1982 CHEVROLET CAMARO Repair Guide

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 857
6. Remove the bolts attaching the toe plate to the cowl.
7. Disconnect the electrical connectors.
8. Remove the capsule nuts attachi
ng the steering column support bracket
to the instrument panel.
9. Disconnect the park lock cable from the ignition switch inhibitor, if
equipped with automatic transmission.
10. Remove the steering column from the vehicle.
To install:
If a replacement steering column is bein g installed, do not remove the anti-
rotation pin until after the steering co lumn has been connected to the steering
gear. Removing the anti-rotation pin before the steering column is connected to
the steering gear may dam age the SIR coil assembly.
11. Position the steering column in the vehicle.
12. Connect the park lock cable to the ig nition switch inhibitor on vehicles
with automatic transmission.
13. Install the capsule nuts attaching the steering column support bracket to
the instrument panel and tighten to 20 ft. lbs. (27 Nm).
14. Install the nut and bolt to the upper intermediate shaft coupling attaching
the upper intermediate shaft to the steer ing column. Tighten the nut to 44
ft. lbs. (60 Nm).
15. Install the bolts attaching the toe pl ate to the cowl and tighten to 58 inch
lbs. (6.5 Nm).
16. Connect the electrical connectors.
17. Remove the anti-rotation pin if a se rvice replacement steering column is
being installed.
18. Install the knee bolster and bracket, if equipped.
19. Install the sound insulator panel.
If SIR coil has become uncentered by turni ng of the steering wheel without the
column connected to the st eering gear, follow the proper adjustment procedure
for the SIR coil assembly before proceeding.
20. Install the steering wheel.
21. Connect the negative battery cable.
22. Enable the SIR system as follows: a. Connect the yellow 2-way SIR harness connector to the base of
the steering column and CPA clip and install the SIR fuse.
b. Install the left sound insulator.
c. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN position and verify that the
inflatable restraint indicator fl ashes 7-9 times and then turns OFF.
If the indicator does not respond as stated, a problem within the
SIR system is indicated.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 858
STEERING GEAR, PUMP AND LINKAGE

STEERING LINKAGE

Fig. 1: Steering linka ge (exploded view)

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 859
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
PITMAN ARM

Fig. 2: Removing the Pitman arm with the tool shown
1. Raise the vehicle and support safely on jackstands.
2. Remove the nut from the Pitman arm ball stud.
3. Remove the relay rod from the Pitman arm by us ing a tool such as J-
24319-01 or equivalent. Pull down on the relay rod to remove it from the
stud.
4. Remove the Pitman arm nut from the Pitman shaft and mark the relation
of the arm position to the shaft.
5. Remove the Pitman arm with tool J-5504 or tool J-6632 or equivalent.
DO NOT HAMMER ON THE PULLER.
To install: 6. Position the Pitman arm on the Pitman shaft, lin ing up the marks made
upon removal.
7. Position the relay rod on the Pi tman arm. Use J-29193 or J-29194 or
equivalent to seat the t apers. A torque of 15 ft. lb s. (20 Nm) is required.
With the tapers seated, remove the t ool, then install a prevailing torque
nut, and tighten to 35 ft. lbs. (48 Nm).
8. Set the relay rod height. Torque t he idler arm-to-frame mounting bolts to
61 ft. lbs. (83 Nm).
9. Lower the vehicle.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 860
Idler Arm
1. Raise the vehicle and support safely on jackstands.
2. Remove the idler arm to fr ame nuts, washers, and bolts.
3. Remove the nut from the idle r arm to relay rod ball stud.
4. Remove the relay rod from t he idler arm by using J-24319-01 or
equivalent.
5. Remove the idler arm.
To install: 6. Position the idler arm on the fr ame and LOOSELY install the mounting
bolts, washers and nuts.
7. Install the relay rod to the idler a rm, making certain seal is on the stud.
Use J-29193 or J-29194 or equivalent to seat the tapers. A torque of 15
ft. lbs. (20 Nm) is required. With the tapers seated, remove the tool, then
install a prevailing torque nut, and ti ghten to 35 ft. lbs. (48 Nm).
8. Set the relay rod height. Torque t he idler arm-to-frame mounting bolts to
61 ft. lbs. (83 Nm).
9. Lower the vehicle.
RELAY ROD

Fig. 3: Removing the relay rod-to-tie rod nut

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 861

Fig. 4: Separating the tie rod from the relay rod using a gear puller

Fig. 5: Disconnecting the tie rod from the relay rod

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 862
During production, the installe
d position of the relay rod is carefully controlled to
assure that the rod is at the proper height. Both the left end and the right end of
the relay rod must be held at the sa me height. The side-to-side height is
controlled by adjusting the pos ition of the idler arm
Whenever disconnecting the rela y rod assembly, it is important to first scribe the
position of the idler arm-to-frame, and to reinstall the idler arm in the same
position. Be sure to prevent the idler support from turning in the bushing, since
that motion could result in improper relay rod height.
Whenever replacing the relay rod, or the idler arm, or the Pitman arm, it is
mandatory to establish the correct height.
1. Raise the vehicle and support safely on jackstands.
2. Remove the inner ends of the tie rods from the relay rod.
3. Remove the nut from the relay rod ball stud attachment at Pitman arm.
4. Detach the relay rod from the Pitm an arm by using tool such as J-24319-
01 or equivalent. Shift the steering lin kage as required to free the Pitman
arm from the relay rod.
5. Remove the nut from the idler arm and remove the relay rod from the
idler arm.
To install: 6. Install the relay rod to idler arm, ma king certain idler stud seal is in place.
Use J-29193 or J-29194 or equivalent to seat the tapers. A torque of 15
ft. lbs. (20 Nm) is required. With the tapers seated, remove the tool, then
install a prevailing torque nut, and ti ghten to 35 ft. lbs. (48 Nm).
7. Raise the end of the rod and insta ll on the Pitman arm. Use J-29193 or J-
29194 or equivalent to seat the tapers. A torque of 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm) is
required. With the tapers seated, remove the tool, then install a prevailing
torque nut, and tighten to 35 ft. lbs. (48 Nm).
8. Install the tie rod ends to the re lay rod. Lubricate the tie rod ends.
9. Install the damper , if equipped.
10. Set the relay rod height. Torque t he idler arm-to-frame mounting bolts to
61 ft. lbs. (83 Nm).
11. Lower the vehicle.
12. Check and, if necessary, adjust front end alignment.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 863
TIE ROD ENDS

Fig. 6: Using a tie rod removal tool
1. Raise the vehicle and support safely on jackstands.
2. Remove the cotter pins from the ball studs and remove the castellated
nuts.
3. Remove the outer ball stud by usi ng the ball stud puller. If necessary, pull
downward on the tie rod to disconnec t it from the steering arm.
4. Remove the inner ball stud from the relay rod using a similar procedure.
5. Remove the tie rod end or ends to be replaced by loosening the clamp
bolt and unscrewing them.
To install: 6. Lubricate tie rod threads with chassi s grease and install new tie rod(s).
Make sure both ends are an equal di stance from the tie rod and tighten
clamp bolts.
7. Make sure ball studs, tapered surf aces, and all threaded surfaces are
clean and smooth, and free of grease. Install seals on ball studs. Install
ball stud in steering arm and relay rod.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 864
8. Rotate both inner and out
er tie rod housings rearward to the limit of ball
joint travel before tightening clamps . Make sure clamp slots and sleeve
slots are aligned before tightening cl amps. Make sure tightened bolts will
be in horizontal position to 45 degrees upward (in the forward direction)
when the tie rod is in its normal positi on. Make sure the tie rod end stays
in position relative to the rod duri ng the tightening operation. Tighten the
clamps, and then return the assembly to the center of its travel.
9. Install ball stud nuts and torque to 35 ft. lbs. (47 Nm) Then tighten (do not
loosen) further as required to align cotter pin holes in studs and nuts.
Install new cotter pins.
10. Lubricate new tie rod ends and lower the vehicle.
POWER STEERING GEAR
ADJUSTMENTS
Adjust the worm bearing preload first, then proceed with the Pitman shaft over-
center adjustment.
WORM BEARING PRELOAD

Fig. 1: Loosening the power steering gear adjuster plug