Well i've been lurking for a while waiting for my first camaro to be painted and have the new top put on. It is now on the road so i figured i had better join and see if i can get and/or contibute and information. My question is the steering in the car is loose. I can grab the shaft coming out of the firewall and look down at where the pitman arm connects to the centerlink and it will move probably 1-2" back and forth before the CL wants to move, kinda interesting on a tight windy road. I've been checking around and can't seem to find a centerlink for a 68. Does anyone know where to get a new one or what other car i can use to replace this one?
Sorry for the long post especially for a first post.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Welcome! graemlins/waving.gif

Are you saying that you're grabbing the steering column shaft and turning it in the engine bay?
The pitman arm moves 1-2" before the CL moves? Is the arm still bolted to the CL with the nut and cotterpin? :eek:

There's a lot going on with regards to steering up front there. A lot of points that wear out as well as bushings. The steering box can be adjusted for lash also.
Tierod ends being worn, loose pitman to CL connection, steering box needing adjustment, etc. I wouldn't think the CL ends would be THAT worn out, but it happens.

I'd replace the tie rods (both ends) and check the CL-to-pitman for proper torque. Then adjust the lash of the steering box before replacing the CL.

See if this may help get you started: http://www.monte-list.nu/tech/boxmesh.shtml

"Are you saying that you're grabbing the steering column shaft and turning it in the engine bay?
The pitman arm moves 1-2" before the CL moves? Is the arm still bolted to the CL with the nut and cotterpin?"
Yep that's what I'm saying, trust me my mouth was open farther than that gremlins. I had planned on replacing everything tierod, pitman, idler, balls but I can't seem to find the dang CL. I'll look into the link you posted and see if I can find something.
Thanks for the reply and the welcome graemlins/beers.gif

Look in our classifieds, or post a Parts Wanted ad.
http://www.camaros.net/classifieds/wanted/

Did David Pozzi's site help you any?
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/first_gen_suspension.htm

cool links i'll check into them i better get some work done today if i'm going to have any cabbage to do some fun stuff. i'll check back in a couple of hours and see what else i can find. Also, need to jump in on the 200r4 trans thing, need to do some more research. The car has a th350 in it now although it was and i have the original 327 and glide for it.

Later

There are no wearable parts on the center link. The wearable parts are on the pitman arm and the idler arm, and tie rod ends.

If the center link is damaged somehow you'll have to check Ricks, Classic Industries or such for a reproduction center link. The thicker version CL is stiffer and a better choice for a replacement.

I doubt your CL is bad.
David

The centerlink on first gen cars it typically not a wear item. It has no moving parts. In the front-steer cars there are several wear points.

If the pitman arm (the arm that attaches to the bottom of the steering box) is moving that much before the centerlink starts to move then the pitman arm is severely worn and likely dangerous to drive. Checking the other steering components would be a good idea given the severity of the pitman arm wear.

EDIT: Dang it Pozzi, you beat me to it!

Make sure you check for play in the rag joint/steering coupler, at the steering box. A lot of guys will misdiagnose this failure as pitman arm or play in the steering box.

Paul D.

i know it's probably not the case, but the 73 and 74 Venturas- and maybe Novas, as well- had a different center link that had parts that could wear. if the whole subframe or all the steering stuff has been replaced with these parts for some reason, it MIGHT be the center link.
i'd be more inclined to look at the Pitman and idler arms, as well as the tie rods.
just a thought.

alrighty then it seems that the majority is going after the pitman which is what I kinda thought but a buddy of mine said it would likely be the CL. i don't know exactly that's why i came here to ask people who actually have these cars and can give me actual hands on experienced knowledge. So with that in mind and looking at some other links in other threads which arm am i supposed to get also which idler? I was looking at longer pitmans w/ short idlers and quicker ratio's and my head started spinning. i would like to upgrade the steering but I'm not looking to build a trans am car out of it either...yet. Any help and/or part #'s is greatly appreciated. graemlins/beers.gif on me if ya come into vegas at least the first round.

James Gregory

not that this matters, but...

68 PMD Fbody ball-stud is in pitman arm.
69 PMD Fbody ballstud is in centerlink.
67?

i know the steering parts on 'birds and 'maros are supposed to be different, but this may have been a similar GM design which they changed in '69 and i believe most subsequent years and models of GM also have the ball stud integral with centerlink.

i found this out when i took the P/S off a '69 bird for my 68.

I agree with the guys above I doubt it's the CL. We had a discussion on what parts and where to get them. Just click on the link below. The pitman arm you need if your car is power steering is TRW 18770 it's around 5-13/16 long center to center.

http://www.camaros.net/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=005633

From what I've seen, the Pontiac versions of X- & F-cars used the CL with the stud in it, & the Chevy versions used the one without. Will the stud-type CL & Pitman arm work on a car that originally came the other way?