I'm putting the front suspension back together and trying to avoid "Do Overs". Is there a preset length for tie rods that the factory started out with? Did they have to adjust toe in on every car at the factory? If so did they use a pipe wrench so you'll see the marks from the pipe wrench teeth on the tie rod tubes. At this point any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks Jerry
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Re: Tie Rod length 65
Jerry-----
The front steering assembly was delivered as a unit to the St. Louis assembly plant from the (then) Chevrolet-Buffalo component plant (now American Axle and Manufacturing). They were adjusted at St. Louis as necessary to achieve proper front wheel toe-in. I don't know what the spec was as far as how they were set at Chevrolet-Buffalo.
You can do this set-up yourself. First, set both front wheels so that they are as parrallel to the chassis ("straight ahead") as possible. Then, with the linkage connected to the steering box and the steering wheel at the center position, adjust the tie rods so that they can be attached to the steering arms without moving the wheels. Lastly, using an inexpensive, commercially available gauge (J.C. Whitney or Eastwood) OR a homemade gauge, set the toe to as close as spec as you can. This will be plenty close enough to get you to the alignment shop for final adjustment. In fact, if you do this all carefully enough, you may find that it will be "dead on" when you get it measured at the alignment shop.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: Tie Rod length 65
Jerry -
Yes, the tie rods were pre-set as an assembly convenience, but only within 1/2" or so overall so the car could be driven off the line to the toe-in and roll-test machine. The toe-in was set in a machine that spun the front wheels on swiveling heads that read toe-in while the operator in the "pit" at the front turned the tie rod sleeves with knurled-roller air tools until it was in spec, then tightened the clamps (while the roll-test driver used a fixture to hold the steering wheel level). See the link below for a photo.
Just thread them together so an equal number of threads are exposed at both ends of each sleeve, with overall length of the complete assembly the same as the distance between the tie rod stud holes in the steering arms with the wheels straight ahead, and your alignment shop can do the rest.
St. Louis Toe-In MachineComment
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Re: Great old photo, Thanks *NM*
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