Center Link

[John]

I spotted some scratches on my oil pan and noticed it's from the grease fitting making contact with the oil pan when I've got the wheels turned fully left. My question is, is there a limit I can adjust to stop it's travel?

[Hank70SS]

No. no adjustment. Is the center link centered between the idler arms, roughly same amount of threads showing on both sides? Are pitman and idler arm straight front to back with steering wheel centered? Not likely that it's off much but it is possible to shift the center link to one side or the other via the idler arm adjustment. Of course changing it now would throw the steering wheel off center.

[John]

Good questions Hank. I will check that and get back to you. Thanks for the response.

[shadowgray396]

Where are your grease fittings located?. Mine are on the inward side toward each other and would not be able to hit the oil pan.

[BillsCamino]

Mine are on the inward side toward each other and would not be able to hit the oil pan.

EXACTY!!
Both INNER tierods will have the grease fittings on the very end of the tierod.
OUTER tierods have DOWNWARD facing grease fittings but none come close to the oilpan at full lock to lock.
Me thinks you've got outer rods at inner position. ;)

[John]

Now wouldn't that be some bull$*@!

I can definitely say they stick straight out the side and point to the oil pan.

[shadowgray396]

I will look at mine. They may point toward the oil pan some when the wheels are straight. Mine look like this.

http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=chevellecamino&Product_Code=ES-681

Edit:
I turned my wheels both left and right and there no way my tie rod ends even come close to the oil pan. Are you running a stock oil pan? If so is your steering centered both left and right? Also when I turn my wheels my center link goes down away from the oil pan.

Left
http://chevelleforum.org/picture.php?albumid=166&pictureid=3484
Right
http://chevelleforum.org/picture.php?albumid=166&pictureid=3485

[smoke' em II]

FWIW, original inner tie rods had the grease zerk fitting on the ends of the tie rod, a lot of the current replacement style inner tie rods (MOOG, and current GM Delco replacement inner tie rods) have the grease zerk screwed into the back of the tie rod.

[shadowgray396]

They are available both ways still

[John]

it's a stock pan. I'll have to spend some time with it trying to sort out the cause. The steering wheel is darn close to being cented. Very strange. Not sure what will be involved. I don't like the idea of it making contact with the pan and have to fix it quick

[John]

nice pics by the way- you ever drive it! there isn't a spec of dirt anywhere under there!

[shadowgray396]

Had it out to 2 shows last weekend. It gets driven.

[Ms Grumpy]

nice pics by the way- you ever drive it! there isn't a spec of dirt anywhere under there!

I have to agree. Wow !!

[John]

What size are those zerk fittings most likely- 1/8" NPT or 1/4" NPT?

[John]

This should do it...

[Hank70SS]

That's not a zerk fitting, maybe a grease fitting but not a zerk. I want to 1/4" npt. Go to the parts store, they should have a variety pack with straights, 45's and 90's. Just make sure they're not metric.

[John]

The Zerk I removed has a 1/4" x 28 thread. I ordered this fitting specifically because it has the same thread.