View Full Version : Tie rod adjustment sleeve hitting swaybar?
bad64chevelle
02-21-2009, 08:15 AM
I went to go turn the wheels on the 64 the other night and got some resistance, I look under the the car and the adjustment sleeve is hitting the sway bar. I did just replace the whole front suspension, and the car has not moved since then. Could I have switched the inner and outer links by accident, and would it have made a difference? Here is a picture, it definitely is hitting, it was too late to investigate further the other night but will look more thoroughly today.
**Edit** Everything is WAY out of adjustment still, I have to get it close to get go get it aligned, I am just looking for what could be the problem.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c358/bad64chevelle/327%20Rebuild/IMG_0267.jpg
BonzoHansen
02-21-2009, 09:18 AM
Pic of the inner or whole assembly?
//<86TA>\\
02-22-2009, 06:32 PM
sway bar upside down?:nod:
WildBillyT
02-22-2009, 06:50 PM
sway bar upside down?:nod:
Yeah, looks like it might be. Isn't the end link supposed to be close to vertical?
sweetbmxrider
02-22-2009, 06:56 PM
i was thinkin the same with the sway bar but it seems that it would be too close to the lower control arm for the entire end link to fit.
bad64chevelle
02-22-2009, 07:05 PM
It would bring that sway bar way too far down to fit the end link. I mean unless im not seeing it right, it would be too low at that point. Sorry, no picture of the other tie rod I got to caught up starting the motor today.
BonzoHansen
02-22-2009, 07:05 PM
Did it run???
//<86TA>\\
02-22-2009, 07:08 PM
Did it run???
^what he said
and yea, it looks upside down.
WildBillyT
02-22-2009, 07:22 PM
Jon, is it the stock bar? Are the end links the correct spec?
//<86TA>\\
02-22-2009, 07:32 PM
it would look like this reversed, which looks better to me... unless its now hitting the frame?
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s209/Phil_9111/IMG_02671.jpg
http://image.carcraft.com/f/9579162/p5299_image_large.jpg
looks like jons is rite side up, but the endlinks are at a different angle
bad64chevelle
02-22-2009, 07:50 PM
http://image.carcraft.com/f/9579162/p5299_image_large.jpg
looks like jons is rite side up, but the endlinks are at a different angle
Yea I only had my sway bar out for maybe 5 minutes and then re installed it.
Did it run???
Yeah it ran today.
^what he said
and yea, it looks upside down.
^Yeah, broken in and never even got above 165....Temperature that is...
Jon, is it the stock bar? Are the end links the correct spec?
Yes its the stock sway bar, and the end links were on the car for about 1,000 miles they are not new to the vehicle.
it would look like this reversed, which looks better to me... unless its now hitting the frame?
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s209/Phil_9111/IMG_02671.jpg
It would hit the frame then, I believe.
//<86TA>\\
02-22-2009, 08:32 PM
well, judging by mikes pic, its installed the right way, but something is off with the end link.
Stevoone
02-23-2009, 07:56 AM
Could the center link be upside down? Not sure if it's possible on your car but I've seen it happen before.
sweetbmxrider
02-23-2009, 03:44 PM
not sure about the pic mike posted but the tie rod end and adjustment sleeve look pretty different between the two pics. is there a groove in the adjustment sleeve that the clamps sit on? also, judging from that picture, your end link is in upside down. maybe its a combo of that and alignment?
http://image.carcraft.com/f/9579162/p5299_image_large.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s209/Phil_9111/IMG_02671.jpg
WildBillyT
02-23-2009, 03:45 PM
not sure about the pic mike posted but the tie rod end and adjustment sleeve look pretty different between the two pics. is there a groove in the adjustment sleeve that the clamps sit on? also, judging from that picture, your end link is in upside down. maybe its a combo of that and alignment?
http://image.carcraft.com/f/9579162/p5299_image_large.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s209/Phil_9111/IMG_02671.jpg
His tie rod adjustment sleeve is just facing the other way...
Jon, on some cars the inner and outer tie rod ends can be installed opposite and are different lengths. Is that the case with your Chevelle? It looks like your adjustment sleeve is under the "bow" in the sway bar where the black and white pic shows it under the frame.
sweetbmxrider
02-23-2009, 03:57 PM
His tie rod adjustment sleeve is just facing the other way...
Jon, on some cars the inner and outer tie rod ends can be installed opposite and are different lengths. Is that the case with your Chevelle?
no i am saying where the clamps are orientated on the sleeve is different. jon's are to the outside while in the b&w pic they are further towards the center. not sure how big of a difference it would make but that plus upside down end links plus alignment could equal entire problem. could.
JL8Jeff
02-23-2009, 06:49 PM
Something doesn't look right with the endlinks which makes it look like the swaybar is rotated downward. There is a lot of thread sticking out through the bottom of the lower a-arm, it looks like the end link spacer is too short. Or is it possible the swaybar mounts on the frame are backwards and pushing the bar farther back on the frame? I'm definitely not liking the angle on those endlinks, they should be straight up and down.
bad64chevelle
02-23-2009, 08:54 PM
Okay well with a little bit of investigating, 81Malibu made the comment today that my front end now looks lower (which should not have been the case with the new front springs) I never really looked at the spacing between the tire and the bottom of the fender, but it does look lower. I took some pics today, I will upload them and compare them in a few minutes.
jon looking at your pic and the black and white pic i posted, your steering assembly looks to be at the same angle, your car might have been just as low before the springs after all
bad64chevelle
02-23-2009, 10:32 PM
Before:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c358/bad64chevelle/1964%20Chevelle%20SS%20Convertible/P1010013.jpg
After:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c358/bad64chevelle/327%20Rebuild/IMG_0405.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c358/bad64chevelle/327%20Rebuild/IMG_0404.jpg
It sits a bit lower. There is the problem.
unstable bob gable
02-23-2009, 10:37 PM
I think the problem is you are trying to use a Chevelle sway bar on a Fairlane...:rofl:
maybe he should use an amc swaybar..........i mean, they just stole parts from other companies bins right?
bad64chevelle
03-31-2009, 09:52 PM
I solved the problem tonight, my center link was reversed. I had the tie rods pointing to the back of the car, they are supposed to be pointing towards the front. I made the pitman arm and the idler arm point straight parallel to the vehicle, and noticed that the center link was not "Centered" in the vehicle, and if it was turned around, and the tie rod ends were turned around it would work. Problem Solved. I now have an inch of clearance between the sway bar and the end links.
Tru2Chevy
03-31-2009, 09:54 PM
:w00t:
- Justin
bad64chevelle
03-31-2009, 09:57 PM
Yeah, I just sat there and looked at it for a while and when I put those arms parallel to the vehicle it all made sense. Now its time to pull the hood and fender back off, patch up the frame and put a new nut in for the bottom fender bolt, stop the brake leak, put the driveshaft in, add some trans fluid, and I should be able to move it around without worries. After that, its finish the floor for the 4speed shifter, mock up a center console, and get some tires for the rear.
i almost sent you some pics the other day, there was a 64 hardtop bbc car on the lift at roger purdys shop, and i was standing there staring at its steering
bad64chevelle
03-31-2009, 10:01 PM
:lol: that would have probably done it, it was just really bugging me tonight. Glad that is out of the way. Where is that shop?
crazyblazer87
03-31-2009, 11:00 PM
I solved the problem tonight, my center link was reversed. I had the tie rods pointing to the back of the car, they are supposed to be pointing towards the front. I made the pitman arm and the idler arm point straight parallel to the vehicle, and noticed that the center link was not "Centered" in the vehicle, and if it was turned around, and the tie rod ends were turned around it would work. Problem Solved. I now have an inch of clearance between the sway bar and the end links.
so who was the one that disconnected the tie rods and turned the center link around? Just playing, But just think in a month and a half we are going to be cruising in Maryland with it.
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