1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO Chassis Workshop Manual

REAR SUSPENSION
AND
DRIVE LINE
4-19

BRAKE BRAKE

DISC SHOE

OUTER

BEARII
-. -,
-«#*;>•
BRAKE

CAMPER

/

/ /

/ /

si—a

wC—
SPINDLE

^ SUPPOR1

BEARING

^ SPACER

INNER

" BEARING

DRIVE

" FLANGE

BEARING

-PRELOAD

SPACER

DEFLECTOR

CONTROL

ARM

Fig.
46-Wheel Spindle
and
Support Cross-Section (Corvette)

assembly is installed.

d. Pack outer bearing with a high-melting point

wheel bearing lubricant and position on spindle.

Large end of bearing should be toward shoulder

on spindle.

e. Press bearing on spindle using a bearing spacer

and Tool J-9436 as installers, as shown in Fig-

ure 50.

5. Pack spindle inner bearing with a high-melting point

-wheel bearing lubricant and position bearing in

spindle support - small end of bearing should be

positioned inward.

PRESS RAM

BEARING CUP
Fig.
48—Installing Spindle Bearing Cup (Corvette)

Fig.
49—Unseating Drive Spindle Outer Bearing (Corvette)

Fig.
47—Bearing Cup Removal (Corvette)
Fig.
50—Removing and Installing Drive Spindle

Outer Bearing (Corvette)

CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL

REAR SUSPENSION AND DRIVE LINE 4-20

Fig.
51—Shock Absorber Installation (Corvette)

6. Tap new spindle inner grease seal into seal bore

and install deflector over support inner end.

Installation

1.
Position support over torque arm bolts with strut

rod fork toward center of vehicle and downward.

Place backing plate over studs and torque nuts to

specifications.

2.
Connect parking brake cable to actuating lever.

3.
Install drive spindle assembly as outlined previously

in this section under "Wheel Bearing Adjustment".

4.
If new spindle support or associated parts are in-

stalled, determine correct shim size as follows.

a. Assemble spindle to support, using a .145" shim.

b.
Check bearing adjustment and correct as neces-

sary, following adjustment procedures previously

outlined.

DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER SUPPORT

BRACKET REPLACEMENT

1.
Place a 1/2" thick block of wood or steel between

nose of differential carrier and floor pan. This will

prevent carrier from twisting upward when support

bracket is disconnected.

2.
Remove carrier support-to-crossmember attaching

bolt.

3.
Remove nut from both of the bracket-to-carrier

through bolts.

4.
Slide bolts to one side until bolt head contacts floor

well. Mark the floor well at this point and drill a

3/4"
diameter hole for each bolt in floor well and

remove bolts.

5. Assemble carrier support bracket by reversing

above procedure. Torque all affected parts to

specifications.

6. Insert plastic plugs from the inside of the floor well

holes to prevent dust and water entry.
STRUT ROD SHAFT STRUT ROD

CAMBER CAM

AND BOLT

Fig.
52—Strut Rods (Corvette)

SHOCK ABSORBER (Fig. 51)

Removal

1.
Disconnect shock absorber upper mounting bolt*

2.
Remove lower mounting nut and lock washer.

3.
Slide shock upper eye out of frame bracket and pull

lower eye and rubber grommets off strut rod mount-

ing shaft.

4.
Inspect grommets and shock absorber upper eye for

excessive wear.

Installation

1.
Slide upper mounting eye into frame mounting

bracket and install bolt, lock washer and nut.

2.
Place rubber grommet, shock lower eye, inboard

grommet, washers and nut over strut rod shaft.

3.
Torque nuts to specifications.

STRUT ROD AND BRACKET (Fig. 52)

Removal

1.
Raise vehicle enough to provide working clearance.

2.
Disconnect shock absorber lower eye from strut

rod shaft.

3.
Remove strut rod shaft cotter pin and nut. With-

draw shaft by pulling toward front of vehicle (fig. 53).

4.
Mark relative position of camber adjusting cam and

Fig.
53-Removing Strut Rod Shaft (Corvette)

CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL

REAR SUSPENSION AND DRIVE LINE 4-21

Fig.
54—Marking Camber Cam and Bracket (Corvette)

bracket, so they may be reassembled in same loca-

tion (fig. 54).

5.
Loosen camber bolt and nut. Remove four bolts se-

curing strut rod bracket to carrier and lower

bracket.

6. Remove cam bolt nut and cam and bolt assembly.

Pull strut down out of bracket and remove bushing

caps.

7.
Inspect strut rod bushings for wear and replace

where necessary. Replace strut rod if it is bent or

damaged in any way.

Repairs

1.
With strut rod bushing centered over Tool J-7877-2

and with strut rod supported horizontally, press or

drive bushing from rod, using Tools J-7877-i and

J-7079-2 as shown in Figure 55.

2.
With strut rod end centered over Tool J-7877-2 and

rod supported horizontally, press or drive bushing

into arm using Tools J-7877-3 and J-7079-2 as

shown in Figure 55. Tool J-7877-3 should bottom

on strut rod when bushing is fully installed.

Installation

1.
Place bushing caps over inboard bushing and slide

rod into bracket. Install cam and bolt assembly and

adjust cam to line up with mark on bracket. Tighten

nut but do not torque at this point.
SPRING
LINK BOLT

SPRING
CUSHION

SPRING

CUSHION
CENTER

CLAMP

PLATE

J-7877-3

J-7877-1

STRUT ROD 11 s* ^#3 STRUT ROD

BUSHING
Fig.
56—Spring Mounting (Corvette)

2.
Raise bracket and assemble to carrier lower mount-

ing surface. Torque bolts to specifications.

3.
Raise outboard end of strut rod into spindle support

fork and insert strut rod shaft into fork so that flat

on shaft lines up with corresponding flat in spindle

fork. Install retaining nut, but do not torque.

4.
Place shock absorber lower eye and bushing over

strut shaft, install washer and nut and torque to

specifications.

5.
Lower vehicle to floor and torque camber cam nut

and strut rod shaft nut to specifications. Then in-

stall cotter pin through rod bolt.

6. Check rear wheel camber and adjust where

necessary.

SPRING (Fig. 56)

Removal

1.
Raise rear of vehicle and support on frame slightly

forward of torque control arm pivot points. Remove

wheels and tires.

Fig.
55—Strut Rod Bushing Replacement
Fig.
57—Chain Installation (Corvette)

CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL

REAR SUSPENSION AND DRIVE LINE 4-22

Fig.
58—Removing Clamp Plate (Corvette)

2.
Place floor jack under spring at link bolt, and raise

spring until nearly flat.

3.
Wrap 1/4", or 5/16" chain with grab hook around

suspension crossmember and spring and hook chain

securely with grab hook. Secure chain to spring with

C ela rnp to prevent slipping (fig. 57).

CAUTION: Use 1/4" or 5/16" chain only with

a sate grab hoo^for this operation. Do not use

rope,
wiro, cable .or other method of retaining

spring.

4.
Lower jack to free link bolt and remove link bolt

cotter pin, nut and rubber cushions.
Fig.
60—Removing Center Boit (Corvette)

5.
Support and raise spring end as in Step 2 above,

remove chain when loose.

6. Carefully lower jack until spring tension is com-

pletely released.

7.
Repeat Steps 2-6 on other side.

8. Remove four bolts and washers securing spring

center clamp plate (fig. 58).

9. Drop spring and slide out from under vehicle (fig.

59).

Repairs

•1.
Clamp spring center section in vise and remove

. center bolt (fig. 60).

2.
Release vise, remove spring and separate leaves.

3.
Replace worn or damaged liners as necessary and

replace any broken leaves.

4.
Replace main leaf spring cushion retainers by

chiseling over flared portion until retainer may be

knocked out of
leaf.
Place new retainers into posi-

tion and flare over with a ball peen hammer or other

suitable tool.

5.
Insert drift into center bolt holes in leaves to align

spring leaves (fig. 61). Install center bolt and tighten

securely.

installation

1.
Place spring on carrier cover mounting surface,

indexing center bolthead with hole in cover.

Fig.
59—Lowering Spring (Corvette)

Fig.
61—-Aligning Spring Leaves (Corvette)

CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL

REAR SUSPENSION AND DRIVE LINE 4-23

Fig.
62—Torque Control Arm (Corvette)

2.
Place center clamp plate in position and install four

bolts and washers. Tighten bolts and torque to

specifications.

3.
Raise spring outer end with floor jack until spring

is nearly flat and secure with chain as in Step 3-

Removal.

.4.
Lower jack, align torque control arm with spring

end and insert link bolt, rubber cushions and re-

tainers. Install castellated nut on link bolt and

tighten until cotter pin hole in bolt is visible. In-

sert new cotter pin and bend ends around.

5. Raise spring end with jack under link bolt, and re-

move chain and C clamp when loose.

6. Carefully lower jack, making sure rubber cushions

remain indexed in retainers.

7. Remove jack and repeat on opposite side. Install

wheels and tires, remove frame supports and lower

vehicle to floor.

TORQUE CONTROL ARM (Fig. 62)

Removal

1.
Disconnect spring on side torque arm is to be re-

moved. Follow Steps 1-6, Spring-Removal.

NOTE:
If vehicle is so equipped, disconnect

stabilizer rod from torque arm - refer to

"Stabilizer Rod Replacement".

2.
Remove shock absorber lower eye from strut rod

shaft.

3.
Disconnect and remove strut rod shaft and swing

strut rod down.

4.
Remove four bolts securing axle drive shaft to

spindle flange and disconnect drive shaft.

NOTE:
It may be necessary to force torque

arm outboard to provide clearance to drop drive

shaft.

5. Disconnect brake line at wheel cylinder inlet or

caliper and from torque arm. Disconnect parking

brake cable.

6. Remove torque arm pivot bolt and toe-in shims and

pull torque arm out of frame. Tape shims together

and identify for correct reinstallation.
RETAINER

RETAINER

PLATE

BUSHING

CONTROL ARM

Fig.
63—Torque Control Arm Bushing Cross-Sect ion (Corvette)

NOTE:
For service operations pertaining to

the spindle support assembly, refer to service

operations under Wheel Spindle and Support

earlier in this section.

Repairs (Fig. 63)

1.
Using 11/16" drill, drill out flared end of bushing

retainer (fig. 64).

2.
Remove special retainer plate and tap retainer out

of bushing.

3.
Remove bushings by spreading them apart with a

chisel and tap out of arm (fig. 65).

NOTE:
If bushing diameters are severely

rusted in torque arm, and arm tends to spread

during removal, clamp arm in a C-clamp to

prevent spreading.

Fig.
64—Drilling Out Retainer Flare (Corvette)

CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL

REAR SUSPENSION AND DRIVE LINE 4-24

4

i*
5

Fig.
65—Removing Bushings (Corvette)

4.
Lightly oil new bushing diameters (not rubber por-

tion) and start bushings squarely in arm.

5. Install Tool J-7055-1 as shown in Figure 66 and

press bushings into place.

6. When bushings are fully installed, place special

plate over flared portion of new bushing retainer

and insert retainer into bushing.

7. Out of 5/8" thick steel plate 1-1/2" wide make flar-

ing tool support to the dimensions shown in Figure

67 and drill clearance holes as shown for 2
—
1/2"

bolts.

8. Place fabricated back-up plate on flared end of bush-

ing retainer and assembly Tool J-8111-23 to plate

with 2-1/2" bolts 5" long. Make sure threaded hole

in J-8111-23 is centered over unflared end of bushing

retainer and that chambered retainer plate is cen-

tered over retainer tube.

9. Lightly oil pointed end of J-8880-5 screw and thread

into J-
8111-23
until pointed "end contacts bushing

retainer. Continue threading J-8111-23 until retainer

is flared (fig. 68).

Installation

1.
Place torque arm in frame opening.

2.
Place toe-in shims in original position on both sides

of torque arm, install pivot bolt and tighten but do

not torque at this point.
Fig.
67—Flaring Tool Back-Up Plate (Corvette)

3.
Raise axle drive shaft into position and install to

drive flange. Torque bolts to specifications.

4.
Raise strut rod into position and insert strut rod

shaft so that flat lines up with flat in spindle sup-

port fork. Install nut and torque to specifications.

5. Install shock absorber lower eye and tighten nut

to specifications.

6. Connect spring end as outlined under Spring-

Bistallation, Steps 3-6'.

NOTE:
If vehicle is so equipped, connect sta-

bilizer shaft to torque arm - refer to "Sta-

bilizer Shaft Replacement".

7. Install brake disc and caliper, wheel and tire and

lower vehicle. Tighten torque arm pivot bolt. Bleed

brakes as outlined in Section 5-Brakes.

SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER

Removal

1.
Disconnect and remove spring as outlined under

Spring-Removal.

2.
Remove differential carrier assembly as outlined

under Differential Carrier-Removal in this section.

3.
Support crossmember, remove bolts securing

crossmember isolation mounts to frame and lower

crossmember (fig. 69).

Fig.
66—Installing Bushings (Corvette)
Fig.
68—Flaring Retainer (Corvette)

CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL

REAR SUSPENSION AND DRIVE LINE 4-25

Fig.
69—Removing Crossmember (Corvette)

4.
Remove bolts securing carrier cover to cross-

member.

5.
Inspect rubber isolation mounts for aging and re-

place where necessary.

Repairs—Isolation Mount

1.
Bend back isolation mount tabs to allow mount re-

moval (fig. 70).

2.
Place crossmember on a suitable support and press

mount out of arm using a piece of suitable size pipe

or tubing on outer shell or inner insert.

3.
Place new mount into position on crossmember,

compress outer sleeve and press mount into place

until it is fully and squarely seated.

4.
After installation, bend over locking tabs.

Installation

1.
Install carrier cover to crossmember and torque

bolts to specifications.

2.
Raise crossmember into position and install mount-

ing bolts. Torque bolts to specifications.

3.
Install differential carrier assembly as outlined

under Differential Carrier
-
Installation in this

section.

4.
Install wheels and tires, remove frame supports and

lower vehicle.

STABILIZER SHAFT REPLACEMENT

1.
Raise rear of vehicle and support at frame side rail

with stand jacks.

2.
Disconnect stabilizer shaft at both torque arms (fig.

71).
Remove stabilizer shaft brackets from the

frame and withdraw assembly from vehicle.
ISOLATION MOUNT

CROSSMEMBER

BEND OVER TABS AFTER INSTALLATION

Fig.
70—Crossmember Mount Cross-Section (Corvette)

3.
Inspect bushings for signs of deterioration, and in-

spect shaft for bends, breaks or other defects - do

not attempt to straighten shaft - replace parts as

deemed necessary.

4.
Position bushings on shaft and loosely install shaft

to torque arms and at frame brackets.

5.
Align shaft to assume proper placement when bolts

are torqued, and torque attaching bolts to

specifications.

Fig.
71—Stabilizer Shaft Installation (Corvette)

CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL

REAR SUSPENSION
AND
DRIVE LINE
4-26

DRIVE LINE

REAR AXIE

INDEX

Page

General
Description
4-26

Chevrolet,
Camaro,
Chevelle
and
Chevy
II 4-26

Corvette
4-26

Maintenance
and
Adjustments
4-27

Lubricant
4.37

Lubricant'
Leaks
4_27

Axle Bolts
and
Wheel
Nuts
4-27

Rear Axle Noise
Diagnosis
4-29

Gear Noise
4_29

Bearing
Noise
4-29

Failure
Analysis
4^9

Hypoid
Gears
4..3Q

Differential Gears. 4_30

Bearings
....'.
4.30

Component Parts Replacement

(Chevrolet, Chevelle, Camaro and Chevy n ..... 4.30

Axle Assembly ,. . 4_30

Removal 4 30

Installation * ' 4 3Q
Axle Shaft . . . 4-31

Removal 4-31

Wheel Bolt Replacement 4-31

Oil Seal and/or Bearing Replacement. 4-31

Brake Flange Plate Replacement 4-31

Installation 4-32

Pinion Flange, Dust Deflector and/or

Oil Seal Replacement 4-32

Component Parts Replacement (Corvette) 4-34

Axle Driveshaft .- 4-34

Removal 4-34

Repairs 4-34

Installation. . 4-34

Pinion Flange, Dust Deflector and/or Oil Seal. .... 4-35

Removal 4-35

Inspection . 4-35

Installation .- 4-35

Differential Carrier 4-36

Removal 4-36

Installation 4-36

Positraction Differential Unit-On the Vehicle Check . . 4-37

\

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

CHEVROLET, CHEVELLE, CHEVY
I! AND
CAMARO

The rear axle
(fig. 72) is a
semifloating, fabricated

construction type consisting
of a
cast carrier with large

bosses
on
each
end
into which
two
welded steel tubes

are fitted.
The
carrier contains
an
overhung hypoid

pinion
and
ring gear.
The
differential
is a
two pinion

arrangement.

The axle housing
is
made up
of
two steel welded tubes

pressed into
the
crossbore
of the
cast carrier
-
each

tube
is
puddle welded
at
three places
to the
carrier.

Welded-on brackets provide attachment points
for

Chevelle springs,; shock absorbers,
and
lower control

arms.
Chevrolet models have welded-on brackets
for

control arms,
tie
rod, and shock absorbers. The housing

on Chevy II and Camaro has welded brackets
for
mounting

lower spring
pad
and shock absorber.
A
welded flange
is

provided
for
brake flange plate attachment.

The overhung hypoid drive pinion
is
supported
by
two

preloaded tapered roller bearings.
The
pinion shaft
is

sealed
by
means
of a
molded, spring loaded, rubber seal.

The seal
is
mounted
on the
pinion shaft flange which
is

splined and bolted
to
the hypoid pinion shaft.

The hypoid ring gear
is
bolted
to a
one-piece differen-

tial case which
is
supported
by two
preloaded tapered

roller bearings.

CORVETTE

The Corvette rear axle
is of the
type where
the dif-
ferential carrier housing enclosing
the
differential
and

hypoid gears
is
supported
on a
crossmember mounted
to

the chassis frame.
The
differential
is
connected through

universal joints
to the
drive shafts
and
wheels
(fig. 73).

The internal components
of the
carrier
are of
conven-

tional design, incorporating
a
hypoid gear
set
with
an

overhung pinion supported
on two
pre-loaded, tapered

roller bearing assemblies,
and a
two-pinion differential

assembly supported
on
tapered roller bearings. Pinion

mounting distance adjustments
are
made through the
use

of shims,
as are the
differential bearing pre-load
and

backlash adjustments.
The
differential side gears drive

two splined yokes which
are
retained laterally
by
snap

rings located on the yoke splined end. The yokes
are
sup-

ported on caged needle bearings pressed into
the
carrier,

adjacent
to the
differential bearings.
A
lip seal, pressed

in outboard
of
the bearings, prevents
oil
leakage and dirt

entry.
The
carrier cover
is
bolted
to the
carrier and

provides accessibility
to the
internal parts.
The
cover

incorporates two integral, reinforced mounting pads which

serve
as the
carrier attaching point
to the
suspension

crossmember,
and an
attaching point
for the
spring

center section. The filler plug
is
located on the right side

of the cover near the bolting flange.

All service operations allow carrier removal without

removing
the
carrier cover. Cover removal
is
not nec-

essary
in any of the
service procedures except
in
the

case
of
complete carrier housing replacement,
as the

carrier and cover
are
serviced
as
an assembly.

CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL