1973 OPEL GT-R steering

/
I1 H- 601973 OPEL SEW& MANUAL
1. Remove headlight switch button by depressing
retaining clip on shaft and pulling back on switch
knob. See Figure lH-3.
Figure 1 H-5
- Removing Cluster Screws
Figure lH-3
- Removing Headlight Switch Knob,
2. Remove two (2) plugs on cluster panel. See FigurelH-4.301H6
-Figure 1 H-4 Removing Plugs
3. Remove two (2) sheet metal screws behind plugs
on cluster. See Figure lH-5.
4. Pull off heater control knobs toward front.
j5. On top, carefully pull instrument ‘trim plate
:to-wards steering wheel and remove plate.
6. Remove two screws for lower housing
attach&t.See Figure lH-6.Figure 1 H-6 Lower Housing Attaching Screws
7. Disconnect speed0 cable at cluster by turning cou-
pling counterclockwise.
8. If equipped, pull heated rear window or fog lamp
switch out of instrument housing and disconnect
wires from switches.
9. Pull cluster right and left sides partially out and
disconnect wires on back of cluster. See Figure lH-7.
Installation
1.
P&e instrument cluster in position and connect
wires on back of cluster.
2. Pull fog light or heated back glass switch wires
into opening, if equipped, and connect wires and
replace switch.
3. Connect two screws on lower housing attachment.

1 H- 62 1973 OPEL SERVICE, MANUAL
4. Remove flasher unit. See Figure IH-12.
5. Position steering so that wheels are straight ahead.
6. Pull off heads of both tear bolts by first drilling a3/16 inch pilot hole and then using a stud extractor
to remove tear bolts. See Figure lH-13.
Figure 1 H-10 Removing Right Aicess Cover andSWW3. Remove left access cover and f”rnove screw. See
Figure lH-11.
Figure 1 H-l 3 Steering Column Attaching Bolts
7. Disconnect ignition (white) and directional signal
(black) wire set plugs.
8. Support steering column assembly and remove
both hex head bolts. See Figure lH-13.
9. Drop steering column assembly to floor.
10. Disconnect speedometer cable.
11. Remove six (6) screws on instrument cluster. See
Figure
lH- 14.
Figure lli-1 1 Removing Left Access Cover and
SC&Figure lH-14 Instrument Cluster Screws
12. Pull back on instrument cluster from top to
remove. See Figure lH-15.
Figure l H-12 Flasher Unit Installed13. Disconnect wires on back of radio. See FigurelH-16.

I
,INSTRUMENT PANELlH-63Figure l;H-15 Removing Instrument Cluster AssemblyFibure1 H-l 6 Disconnecting Radio Wires
14. Disdonnect antenna lead-in at right lower corner
of radio!
15. Pull’ cluster housing out and turn sideways to
remove
&~y instrument gauge or switches.
I
lnstallaiion
CAUTlOI$ Fasteners in subparagraph B are impor-
tant attaching parts in that they coo/d
affect the
perform>nce of vital components and systems, and-
/or
cou!d result in major repair expense.They must
be
repraced with one of the same part number, or
with an equivalent part if replacement becomes
necessa?y. Do not use a replacement part of lesser
quality
br substitute design. Torque values must be
used as
&ified during reassembly to assure proper
retention of these parts.
1. Plug antenna lead-in cable and power source to
radio. I
2. Put i&trument cluster in position and replace six
(6) screbs in cluster.3. Connect speedometer cable.
4. Raise steering column into position and install hex
head
bolt% Be sure to install ground wire. Tighten
hex head bolts to 14 lb.ft.
5. Tighten tear lock bolts until hex head of bolt is
torn off.
6. Connect ignition and directional signal wire set
plugs.
7. Install flasher unit.
8. Replace screws in right and left lower instrument
panel and replace both access covers.
9. Connect battery cable.
Removal of Combined Switch Assemblies. GT1. Remove instrument cluster.
2. Turn instrument cluster to the side to remove
switch assembly.
3. Remove switch by removing two retaining nuts.
See Figure lH-17.
4. Remove wiring from switch.
Figure 1 H-l 7 Removing Switches
Installation1. Plug wiring into switch.
2. Install switch on panel.
3. Install instrument cluster.

r
2UREDp
IM
BRNIWHI
BUZZER
3 CLOSED POSlTlONl
/-
14 RED - TO STEERING
COLUMN CONN.
20 RED
12 RED FROM BATTERY--18 GRAY--12 RED
-I
J
DOME LIGHT
&SWITCH1
1
.,_ &,,,.~~
STEER I NG
COLUMN
CONNECTORTRUNK LIGHT?&SWITCH
IGNITION
SWITCH‘\BUZZER SWITCH(HELD CLOSED WITH
KEY IN “OFF” & “LOCK”POSITION1
3OlJll

I
GROUP 3
SUSPENSION
AND
STEERING I
SectionTitlePage No
3AFrontSuspension. . . . . . . . . .3A- 2
3BSteering Linkages38-l 9
3C Front End Alignment3C-22
3DSteering Gear.._........3D-27
Steering Column
3E1900 - Manta ,._________...3E-35
GT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3E-42
3FRear Suspension. . . . . . . . .3F-51
3GWheelsand Tires. . . . . . . . . .36-55

3A- 21973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
FRONT SUSPENSION
CONTENTS
Subject
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION:SuspensionDescription. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DIAGNOSIS: (Not Applicable)
MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENTS:
FrontWheel
BearingAdjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MAJOR REPAIR:
Removal and Installation of Front Suspension . . . . . . . .Upper Ball Joint Removal and Installation
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lower Ball Joint Removal and
Installation
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Upper Control Arm
Removal andInstallation
. . . . . . . . . .Lower Control Arm Removal and Installation
. . . . . . . .Steering
Knuckle
RemovalandInstallation. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shock Absorber
RemovalandInstallation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Front Spring Removal and Installation
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SPECIFICATIONS:Page No.
3A- 2
3A- 4
3A- 4
3A- 7
3A- 73A-103A-113A-133A-153A-15
Bolt Torque and Front End Alignment Specifications
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3A-18
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
SUSPENSION DESCRIPTION
GTThe GT uses a maintenance-free independent front
wheel suspension and features unequal length con-
trol arms and a transverse three-leaf spring. The en-
tire front suspension is attached to the front cross
member and can be removed as a unit if so desired.
The engines installed in the GT are not supported by
mounting brackets but rest on a separate cross mem-
ber. The front suspension cross member is reinforced
in the area of the attachment to the frame. A one-
part damper plate is installed between cross member
and frame.
Ball joints are employed in the conventional manner
to provide pivoting joints between the control arms
and steering knuckles. Upward movement of the
control arms is limited by two large rubber bumpers
attached to the cross member.Road shock is dampened by the double direct acting
shock absorbers and a transverse double or triple
steel band spring. In addition, the shock absorber
limits downward travel of the control arms.
All moving parts, including ball joints, have no need
for lubrication as they have been pre-lubricated for
the life of the vehicle.
For distinguishing the individual front suspension
cross members,.a red label with black letters is stuck
onto the front side of the shock absorber support. See
Figure 3A-3.
Opel 1900. Manta
The front wheel suspension has coil springs and con-
trol arms of different length.
The stabilizer is designed to act as a tie strut. The end
is supported in a rubber bushing which is located in
a piece of tubing welded into the longer control arm.
To minimize brake torque, the horizontal shafts of

FRONT SUSPENSION3A- 34RM“PPtR BALL
SHOCK ABSORBER UPPER CONTROL,
UPPER CONTROL
ARM SHAFT
“:,‘,:“,‘,“,“, ,“pd,,‘, T/RUBBER BUMPER
\CROSSMEMBER
ROTOR
/LOWER BALL JOINTFRONT SPRING
Figure 3A-2 GT Front Suspension (Disc Brakes)
the upper and lower control arm are not in parallel
(anti- dive).The lower control arm is connected to the steering
knuckle with a ball joint.3A-4
Figure 3A-3 Cross Member Marking
Figure 3A-4 Front Suspension
- Opel 1900 Manta

3A- 41973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
The two cross-members to body supports are at-
tached to the horizontal part of the cross-member
with two bolts. The oufererbolt serves simultaneously
as support for the lower control arm. As the bolt is
inserted from the front, the cross-member to body
support can be removed without the lower control
arm. The inner bolt attaches simultaneously to the
steering.
The stabilizer is U-shaped and supported in rubber
bushings in the two cross-members to body supports.
The complete front suspension is attached to the
underbody in four places.
The engine damper blocks are bolted to the inside of
the inclined parts of the cross-member.
The front wheel bearings are roller bearings.
All front suspension joints are maintenance-free.
MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENTSFRONT WHEEL BEARING ADJUSTMENT
1. If wheel has not previously been removed from the
car, remove grease cap, cotter pin, and spindle nut.
Discard cotter pin.
2. Torque spindle nut to 18
lb.ft. while rotating
wheel. This will allow the bearings to settle.
3. Back offspindle nut
l/4 turn. If slot and cotter pin
hole are staggered, further back off nut
l/l2 turn,
but do not tighten, until next slot in nut is in align-
ment with hole in spindle. Install new cotter pin. A
properly adjusted wheel bearing has a small amount
of end play and a loose nut when adjusted in the
above manner.
MAJOR REPAIRREMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF FRONT
SUSPENSION
(COMPLETE ASSEMBLY)
Removal GT1. Prior to raising front end of car, apply parking
brake and block rear wheels.
2. Raise front end of car with a jack. It is recom-
mended that a wood block be placed between thejack and the front cross member to prevent damage
to the cross member.
3. Support front end of car by placing floor standsunde:r jacking brackets.
4. Support engine-transmission assembly in upper-
most position with jack stand at rear of engine, or an
alternate method would be to use Engine Holding
Fixture, Tool J-23375. See Figure 3A-5.
Install tool by removing upper kngine mount nut and
installing fixture. Replace nut and tighten. The en-
gine will now be supported by the tool between the
frame rails.
Figure
3A-5 Engine Holding Fixture Installed
5. Loosen steering mast at the lower universal joint
and take out clamp bolt. Loosen clamp at the upper
universal joint and lift steering mast upwards until it
is free at the lower universal joint. See Figure
3A-6.6. Disconnect brake lines at brake hose.
7. Disconnect shock absorber at upper mounting. It
is necessary to remove air cleaner. See Figure
3A-24.8. Disconnect engine mounts at cross member.
9. Remove front suspension cross member attaching
nuts and lower the cross member.
Removal Opel 1900 - Manta1. Prior to raising front end of car, apply parking
brake and block rear wheels.