[68Birds]

I have a 68 400 4 speed Firebird, manual steering with large diameter center link and power disc brakes. I want to change to power steering which I have from another 68 400 4 speed Firebird with the smaller diameter center link and manual drum brakes. Does it matter what center link I use? Is there a reason why the two different size center links were used? What do you have in your car?

Thanks,
Gary

[68Birds]

I have a 68 400 4 speed Firebird, manual steering with large diameter center link and power disc brakes. I want to change to power steering which I have from another 68 400 4 speed Firebird with the smaller diameter center link and manual drum brakes. Does it matter what center link I use? Is there a reason why the two different size center links were used? What do you have in your car?

Thanks,
Gary

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

I performed this change many years ago on my 67 Bird. I used the same center link. The only suggestion I have is to make sure you have a good solid pitman arm and sterring coupler.

[RAJ7395]

I thought that the larger center links came with disk brake applications regardless of gear box. When you hit the brakes, part of the braking force is transmitted up to the center link via the tie rods to stop the spindles from rotating reaward. The larger bar is used because the braking forces in a disk brake application can be higher than that of a drum brake system.

I've got a large diameter center link in my 69 TA with a quick ratio steering box and power disk brakes.

[ July 25, 2002, 05:53 PM: Message edited by: RAJ7395 ]

[68Birds]

Thanks for the responses gentleman. My one Firebird is all original with power steering and standard drum brakes but has the small diameter centerlink and my driver Firebird was set up with all Chevy drive train (before I bought it [and is now going back all Pontiac]) and it is a manual steering with power disc brakes and large diameter centerlink. It also had the straight pitman arm (not sure if that is correct). I asked the person I bought it from (who really didn't care much about the car and was ready to tub it...pro chevy man) and he said the only thing he did was remove the power booster/master cylinder because the BB chevy valve cover hit the booster. Everything else was on the car (which was still all Pontiac at the time he bought it). I'm still doing research.

Thanks,
Gary

[Half-Inch Stud]

Good move to install Power Steering. I tried manual steering and decided the FireBird (like T/A) were meant to handle. Power Steering is needed to be able to handle

This thread xplains why I have some tie rods laying around that are small and large diameter. ...now wondering if my tierods and centerlink are large dia?

[vidguy]

Yeah, now that you mention it, when I put in my new front suspension, the Centerlink I got was larger in diameter then the old one. Which bummed me out because it rubs ever so slightly on the frame at the end of the travel.

And the tie rod research I did over the counter at various parts stores (in order to find inner tie rods that had the zerk on the side)did show that the cars that likely had disc brakes, like SS chevelles and GTO's as opposed to Cutlass', malibus' and Tempests', had the Larger Diameter Tie rods..
Hmm,, BTW still have my original suspension parts all in one piece from tie rod to tie rod.. anyone need them? See used parts..
Thanks!

[RAJ7395]

Did some searching. The GM steering linkage drawing is part number 9797819. It shows that both center axis on the straight steering arm line up perfectly with those of the bent steering arm. As for the center links, there are 8 seperate linkage assemblies listed. These numbers are very hard to read so please don't take them as gospil. L30=350 cid engine, N41=variable ratio power steering, L76=350 HO engine, W66=400 cid engine. I assume that the W means "with", the D means "deleted" but I don't know WTF the T is for.

The original print released 3-20-68 had the following linakge assys and notes listed: 9791821 (D N41), 3935705 (D L30 L76 N41 W66), 3930025 (W N41 D L30 L76 & W66), 9794150 (W N41 T L30 L76 & W66)

The print was changed on 4-30-69 to the following:
7806826 (W L30 L76 W66 D N41), 7806624 (D L30 L76 N41 W66), 7806623 (W N41 D L30 L76 & W66), and 7806825 (W N41, T L30 L76 & W66)

I know clear as mud. The code for power disk brakes is J50 and doesn't appear in any of the prints. Although it was a logical guess, I was wrong.

[Held for Ransom]

I thought JL2 was Power Disc Brakes and J50 was Power Drum Brakes?

[RAJ7395]

HFR- You're absolutely right I screwed up typing. JL2 is Disc Brake (3000 series) and the next line down says J50 is Power Brakes. Hate it when i do that!!