Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

[Michael L.]

Guys,

Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering? Do I put both LH on one side or do I put a LH and RH on each side? if the latter, do I put the LH or the RH on the outside? I'm thinking it's the former otherwise turning the tie rod tube wouldn't adjust the steering in any way but wanted to check. Thanks,

Mike

[Richard M.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

I got this long ago to use as a guide. No clue where I got it but it makes sense.

TieRodEndsMag.jpg

[Michael L.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

Thanks that helps.

[John M.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

Go to Jim Shea's page...he has a nice write up. http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=1021

Regards,
John

[Harmon C.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

It looks to me like the two diagrams don't agree.

[Michael L.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

thanks John. Jim Shea's article is perfect. I'm such a dummy...I should have realized there was NO WAY the tie rod clamp bolts had a torque spec of 150 ft/lbs. Jim's article states 22 ft/lbs which seems much more appropriate. Thanks.

Mike

[Richard M.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

It looks to me like the two diagrams don't agree.

What's strange is both drawings are similar except the configuration.

Rich

[Jim S.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

Corvette inner and outer tie rod ends are pretty unique in that the only differences are in the RH and LH machined threads. Note most car and truck linkage designs have considerable differences between inner and outer tie rod ends. Also note that Corvette adjuster tubes are identified by a machined groove near the LH threaded end.

From a functional standpoint, it makes no difference if you have RH or LH threaded tie rod ends attached to the steering arms. By convention LH tie rod ends were always attached to the steering arms. Particularly with automated toe set equipment, the car assembly plants had to have all full tie rod assemblies manufactured and assembled the same.

The drawing with the RH threaded ends attached to the steering arms certainly looks like my drawing. But I searched my files and cannot find any sketches where I had the RH threaded ends on the outside. I think someone just changed a LH for RH and vise versa. In my original sketch you can also identify that I actually drew the direction of the lead. The direction of the lead was not changed on the drawing with the RH ends nearest the steering arms.

Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

Corvette inner and outer tie rod ends are pretty unique in that the only differences are in the RH and LH machined threads. Note most car and truck linkage designs have considerable differences between inner and outer tie rod ends. Also note that Corvette adjuster tubes are identified by a machined groove near the LH threaded end.

From a functional standpoint, it makes no difference if you have RH or LH threaded tie rod ends attached to the steering arms. By convention LH tie rod ends were always attached to the steering arms. Particularly with automated toe set equipment, the car assembly plants had to have all full tie rod assemblies manufactured and assembled the same.

The drawing with the RH threaded ends attached to the steering arms certainly looks like my drawing. But I searched my files and cannot find any sketches where I had the RH threaded ends on the outside. I think someone just changed a LH for RH and vise versa. In my original sketch you can also identify that I actually drew the direction of the lead. The direction of the lead was not changed on the drawing with the RH ends nearest the steering arms.

Jim

Jim------

I think that part of the confusion here comes from the fact that GM P&A catalogs always specified that the GM #3826814, the right hand threaded tie rod end, was for the outer position and the GM #3826596, the left hand threaded tie rod end, for the inner position. I don't know how this got into the catalogs.

[Jim S.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

Well Joe, it looks like you have found the RH vs LH culprit, (the good old GM P&A catalogue.) Since the entire C2 and C3 linkage assembly was shipped from Buffalo to St. Louis and Bowling Green there is no mention in the AIMs as to tie rod ends or tubes and their location.
Jim

[Gary B.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

Jim,

I wonder if you could comment on the 22 ft-lb torque value that is being discussed on another current posting?

Thanks,

Gary

[Jim S.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

I have an assortment of AIM sheets and Chevrolet Shop and Overhaul Manuals. It is sort of scary to note how the tie rod nut torque specs vary within these documents.

1975-76 Corvette AIM, Relay & Tie Rod Clamping Instructions UPC 9D sheet #3. It calls out a torque spec of 108-156 In-Lbs on all four tie rod clamp nuts. Converting to Ft-Lbs would be 9 - 13. The mean would be 11 Ft Lb. The drawing torque spec symbol points directly to the clamp nut.

1968 Chassis Service Manual shows a torque spec of 10.8 Ft Lbs.

My 1966-79 Corvette Shop Manual (Tune-up & Maintenance Guide) shows a mean torque spec of 11 Ft-Lbs for those nuts.

My 1971 Chassis Service Manual shows 22 Ft-Lbs for the tie rod clamp nut in the Specifications, Page 25, Torque Chart

My 1971 Chassis Overhaul Manual shows trucks with a tie rod clamp bolt spec of 11 Ft-Lb (except K series which is 35 Ft-Lb) and passenger cars with tie rod clamp nut specification at 22 Ft-Lbs (except Nova which is 12.5 Ft-Lbs).

The 1975 Chevrolet Service & Overhaul Manual Supplement shows Tie Rod Clamp Nut spec of 22 Ft Lbs for all Passenger Cars except Corvette which is 11 Ft Lbs.

I think that the 22 Ft Lb spec is incorrect. Where it came from - I do not know. I would only trust the torque spec listed in the AIM sheets.

Jim

[Gary B.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

Jim,

Thanks very much for the copious information. It's particularly odd that the 22 is exactly double the 11.

Gary

[Jim S.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

One more bit of information. Saginaw manufactured steering linkages for Buick, Pontiac, & Oldsmobile A-cars. Chevrolet manufactured linkages just for their own Chevelle A-cars. I found a 1972 service brochure that was produced by Saginaw Division. It relates to only Saginaw manufactured linkages (although you would expect that Chevrolet and Saginaw manufactured linkages would interchange.)

There is a torque chart in that brochure.
All A Cars - Tie Rod Clamp Nuts 19 - 24 Ft Lbs

All B C D, Buick E, Pontiac F, Pontiac X with 350 V8 engine Tie Rod Clamp Nuts 19 - 24 Ft Lbs

All Chevrolet X and Pontiac X - Except 350 V8 Engine Tie Rod Clamp Nuts 9 - 13 Ft Lbs

Olds and Cadillac E Tie Rod Clamp Nuts 19 - 24 Ft Lbs.

I'm afraid that this information only adds to the confusion. It seems to me that there were different size nuts and bolts for various different car lines. I can't imagine that Chevrolet A-car linkages would have had different size clamp bolts than a B-O-P A-cars however.

[Tim M.]

Re: Where do I put the LH and RH threaded tie rods when I'm assembling the steering?

Does all the information in Jim Shea's article also apply to C-1 Corvettes?