches to a frame-
mounted idler arm by way of another pivot-
ing joint. These joints are the ball and socket
type.
Two adjustable tie-rods join each steering
arm to the relay rod through self-adjusting ball
and socket joints. The steering arms have two
tie-rod end holes drilled in them to provide a
road steering ratio of: 19.6:1 or 20.2:1 on ear-
lier models; a faster ratio of 17:1 or 17:6.1 on
later models. This adjustment is made by dis-
connecting the tie-rod ends from one steer-
ing arm hole and moving to the other. The
latest models (1969-1984) have Function
Locking Energy Absorbing steering col-
umns. With this design, the mast jacket and
steering shaft are designed to collapse during
conditions generated by a front end collision.
The collapsible mast jacket has ball bear-
ings embedded in plastic and pressed be-
tween the upper and lower jackets. A prede-
termined load will collapse the assembly. The
steering shaft collapses under predetermined
loads, shearing the plastic pins. Additionally,
these columns contain an anti-theft ignition
Steering linkage—1963-67
Steering linkage—1968-82
