Chevrolet 1977 light duty truck, Service Manual

Page: 265 / 861

Fig. 3B-107--Tie Rod Inspection
4. Install bass stud nut, tighten to specifications
and install new cotter pins; see Specifications Section at
re a r o f this Section. Lubricate tie rod ends.
N O T E : N ever back off nut to align the cotter pin,
always tighten nut to next slot that lines up with
hole in stud.
5. Adjust toe-in as described in Section 3A.
CAUTIO N: Before tightening the tie rod
adjusting sleeve clamp holts, be sure that the
following conditions have been met:
a. The sleeve clamps must be positioned between
the locating dim ples at either end o f the sleeve.
b. T h e clamps must be positioned within the
a n g u lar travel indicated in Figure 3B-106.
c. The relationship o f the clam p slot with the slit
in the sleeve should be m ain ta in e d as shown in Figure
3B-106.
d. R otate both inner and outer tie rod housing
rearw ard to the limit o f ball joint travel before
tightening clamps. Tighten clamps to specifications.
Return tie rod assembly to the center o f travel.
e. All procedures for alignm ent, adjustm ent and
assembly o f tie rods applies to each side.
f. Check each assembly to be sure that a total
travel o f at least 35° can be obtained using a bubble
p ro tra c to r and a pair o f vise grips (Fig. 3B-107).
Inspection
To ensure pro p er in s ta lla tio n , it is necessary to
p e rfo rm the following inspection after any change o f toe
setting or removal o f any ball stud:
1. Check the total rotation o f the tie rod assembly
using the following procedure:
a. Lubricate inner and outer tie rod ends.
b. Attach vise grip pliers to the outer tie rod
end.
c. Rotate outer tie rod end counterclockwise (up)
to m a x im u m position. Attach bevel protractor as shown
in Figure 3B-107. C enter p rotractor bubble indicator and
record reading.
d. Rotate tie rod end clockwise (down) to
m axim um position. Center protractor bubble indicator
and record reading.
e. C om p are protractor readings obtained in
Speps c and d. Total rotation o f tie rod assembly should
m easure at least 35 °.
f. If rotation is less than 35 loosen one tie rod
sleeve clamp and rotate both tie rod ends to their
maxim um limit both ends must be rotated in the same
direction
g. Tighten tie rod clamp and again rotate both
ends to their m axim um limits, repeating Steps c and d.
This recheck o f total rotation will result in a m in im u m o f
35 ! travel.
h. A f te r o b t a i n i n g the correct a m o u n t o f
rotation (35 ° or greater), position the outer tie rod end
approxim ately midway in this travel.
II' rotating checks, outlined above, reveal a rough or
lumpy feel, the inner or outer tie rod end assembly m ay
have excessive w ear and should be replaced.
If all o f the above m entioned conditions are met,
p roper tie rod installation is assured.
Relay Rod
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on hoist.
2. Remove in n e r ends o f the tie rods from relay
rod as described u n d e r "Tie Rod-Rem oval".
3. Remove the cotter pins from the p itm an and
idler arm ball studs at the relay rod. Remove the
castellated nuts.
4. Remove the relay rod from the p itm an and idler
arm s by tapping on the relay rod ball stud bosses with a
ham m er, while using a heavy h a m m e r as a backing (fig.
3 B-105).
5. Remove the relay rod from the vehicle.
Installation
CAUTION: See the C A U T IO N on page 1 o f
this section regarding the fasteners referred to
in steps 2 a n d 3.
1. Make sure that threads on the ball studs and in
the ball stud nuts are perfectly clean and smooth. Check
condition o f ball stud seals; replace if necessary.
NOTE: If threads are not clean and smooth, ball
studs m ay turn in sockets w hen attem pting to
tighten nut.
2. Install the relay rod to the idler arm and pitm an
arm ball studs, m aking certain the seals are in place.
Install and torque the nut to specifications and then
install the cotter pin.
NOTE: N ever back off the nut to align cotter pin,
always tighten nut to next slot that lines up with
hole in stud.
3. Install the tie rods to the relay rod as previously