
SECTION 10
WHEELS AND TIRES
INDEX
Page
General Description
 10-1
Maintenance
 and
 Adjustments
 .............. 10—1
Tires
 10-1
Pressures . 10-1
Inspection 10-1
Wear 10-1
Rotation 10-4
Noise 10-4
Cleaning 10-4
Change (W/Wheels) 10-4
Wheels 10-5
Static Balancing (w/Tire) 10-5 
Page
Dynamic Balancing (w/Tire) . 10-5
Run Out (w/o Tire) 10-5
Cleaning 10-5
Service Operations 10-5
Tires 10-5
Removal 10-5
Installation 10-5
Repair 10^6
Wheels . 10-6
Valve Assembly 10-6
Repair (Rim) 10-7
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
WHEELS
Chevrolet, Chevelle, Camaro, Chevy n, and Corvette
are base equipped with welded steel wheels. Five studs
with nuts fasten each wheel to the front hub or rear axle
flange. Disc brake equipped vehicles (except Chevrolet
and Corvette) require special 14 inch diameter wheels
with a revised design for clearance, Chevrolet disc brake
equipped vehicles have 15 in. diameter wheels as do all
Corvettes.
Chevrolet station wagons, Chevelle Super Sport 396,
Corvette and Camaro Super Sport 350 are base equipped
with 6 in. width wheels. All other vehicles have 5 in.
width wheels, except Chevy n 100, 300 and 500 Series
Sedans, which have 4 in. width wheels.
Do not install 6 inch width wheels or snow chains on
Chevrolets equipped with rear fender skirts.
TIRES
The factory installed tires on Chevrolet passenger
cars are selected to provide the best all around tire
performance for all normal operation. They are de-
signed to operate satisfactorily with loads up to and in-
cluding the specified full rated load capacity of the 
automobile when inflated as recommended in the Vehicle
Capacity Rating and Recommended Tire Inflation Pres-
sures Table (see Specifications).
Optional Oversize and 8-Ply Rating Tires
{Chevrolet and Chevelle Only)
Oversize or 8-ply rating tires are not necessary on
passenger cars for normal requirements. However, an
extra margin of tire service is available when these
options are used at loads up to and including full rated
load.
Optional oversize 4-ply rating and/or 8-ply rating
tires are available on models as indicated in the Tire
Usage Chart (see Specifications). On some models (ex-
ample—Station Wagon), space limitations do not permit
the use of a larger size tire; hence, the 8-ply rating
tire is an available option.
In either case, these tires are applicable to extended
operation at or near full rated load or for trailer towing
when an extra margin of tire service is desired. How-
ever, use of a larger tire or an 8-ply rating tire should
not be construed as permitting an increase in the full
rated vehicle load (see Specifications).
MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENTS
TIRES
Inflation Pressures
To ensure the proper tire inflation pressure for the
owners particular requirements follow the recommenda-
tions in the Vehicle Capacity Rating and Recommended
Tire Inflation Pressures Table (seeSpecifications). Keep
tires properly inflated, and check inflation pressures
periodically. This will ensure the best tire life and riding
comfort, over the full range of driving conditions. 
Inspection
Every few thousand miles and at each lubrication, tires
should be checked for sharp objects or stones in the
tread. H tire is punctured, it should be repaired using
one of several repair kits available through tire manu-
facturers1 outlets.
Wear
Misalignment
This is wear due to excessive toe-in or toe-out. In
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL 

WHEELS AND TIRES 10-3
Fig.
 3 - Spof Wear
to cautioning the owner of his driving habits, is to inter-
change tires regularly.
Side
This may be caused by incorrect wheel camber, under-
inflation, high cambered roads or taking corners at too
high a rate of speed.
The first two causes are the most common. Camber
wear can be readily identified because it occurs only on
one side of the treads, whereas underinflation causes
wear on both sides (fig. 2).
There is, of course, no correction for high cambered
roads.
 Cornering wear is discussed further on.
Center
This is caused primarily by overinflation pf the tire
(fig. 2). Invisible fabric damage can also be caused by
overinflation.
Uneven
Uneven or spotty wear (fig. 3) is due to such irregu-
larities as unequal caster or camber, bent front or rear
suspension parts, out-of-balance wheels, brake drums 
Fig.
 4 - Cornering Wear
out-of-round, brakes out-of-adjustment, or other me-
chanical conditions. The remedy in each case consists
of locating the mechanical defect and correcting it.
Cornering
Since the introduction of independent spring front and
rear wheels, improvements in spring suspension have
enabled drivers to negotiate curves at higher rates of
speed with the same feeling of security that they had
with the older cars at lower speeds. Consequently,
curves are being taken at higher speeds with the result
that a type of tire wear called "Cornering Wear" (fig. 4),
frequently appears.
When a car makes an extremely fast turn, the weight
is shifted from a normal loading on all four wheels to an
abnormal load on the tires on the outside of the curve
and a very light load on the inside tires due to centrifugal
force. This unequal loading may have two unfavorable
results.
First, the rear tire on the inside of the curve may be
relieved of so much load that it is no longer geared to
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL 

WHEELS AND TIRES 10-4
the road and it slips, grinding off the tread on the inside
half of the tire at an excessive rate. This type of tire
shows much the same appearance of tread wear as tire
wear caused by negative camber.
Second, the transfer of weight may also over-load the
outside tires so much that they are laterally distorted
resulting in excessive wear on the outside half of the
tire producing a type of wear like that caused by ex-
cessive positive camber.
Cornering wear can be most easily distinguished from
abnormal camber wear by the rounding of the outside
shoulder or edge of the tire and by the roughening of the
tread surface which denotes abrasion.
Cornering wear often produces a fin or raised portion
along the inside edge of each row in the tread pattern.
In some cases this fin is almost as pronounced as a
toe-in fin, and in others, it tapers into a row of tread
blocks to such an extent that the tire has a definite step
wear appearance.
The only remedy for cornering wear is proper in-
struction of owners.
Fig.
 5 - Tire Rotatidh
Rotation
To minimize the possibility of tire noise and to equal-
ize tire wear, it is recommended that tires be inter-
changed every 6000 miles as shown in Figure 5 or more
frequently in the case of extremely heavy wear.
NOTE:
 Rotate Corvette tires at 4000 miles or
sooner.
Interchanging tires will effectively prevent undue wear
on any particular tire. II tire interchanging is followed
as recommended above, all tires will have the same
number of miles in each wheel position at the end of the
fourth change. When interchanging tires, inspect for
signs of abnormal wear, bulging, etc., stones, glass, and
nails should be removed before reinstallation.
Noise
Noise caused by the normal action of tire treads on
various road surfaces is often confused with rear axle 
gears or other noises in the car.
The determination of whether tires are causing the
noise complained of is relatively simple. The car should
be driven at various speeds and note taken of part
throttle, and sudden acceleration and deceleration. Axle
and exhaust noises show definite variations under these
conditions, while tire noise will remain constant. Tire
noise is, however, most pronounced at speeds of approx-
imately twenty or thirty miles per hour.
The tires may be further checked by driving the ear
over smooth pavement with the tires at normal pressure
and again over the same stretch of pavement when the
tires have been inflated to fifty pounds pressure. Reduce
the tires to normal pressure one at a time to determine
the faulty tire or tires. This high inflation pressure
should immediately be reduced to normal after test. If
the noise for which the test is being made is caused by
tires,.
 it will noticeably decrease when the tire pressure
is increased, whereas axle noise should show no change
in volume.
If, on inspection, the tires on the front wheels are
found to be creating most of the noise the alignment of
the front wheels should be checked. Excessive tire noise
usually results from lower than recommended tire pres-
sure, incorrect alignment, uneven tire wear, or defective
(thumper) tire.
Cleaning
A great deal of ordinary road dirt which collects on
white sidewall tires may be sponged off with clear water
or a mild soap solution.
A good brand of whitewall tire cleaner, however, is
a quicker and more effective cleaner for removing dirt
and stains from whitewall tires and in many cases it
will remove stains and discoloration that the simpler
method of soap and water will not remove.
Under no circumstances should gasoline, kerosene or
any cleaning fluid containing a solvent derived from oil
be used to clean whitewall tires. Oil in any form is
detrimental to tire rubber and a cleaner with an oil base
will discolor or injure whitewall tires.
Change (W/Wheels)
To change the road wheels using the jack that comes
with the car, observe the following procedure:
1.
 Set hand brake and block front wheels if rear wheel
is being changed.
2.
 Remove hub cap or wheel disc and break wheel
mounting nuts loose.
3.
 Place the jack as directed tinder, General Informa-
tion,
 Section 0 and raise car until wheel clears
ground.
4.
 Remove wheel mounting nuts and remove wheel from
hub or drum.
5. To replace road wheel, reverse the above instrue-
. tions. Proper torque on nuts is 55-75 ft. lbs.
torque (70-85 ft. lbs. for Corvette aluminum wheel
nuts).
CAUTION: On models equipped with discs, in-
dex the pilot hole in the disc on the valve stem.
(To insure that the anti-rotation notches in wheel
disc register on lugs in wheel rim.)
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL 

ELECTRICAL-BODY
 AND
 CHASSIS
 12-36
CAMARO INSTRUMENTS AND GAUGES
INDEX
Page
General Description
 12-36
Service Operations
 12-36
Instrument Cluster
 . . . 12-36
Instrument Lamps
 12-36
Printed Circuit
 12-36
Fuel Gauge
 12-37
Tachometer
 . . 12-37
Seat Separator Instrument Console
 12-37 
Page
Fuel Gauge
 12-37
Ammeter
 12-37
Temperature Gauge
 12-37
Oil Pressure Gauge
 . 12-37
Fuel Warning Unit
 12-37
Clock.
 ... 12-37
Oil Pressure Indicator
 12-37
Generator Indicator
 12-38
Temperature Indicator
 12-38
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The standard Camaro instrument cluster assembly con-
sists
 of two
 circular units which house
 the
 speedometer
and fuel gauge assemblies.
 The oil
 pressure, left-hand
directional
 and
 brake warning indicators
 are
 located
 in
the face
 of the
 speedometer bezel while generator,
 tem-
perature
 and
 right-hand directional indicators are grouped
with
 the
 fuel gauge unit.
 The
 high beam indicator
 is
located between
 the
 cluster bezels.
A special instrumentation package
 is
 available with
 the
eight-cylinder engine
 and
 center floor console combina-
tion.
 The
 special cluster includes:
 a
 clock; coolant
temperature,
 oil
 pressure, fuel
 and
 ammeter gauges,
mounted forward
 on the
 seat separator console;
 a ta-
chometer
 in the
 right circular housing
 of the
 dash
 in-
strument cluster; and
 a low
 fuel level indicator replacing
the
 oil
 pressure indicator lamp
 in the
 instrument cluster.
The instruments
 and
 gauges,
 may be
 serviced only
after
 the
 instrument cluster
 is
 removed from
 the
 vehicle.
Indicator
 and
 cluster lamps except
 for the
 high beam
indicator
 may be
 replaced without removing
 the
 cluster
assembly. Partial cluster removal
 is
 necessary when
replacing
 the
 high beam indicator due
 to its
 proximity
 to 
the upper brace
 rod
 anchor plate.
 The
 bulbs
 are in-
stalled
 in
 plastic sockets which lock into
 the
 cluster
housing and make contact with
 the
 printed circuit.
A
 low
 level fuel warning system
 is a
 special feature
available with
 the
 floor console gauge pack. This
 sys-
tem includes
 an
 indicator lamp
 in the
 dash cluster and
 a
semi-conductor unit senses
 the
 change
 in
 electrical
 re-
sistance
 of the
 fuel system circuitry
 as
 variations
 in
fuel level occur.
 The
 sensing device
 is
 replaced
 as a
unit
 if
 found defective.
The brake warning light serves
 a
 dual purpose.
 It
functions
 as an
 indicator when
 the
 parking brake
 is ap-
plied
 and
 also
 if
 there
 is a
 malfunction (loss
 of
 hydraulic
pressure)
 in the
 brake system. Switches which provide
the signal
 to
 operate
 the
 light
 are
 located
 at the
 parking
brake assembly
 and at the
 brake master cylinder
 in the
hydraulic lines. Service
 of the
 brake pressure differ-
ential switch unit
 is
 covered
 in
 Section
 5 of
 this manual.
Regular maintenance
 is not
 required on
 the
 instrument
cluster
 or its
 components other than maintaining clean,
tight electrical connections, replacing defective parts
and keeping
 the
 speedometer properly lubricated.
SERVICE OPERATIONS
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (Figs.
 50
 thru
 53)
Removal
 and
 Installation
1.
 Disconnect battery ground cable.
2.
 Remove mast jacket lower support screws
 at toe
 pan.
3.
 Remove mast jacket upper support bolts
 and
 allow
steering wheel
 to
 rest
 on
 seat cushion.
CAUTION: Both supports must
 be
 detached
 to
prevent distortion
 of
 mast jacket.
4.
 Remove cluster attaching screws from face
 of
 panel
and partially remove assembly from console opening.
5. Reaching behind cluster assembly, disconnect speed-
ometer cable, speed warning device
 (if so
 equipped
 -
Fig.
 51) and
 chassis harness connector
 at
 rear
 of
panel.
6. Remove assembly from console opening to
 a
 suitable
bench area
 for
 required service operations.
7.
 To
 install, reverse removal procedure.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LAMP REPLACEMENT
1.
 Turn bulb holder counterclockwise
 and
 pull
 out to
remove from
 the
 cluster housing. 
2.
 Pull bulb straight out
 to
 remove from socket.
3.
 Press replacement bulb inward
 to
 lock
 in
 socket.
4.
 Insert lamp assembly into housing, with lugs
 on
holder entering notches
 in
 housing,
 and
 turn clock-
wise
 to
 lock
 in
 place.
PRINTED CIRCUIT REPLACEMENT
1.
 Remove instrument cluster
 as
 previously described
in this section.
2.
 Remove
 all
 cluster illuminating and indicator lamps
from housing.
3.
 Remove fuel gauge terminal nuts
 or
 tachometer
 re-
taining nuts securing printed circuit
 to
 housing.
4.
 Remove four
 hex
 head screws retaining printed
 cir-
cuit
 to the
 cluster housing
 and
 remove circuit from
housing.
5.
 To
 install, reverse removal procedure.
CAUTION:
 The
 retaining screws
 are
 part
 of
the grounding circuit
 and
 must
 be
 installed
 to
provide proper connections
 for the
 printed
 eir-
cuit.
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL 

SPECIFICATIONS
HEATING
 AND AIR
 CONDITIONING
SECTION
 1A
Compressor
Make Frigidaire
Type
 . 6
 Cylinder Axial
Displacement
Four-Season
 12.6
 Cu.
 In.
Universal
 and
 Ail-Weather
 .... .10.8 Cu. In.
Rotation Clockwise
Compressor Suction
 and
 Discharge
Connector Bolt Torque
 .......
 25 ft lbs.
Compressor Clutch Coil
Ohms
 (at
 80°F.).
 4.18-4.38
Amps
 (at
 80°F.)
 2.86 @ 12
 Volts
Torques
Rear Head
 to
 SheU Stud
 Nut 23 lb. ft
Shaft Mounting
 Nut 15 lb. ft
Belt Tension.
 See
 Tune-Up Chart 
System Capacities
Refrigerant
 R-12
Four-Season
 and
 Comfortron
Systems.
 ............
 3 lbs., 12 oz.
Universal Systems
Chevrolet, Chevelle,
 and
 Camaro.
 ... 3 lbs.
Chevy
 n 2 lbs. 8 oz.
All-Weather System
 2 lbs. 8 oz.
Compressor
 Oil 525
 Viscosity
All Systems
 11 oz.
Fuses
Comfortron Systems
 .
Four-Season Systems
 .
Universal Systems
 . .
All-Weather System.
 . 
Fuse
Block
25
 amp.
25
 amp.
25
 amp.
25
 amp. 
In
Line
30
 amp.
30
 amp.
20
 amp.
20
 amp.
SECTION
 3
WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS (Vehicle
 dt
 Curb Weight)
Caster*
Camber*
Steering Axis
Inclination
tToe-In (Total)
Wheel Bearing
Adjustment
Preload
End Movement 
Chevrolet
Pos.
 3/4° ± 1/2°
Pos.
 1/4° ± 1/2°
7-1/2° ± 1/2°
@l/8"
 to 1/4"
12 ft lbs.
zero
.001"
 to .008" 
Chevelle •
(SS and El Camino)
Neg. 1/2° ± 1/2°
(All others)
Neg. 1° ± 1/2°
Pos.
 1/2° ± 1/2°
8-1/4° ± 1/2°
1/8" to 1/4"
12 ft lbs.
zero
.001"
 to .008" 
Chevy n
Pos.
 1° ± 1/2°
Pos.
 1/2° ± 1/2°
7° ± 1/2°
1/4" to 3/8"
12 ft lbs.
zero
.000"
 to .004" 
Corvette
Pos.
 1° ± 1/2°
Pos.
 3/4° ± 1/2°
7° ± 1/2°
3/16" to 5/16"
12 ft lbs.
zero
.001"
 to .008" 
Camaro
Pos.
 1/2° £ 1/2°
Pos.
 1/4° ±1/2°
8 3/4° ± 1/2°
1/8" to 1/4"
12 ft lbs.
zero
.001"
 to .008"
•Must not vary more than 1/2° from side to side.
@Toe-In (Total) should be 5/16" to 7/16" after rebuild using new bushings and ball joints.
tAdjust Toe-in with steering gear on straight ahead location after camber and caster have been set Any change
in caster and camber settings will affect toe; always recheck and set toe to specifications.
LET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL