STEERING 9-2
Fig.
1—Cover
Attaching Bolts—Chevy li Shown
ADJUSTMENTS
STEERING
GEAR
Before any adjustments are made to the steering gear
in an attempt to correct such conditions as shimmy,
loose or hard steering etc., a careful check should be
made of front end alignment, shock absorbers, wheel
balance and tire pressure for possible cause.
Correct adjustment of the steering gear is very im-
portant. Perform adjustments following the sequence
listed below,
1.
Remove pitman arm nut and mark relation of pitman
arm position to sector shaft. Remove pitman arm
with Tool J- 6632 as shown in Figure 2.
2.
Loosen the pitman shaft lash adjuster screw locknut
and turn the adjuster screw a few turns in a counter-
clockwise direction (fig. 3). This removes the load
Fig. 2—Removing Pitman Arm
imposed on the worm bearings by the close meshing
of rack and sector teeth. Turn steering wheel gently
in one direction until stopped by gear, then back away
about one turn.
CAUTION: Do not turn steering wheel hard
against stops when steering relay rod is discon-
nected as damage to ball guides may result.
3.
All except Corvette and telescopic columns:
a. Disconnect steering column harness at chassis
wiring connector plug.
b.
Remove horn cap or ornament and using an inch
pound torque wrench and socket on steering wheel
nut, measure torque required to keep the wheel
in motion.
LASH ADJUSTER
SCREW
LOCK NUT
WORM BEARING
ADJUSTER
\
WORM
ADJUSTER
Fig.
3—Steering Gear Adjustment Points
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL
STEERING 9-4
8. Reassemble pitman arm to sector shaft, lining up
marks made during disassembly. Refer to torque
specifications at rear of manual for correct torque
value.
9. Install horn cap or ornament and connect steering
column harness at chassis connector.
NOTE:
Chevy.n models are equipped with a
shim at the frame to steering gear mounting
bolts.
Shims may be removed or installed as
required for proper steering gear alignment.
STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND
HIGH POINT CENTERING
1.
Set front wheels in straight ahead position. This can
be checked by driving vehicle a short distance on a
flat surface to determine steering wheel position at
which vehicle follows a straight path.
2.
With front wheels set straight ahead, check position
of mark on wormshaft designating steering gear high
point. This mark should be at the top side of the shaft
at 12 o'clock position and lined up with the mark in
the coupling lower clamp.
3.
If gear has been moved off high point when setting
wheels in straight ahead position, loosen adjusting
sleeve clamps on both left and right hand tie rods,
then turn both sleeves an equal number of turns in
the same direction to bring gear back on high point.
CAUTION: Turning the sleeves an unequal
number of turns or in differential directions will
disturb the toe-in setting of the wheels.
4.
Readjust toe-in as outlined in Section 3 (if necessary).
5. With wheels in a straight ahead position and the
steering gear on highpoint, check the steering wheel
alignment by measuring the distance from each hori-
zontal spoke to the horizontal centerline of the
steering wheel (fig. 5). If the horizontal spokes are
over 1-1/8 inches from the horizontal position the
wheel should be removed and centered. (See steering
wheel removal in this section.)
TOE-IN ADJUSTMENT
Adjust the steering linkage for proper toe-in setting as
outlined in Section 3.
CORVETTE STEERING RATIO (Fig. 6)
The Corvette steering ratio may be changed as follows:
CAUTION: Do not use the rearward hole in the
steering arm with power steering equipment or
interference may result.
1.
Remove tie rod ball stud nut at steering arm and
disconnect tie rod from steering arm.
2.
Move tie rod end to forward hole for 17.6:1 ratio
(fast ratio) or rear hole for 20.2:1 ratio (standard
ratio).
3.
Install tie rod stud nut and tighten securely. Repeat
operation on opposite steering arm.
COMPONENT REPLACEMENT AND REPAIRS
STEERING WHEEL
REGULAR PRODUCTION (Fig. 7)
Removal
1.
Disconnect steering column harness from chassis
wiring harness at connector (fig. 8).
2.
Pull out horn button cap or center ornament and
retainer.
3.
Remove three screws from the receiving cup.
4.
Remove the receiving cup, belleville spring, bushing,
and pivot ring.
5. Remove the steering wheel nut and washer.
6. Using Tool J-2927, install centering adapter on
steering shaft, thread puller anchor screws into
threaded holes provided in steering wheel. Turn
center bolt of tool clockwise to remove steering
wheel (fig. 9).
Installation
CAUTION: Direction signal control assembly
must be in "neutral position when assembling
steering wheel to prevent damage to cancelling
cam and control assembly.
1.
With directional cancelling cam and horn contact as-
sembly in place, set wheel onto steering shaft.
Fig. 7—-Regular Wheel and Horn Attachments
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL
STEERING 9-5
Fig.
8—Steering Column Wiring Connector
Secure with washer and nut. Refer to torque speci-
fications at rear of manual for correct torque values.
Install belleville spring (with dish of spring up), pivot
ring, bushing and receiving cup with screws.
Install retainer and horn button cap or center
ornament.
Connect steering column harness to chassis wiring
connector.
Fig.
9—Removing Steering Wheel with J-2927
Fig.
10—Simulated Wood Steering Wheel and Attaching Parts
SIMULATED WOOD (Fig. 10)
Removal
1.
Disconnect steering column harness from chassis
wiring harness at connector.
2.
Remove horn cap assembly by pulling up.
3.
Remove contact assembly attaching screws and re-
move contact assembly.
NOTE:
If steering wheel only is to be replaced,
perform step 4. If directional signal cancelling
cam is to be replaced, omit step 4 and proceed
with steps 5 and 6.
4.
Remove remaining screws from steering wheel and
remove wheel from hub assembly.
5. Remove steering wheel nut and washer.
6. Using Tool J-2927, install centering adapter on
steering shaft, thread puller anchor screws into
threaded holes provided in hub assembly. Turn
center bolt of tool clockwise to remove hub
assembly.
Installation
CAUTION: Directional signal control assembly
must be in neutral position when assembling hub
assembly to prevent damage to cancelling cam
and control assembly.
1.
With directional cancelling cam and horn contact in
place, install hub assembly on steering shaft. Secure
with washer and nut. Refer to torque specifications
at rear of manual for correct torque value.
2.
Attach steering wheel to hub assembly using the six
attaching screws and tighten securely.
3.
Place horn contact on steering wheel and attach with
three screws. Tighten securely.
4.
Snap horn button in place.
5. Connect steering column harness to chassis wiring
connector.
CORVETTE TELESCOPING (Fig. 11)
Removal
1.
Disconnect steering column harness at wiring
connector.
2.
Pry off horn button cap.
3.
Remove three screws securing horn contact to spacer
and hub.
4.
Remove two screws securing lock screw to lock
knob,
and remove lock screw, lock knob, and spacer.
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL
STEERING 9-12
1.
Steering Wheel Nut
2i Screw
3. Retaining Ring
4.
Thrust Washer
5. Wave Washer
6. Turn Signal Switch
7. Upper Bearing and
Housing Assembly
8. Cover
Fig.
24—Syncromesh Steering Column—Exploded View
9. Spring
1.0. Lock Ring
11.
Thrust Washer
12.
Shift Lever Spring
13.
Shift Bowl
14.
Shroud
15.
Bearing
16.
Mast Jacket
17.
Flange Plate
18.
Wiring Protector
19.
Shift Tube Assembly
20.
Adapter
21.
Bolt
22.
Reinforcing Ring
23.
Steering Shaft
24.
Bearing
25.
Tolerance Ring Kit
26.
Flange
cover, and seal to dash panel and remove covers.
13.
Corvette only (Fig. 23)
a. Remove clamp bolt and washer from support as-
sembly on engine side of dash panel.
b.
Remove screws securing support assembly and
seal to engine side of dash panel.
14.
Support column and remove screws, nuts, and bolts
securing instrument panel mounting bracket to un-
derside of instrument panel. On Chevrolet, Chevelle,
Camaro, and Chevy II models, remove and retain
wedge shims. On Chevrolet models, remove
retainers.
15.
Move front seat back as far as possible to provide
maximum clearance, and carefully lift column up out
of position and remove from vehicle. If column is
equipped with lower shift levers, mechanic at engine
compartment can pilot levers through dash panel
opening as column is lifted.
Disassembly'—Syncromesh Column (Fig. 24)
1.
Unsnap and remove wiring protector (fig. 25).
CAUTION: Secure column in bench vise for
service one of two ways shown in Figure 26.
Clamping column in vise in any other manner
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL
STEERING
9-13
Fig.
25—Removing
Wiring
Protector
will damage the column. If support fixture
J- 22573 is not used, frequently check position
of column in vise jaws to insure column is not
working free of jaws.
2.
Clamp column in a bench vise as shown in Figure
26.
3.
Slide upper bearing preload spring and cancelling
cam off end of shaft (fig. 26).
4.
Remove turn signal lever retaining screw and re-
J
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UPPER
BEARING
PRELOAD
SPRING
Fig.
27—Upper
Bearing
Preload
Spring
and
Cancelling
Cam
move lever. Push hazard warning switch in, unscrew
and remove knob.
5. Drive out shift control lever retaining pin and re-
move shift lever.
6. Remove "C" retaining ring from upper steering
shaft using snap ring remover Tool J-22569 as shown
in Figure 28.
7. Slide thrust washer and wave washer off upper steer-
ing shaft (Fig. 28).
8. Loosen three turn signal switch mounting screws
until the switch cover can be rotated counterclock-
wise. It may be necessary to push on top of screws
to loosen the cover assembly.
NOTE:
Do not remove the three turn signal
switch screws completely unless it is necessary
Fig.
26—Column
Secured
in
Bench Vice
Fig.
28—Removing
or
Installing
"C"
Ring
Retainer
Using Tool
J-22569
CHEVROLET CHASSIS 3ERV1CI MANUAL
STEERING 9-15
jacket and loosely secure using the three bolts re- 8.
moved during disassembly.
Place a 0.005 maximum shim on each side of the 9.
shaft, between either one of the shift levers and the
spacer (fig. 31). 10.
Using spanner wrench J-22568 installed in spanner
holes in adapter, rotate the.adapter clockwise until
the shift levers are bottomed out (fig. 31). Bottom
the adapter against the jacket while rotating to re-
move end play. 11.
Tighten the three adapter bolts. Remove the two
0.005 shims.
Insert the steering shaft assembly into position
through the lower end of the jacket.
Attach the back-up lamp switch loosely to the jacket
using the same nuts removed during disassembly.
Install these nuts loosely, switch will be tightened to
the jacket when column is installed in vehicle and
shift levers are aligned.
If upper shift lever spring was removed, press a
10 9 8
6 5 4 3 2 1
Fig.
32—Column Mounted Powerglide Lever or Floor Shift Column—Exploded View
1.
Steering Wheel
Nut
2.
Screw
3. Retaining Ring
4.
Thrust Washer
5. Wave Washer
6. Turn Signal Switch
7. Upper Bearing Assembly
8. Cover
9. Spring
10.
Lock Plate
11.
Shift Lever Spring
12.
Bowl
13.
Bearing
14.
Mast Jacket
15.
Wiring Protector
16.
Shift Tube
17.
Washer
18.
Spring
19.
Bearing
20.
Retainer
21.
Steering Shaft
22.
Tolerance Ring
Kit
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL
STEERING 9-16
new upper shift lever spring into bowl pocket. Be
sure spring is seated in bowl pocket. Install bowl
washer (fig. 30).
12.
Insert the upper bearing housing assembly and the
turn signal switch assembly into the cover, feeding
the signal switch wires through the back of the
cover.
13.
Align the signal switch and bearing housing holes
with the holes in the cover. Install three mounting
screws through the holes.
14.
Slide three springs onto screw ends at rear of cover
and place lockplate in position over screws and
springs. Turn screws three turns into lockplate.
15.
Feed switch wire through the shift lever bowl and
place upper end assembly on top of bowl.
16.
Place the shift lever bowl and signal switch cover
assembly on top of jacket, aligning the tangs on the
I.D. of the lockplate with the slots in the top of the
jacket. Shift tube key should align in bowl keyway as
bowl is pushed ono
17.
Lock upper end assembly into position by pushing
down on the cover assembly and rotating assembly
fully clockwise. Tangs of lock plate must engage
slots in jacket.
18.
Tighten three turn signal switch mounting screws in
a gradual criss-cross sequence to avoid cocking the
lockplate.
19.
Slide wave washer and thrust washer over steering
shaft and against upper bearing housing.
20.
Start "C" retaining ring over steering shaft taper.
Complete installation of. retaining ring using snap
ring installer J-22659 as shown in Figure 28. Be
sure "C" retaining ring is completely seated into
steering shaft groove.
21.
-Place turn signal switch lever in position and secure
with screw. Screw hazard warning knob into position.
22.
Remove column from vise and pull wires flat against
jacket. Snap wire protector into place.
23.
If mesh cover was removed, wrap mesh cover around
jacket and secure with electricians or friction tape.
24.
Slide cancelling cam and upper bearing preload
spring onto end of shaft.
Disassembly—Column Mounted Power glide Lever or
Floor Shift Column (Fig. 32)
NOTE: In this procedure, automatic refers to a
column with a column mounted, Powerglide shift-
ing lever. Floor shift refers to a column taken
from a vehicle with conventional or Powerglide
floor shift controls.
1.
Unsnap and remove wiring protector and wiring clip.
CAUTION: Secure column in bench vise for
service one of two ways shown in Figure 26.
Clamping column in vise in any other manner
will damage the column. If support fixture
J^22573 is not used, frequently check position of
column in vise jaws to insure column is not
working free of jaws.
2.
Clamp column in a bench vise as shown in Figure 26.
3.
Slide upper bearing preload spring and cancelling
cam off end of shaft.
4.
On automatic columns removed from Chevy II or
Camaro, remove screws securing dial retainer to
column and remove retainer and dial (fig. 33). Slide
Fig.
33—Powerglide Dial Indicator Assembly—Chevy II
and Camaro
indicator out of shift bowl and remove indicator. Re-
move cap and bulb from turn signal switch housing.
5.
Remove turn signal lever retaining screw and re-
move lever. Push hazard warning knob in; unscrew
and remove knob.
6. On automatic columns, drive'out shift control lever
retaining pin and remove shift lever.
7.
Remove "C" retaining ring from upper steering
shaft using snap ring remover Tool J-22569 (fig. 28).
8. Slide thrust washer and wave washer off upper steer-
ing shaft (fig. 28).
9. Loosen three turn signal switch mounting screws
until the switch cover can be rotated counterclock-
wise.
It may be necessary to push on top of screws
to loosen the cover assembly. ,
NOTE: Do not remove the three turn signal
switch screws completely unless it is necessary
to replace the turn signal switch, lockplate, or
upper bearing housing and bearing.
10.
Rotate turn signal switch cover counterclockwise
and pull cover off top of jacket (fig. 29).
11.
If necessary, pry upper shift lever spring (fig. 30)
from bowl and discard spring.
12.
Remove shift lever bowl from top of jacket.
13.
If necessary to service components within the signal
switch cover, remove the three signal switch covers,
remove the three signal switch mounting screws
completely from engagement with the lockplate. Use
care to control three springs as screws are removed.
14.
Remove turn signal switch and upper bearing housing
assembly from cover.
15.
Carefully pull steering shaft assembly from bottom
of column.
16.
Remove securing back-up lamp/neutral start switch
to column, if so equipped, and remove switch. Retain
these mounting nuts.
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL
STEERING 9-19
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
Start "C" retaining ring over steering shaft taper.
Complete installation of retaining ring using snap
ring installer J-22659 as shown in Figure 28. Be
sure "C" retaining ring is completely seated into
steering shaft groove.
Remove any remaining looseness from internal col-
umn stack-up by unscrewing inner tolerance kit ring
section; then screw inner kit ring section back in
1/8 to 1/4 turn (fig. 36).
Touch the outer surface of the tolerance ring kit
.at
several locations with a hot soldering iron to melt
the threads of the inner and outer ring sections
together.
Place turn signal switch lever in position and se-
cure with screw. Screw hazard warning knob into
position.
If column is automatic and to be installed in a Chevy
II or Camaro, install the bulb and cap (fig. 33). Slide
the indicator into the 'shift bowl. Install dial and re-
tainer with screws removed during disassembly.
Install flange and clamp bolt at bottom of steering
shaft, if so equipped.
Remove column from vise and pull wires flat against
bottom of jacket. Snap wire protector and clip into
place.
If mesh cover was removed, wrap mesh cover around
jacket and secure with electricians or friction tape
/**% • *t 1*1* i '% •< n
Slide cancelling cam and
spring onto end of shaft.
upper bearing preload
Disassembly-Til* Column (Fig. 37)
NOTE:
This procedure covers disassembly and
assembly instructions for all tilt columns. Auto-
matic refers to a tilt column with a column
mounted, Powerglide shifting lever. Floor shift
. refers to' a tilt column taken from a vehicle with
conventional or Powerglide floor shift controls.
1.
Unsnap and remove wiring protector.
CAUTION: Secure column in bench vise for
service one of two ways shown in Figure 26.
Clamping column in vise in any other manner
will damage the column. If support fixture
J-22573 is not used, frequently check position
of column in vise jaws to insure column is not
working free of jawsT
2.
Clamp column in a bench vise as shown in Figure 26.
3.
Slide upper bearing preload spring and cancelling
cam off end of shaft.
Fig,
38—Removing Turn Signal Cover Using Tools
J-21486 and J-6585-1
Fig.
39—Removing Steering Shaft Bearing Lock Nut
Using Lock Nut Wrench j-22599
4.
On automatic columns removed from a Camaro, re-
move screws securing dial retainer to column and
remove retainer and dial (fig. 33). Slide pointer out
of bowl and remove pointer. Remove cap and bulb
from turn signal switch housing.
5. Remove turn signal lever retaining screw and re-
move lever. Unscrew and remove tilt release lever.
Push hazard warning knob in, unscrew and remove
knob.
6. On Automatic columns, drive out shift control lever
retaining pin and remove shift lever.
7. Assemble slide hammer Tool J-6585-1 to turn signal
cover remover Tool J-21486. Place cover remover
over turn signal cover, tighten clamp, and pull
cover from end of column with slide hammer (fig.
38).
8. Remove three turn signal switch mounting screws.
Note short length of secure removed from top
position.
9. Lift signal switch assembly off bearing housing and
allow to hang by the wires. On some columns, the
switch and wires can be removed at this time; re-
move switch and wires if possible. If switch and
wires cannot be removed, allow assembly to hang
by wires.
10.
Install tilt release lever and place column in full up
position. Remove tilt spring retainer using screw-
driver blade that just fits into slot opening. Insert
screwdriver in slot, press in approximately 3/16-
inch;
rotate retainer approximately 1/8 turn clock-
wise until ears align with grooves in housing, and
remove retainer and spring. Use care when remov-
ing spring, it is tightly compressed.
11.
Remove steering shaft bearing lock nut using lock nut
wrench Tool J-22599 (fig. 39). Remove inner race
•seat and inner "race.
12.
Remove two pivot pins from bearing housing using
pivot pin remover Tool J-21854 (fig. 40).
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL