Pontiac FIREBIRD 1972 Service Manual page 1203

9-50
1972 PONTIAC SERVICE MANUAL
The tie rod ends are self-adjusting for wear and require no
attention in service other than periodic lubrication as ou-
tlined in Section 0 and occasional inspection to see that
ball studs are tight. Replacement of tie rod ends should be
made when excessive up and down motion is evident or if
any lost motion or end play at ball end of stud exists.
Periodically inspect the complete steering linkage for da-
maged or worn components. Replace parts that are bent,
cracked or broken and parts which are loose that cannot
be tightened. Do not attempt to service parts which dis-
play these conditions by straightening or welding.
MAJOR SERVICE
TIE ROD END
REMOVE
Raise front of car.
Loosen tie rod adjuster sleeve clamp nuts.
CAUTION: Discard the nut and bolt of an ad-
juster sleeve clamp if rusted and after breaka-
way (nut starts to turn) the removal torque of
the nut exceeds 71b.
ft.
(84 lb. in.). Install a new
nut and bolt having the same part number to
assure proper clamping at the specified nut
torque.
Remove tie rod stud nut cotter pin and nut.
Remove tie rod stud from steering arm or intermedi-
ate rod by prying on tie rod using a suitable pry bar
and tapping sharply on arm or intermediate rod in
area of stud.
NOTE: Instead of using a pry bar, the PRE-
FERRED METHOD using tool J 6627 can be
used. Use care not to damage rubber seal
around tie rod.
Unthread tie rod end from adjuster sleeve.
INSTALL
CAUTION: See CAUTION on page I of this
Section regarding the fasteners refined to in
steps 2 and 3.
Install by reversing the above steps.
NOTE: Check toe-in and adjust if
necessary.
If .tie rod end was removed from steering arm, tighten
tie rod stud nut at steering arm to 30 lb. ft. torque.
Insert cotter pin.
CAUTION: Care should be taken to insure that
steering a m hole, stud and nut are free of dirt
and grease before tightening nut. Turn nut in
tightening direction only to align slot with hole
in tie rod stud to insert cotter pin. DO NOT
BACK OFF NUT. Maximum torque to align
slot with hole not to exceed 7016.
ft.
on B Series
or 50 16. ft. on A, G, F and X Series.
b. If tie rod end was removed from intermediate rod,
tighten tie rod stud nut at intermediate rod to 50
lb. ft. on B and F Series or to 30 lb. ft. on A, G
and X Series. Insert cotter pin.
CAUTION: Care should be taken to insure that
intermediate rod hole, stud and nut are free of
dirt andgrease before tightening nut. Turn nut
in tightening direction only to align alot with
hole in tie rod stud to insert cotter pin. DO
NOT BACK OFF NUT. Maximum torque to
align slot with hole not to exceed 85 16. ft. on
B and F Series or 55 16. ft. on A and G Series
or to 50 16. ft. on X Senes.
Tighten tie rod adjuster sleeve clamp nuts to 20 lb. ft.
torque on B, A, G and F Series or to 12 lb. ft. torque
on X Series.
CAUTION: Before tightening, apply penetrat-
ing oil between each clamp and adjuster sleeve
that is rusted. Rotate the clamps until they
move freely. Open end of clamps should be
0"-45" forward from a vertical "down "position
on B, A, G and F Series. Open end of clamps
should be O V O O forward or rearward from a
vertical "up" position on X Series.
TIE ROD ADJUSTER SLEEVE
REMOVE
Raise front of car.
Loosen tie rod adjuster sleeve clamp nuts.
CAUTION: Discard the nut and bolt ofan ad-
juster sleeve clamp
if
rusted and after breaka-
way (nut starts to turn) the removal torque of
the nut exceeds 716. ft. (84 lb. in.). Installa new
nut and bolt having the same part number to
assure proper clamping at the specified nut
torque.
Remove tie rod end stud nut cotter pin and nut.
Remove tie rod stud from steering arm by prying on
tie rod using a suitable pry bar and tapping sharply
on arm in area of stud.
NOTE: Instead of using a pry bar, the PRE-
FERRED METHOD using tool J 6627 can be