BILL DEMMER

during the course of yesterday's "time spent with ernie", i found that my steering relay rod is toast. upon removing the steering gear box, for an upgrade to the fe3 box, i found the pitman arm to relay rod joint is terribly loose and rough feeling. gm's "better idea" of not designing a grease fitting into the relay rod joints has proven to be a FAIL. during a preliminary search on the moog website and rockauto.com, i've found they don't make/carry a replacement. i'm just looking for a good replacement, this is not a resto job.

any help for ernie?


tia,
bill

oldcutlass

What are you calling a relay rod? Do you mean tie rod?

lemoldsnut

Never was one for naming cars but if it works for you great. I have 4 66-67 442 parts cars. I have no idea what you are calling a relay rod? The pitman arm is connected to the center drag link and then to the idler arm and tie rods.
Maybe email me a picture with you pointing to what you are calling the relay rod.

lemoldsnut@aol.com
I probably have what you are looking for.

Larry

BILL DEMMER

gm calls it a relay rod, i've heard/used the term drag link, and i've heard others call it the center link. that's why i put all 3 in the thread title. it's the rod that connects the pitman arm to the inner tie rods and idler arm. it's in the middle of the steering linkage and it looks like this:


bill

RonFX

Hello:
Just went thru the same thing for my 66 Cutlass, I located a source called southwest speed in Fort Smith AR. Contact info is 479 646 6988, part #107-224. It arrived on Friday, waiting for frame from blaster so I can paint and reassemble it all. The total cost was $113.00 w/ shipping. Run to Rund also mentions a company called Kanter. Good Luck
Thanks Ron

66luvr

Kanter lists them.
http://www.kanter.com///productdetai...Cat=14&Prc=103
Also
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-STEERING...#ht_1886wt_907

I have no knowledge of these parts, just because I have a 66 I searched to see if I could find one and posted what I found.

wmachine

Seems "centerlink" is by far the most universal term for it. Don't know the origin of the term, but as you say, GM liked "steering relay rod". Would be awfully hard to find in the parts catalog if you didn't know that, but that's half the fun of looking things up!

I've had excellent results with Kanter for suspension parts. Bought a whole front end kit for the Jetstar 1 and there was not a single issue with it.

joe_padavano

This same question came up on the AACA forum a day ago. Kanter, Fusick, and Supercars Unlimited all sell the center link for the 66-67 cars. Kanter was the cheapest at $130.

oldcutlass

Is the same center link used on all "A" bodies (64-67)? I was going to do mine in the near future. This thread got me looking. From what I read there are 2 different diameters.

RonFX

Hello:
The guys at southwest speed asked about the end fittings, if they were 7/16 or 1/2 size then double checked about the 7/16 bar size.
Thanks Ron

BILL DEMMER

the gm catalog list 2 relay rod/center link/drag link/center drag link sizes. 13/16" and 7/8". first type/second type deal. that seemed to only afflict the '64 and '65 f-85 series. the catalog isn't exactly crystal clear on that. i would be more than happy with a good used one, this aint no resto job.


bill

joe_padavano

Correct. I believe the 66-67 center link is the same as the 64-65 second type.

BackInTheGame

I paid about $60 at Rock Auto, online, for a 1968-version MOOG unit. Shipping was cheap, too. You can't go wrong with Rock Auto for hard parts!

BILL DEMMER

the '68-72 part is commonly available, '67 and earlier is not nearly as available, and is about double the price.


bill

joe_padavano

And if RockAuto (or NAPA, or Advanced, or any other common source) had a listing for a 1967 center link, which is the topic of this thread, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

oldcutlass

Which brings me back to my unanswered question, are any other "A" body center links interchangeable? And is it just a matter of diameter? Is there a difference between manual or power steering?

joe_padavano

No. The A-body cars did not change linkage from manual to power. All parts except the steering box are the same (for a given year).

oldcutlass

So the center link from all "A" body cars can interchange with one and other for model years 66-67 based on outside diameter?.

joe_padavano

That appears to be true. In fact, I can't see any reason why you can't retrofit the second design center link onto cars with the smaller first design. Other than the diameter of the rod, the two are dimensionally identical. The inner tie rod ends are the same for all 1964-67 A-body cars, as are the idler and pitman arms. That tells me that all the center links must be dimensionally the same as well (again, except for the rod diameter).

oldcutlass

That is what my research found, all the holes seem to be the same size for idler, pitman, and tie rod ends. So what's the difference, are we making a mountain out of a mole hill here. Bill can you do us a favor and note what you find that works for you.

For 1966/67 it lists DS740 (7/8 dia) or DS682 (13/16 dia)

joe_padavano

The only "issue" is that unlike most steering and suspension parts, you can no longer simply walk into your local NAPA and buy a center link for ANY 1964-67 A-body. Yes, there are lots of specialty sources, but none of the usual "inexpensive" sources.

oldcutlass

I agree with you on that point Joe. My point is I've seen them as low as $89.00 for a 66/67 Chevelle at Ecklers, Parts place, SS396, etc...

joe_padavano

Agreed, but here's the one that Summit sells for $98 that's listed for all 64-67 A-body cars:



Here's the one Eckler's sells for $89:

oldcutlass

Don't ya hate pictures, the summit one looks right, huh.

gearheads78

You can't just change the rod diameter. I ran in to this with my 66. I got the larger rod and the pitman and idler I had would not work. The size of the taper was different. Once I ordered the idler and pitman listed for a 67 it all worked.

BILL DEMMER

just for laughs, ernie has a 13/16" diameter piece from the factory.


bill

BILL DEMMER

ok, got back on this...
found a seller on ebay with them. brand new, U.S.A. made, with zerk fittings, shipped to me for under $70. seller's name is 4vette on ebay, he has more. pm me with questions, if needed.


bill

66-3X2 442

Center link? relay rod? drag link? Anybody know what a propeller shaft is? I know this is a very old thread but was brought to light in a discussion on FB.

Koda

Propeller shaft is the correct name for what is commonly called a drive shaft, as in the thing from the transmission to the rear diff.

The "axle shafts" are what are called drive shafts in the industry. There are no axle shafts on the factory floor. My plant doesn't do solid rear axles any more since the truck left, so I don't know what we would call a drum to drum rear axle is called in the shop.

I don't have any knowledge from industry of what the steering link stuff is as we use all rack and pinion stuff.

joe_padavano

danktx

I used the following from Amazon,

Proforged 116-10008 E-Coated Performance Steering Rebuild Kit

It gets you everything needed. I've had mine for two years with no problems.

66-3X2 442

I knew what it was,just making fun of the different terminology for different parts. If you didn't know the name that GMPD used it was very hard to find in the parts books.

oldcutlass

My car was the test mule for fit and finish for this kit. Parts have been on my car since 2013 with no issues.
I get steering gear setup for free - ClassicOldsmobile.com

joe_padavano

Truer words were never spoken

mpolds

For anyone who may be reading/ following this thread, If you are in need of the 7/8" Center Link / Drag Link / Relay Rod -- which fits all of the 1966 & 1967 s -- and some of the 1964 & 1965 s
(that are NOT the 13/16"ths),
I believe I have the best price on planet Earth for these.... Call me (516 - 485 - 1935) or P M me ---
Craig.....