REAR WHEEL / TIRE POSITION IN WHEEL WELL

SUBJECT: REAR WHEEL/TIRE POSITION IN WHEEL WELL OPENING (ELONGATE AXLE BRACKET CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLT HOLES)

MODELS: 1994-95 CHEVROLET CAPRICE/IMPALA SS

CONDITION:

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT ONE REAR WHEEL MAY APPEAR MORE FORWARD IN WHEEL WELL OPENING THAN WHEEL ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF VEHICLE OR THAT VEHICLE APPEARS TO DOG TRACK WHEN VIEWED FROM THE REAR WHEN IN OPERATION.

CAUSE:

REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM FRAME BRACKET HOLES PIERCED OFF LOCATION DURING FRAME MANUFACTURING.

CORRECTION:

ELONGATE HOLES IN REAR AXLE CONTROL ARM BRACKET PER SERVICE PROCEDURE INDICATED BELOW:

1. RAISE VEHICLE AND SUPPORT REAR AXLE TO SIMULATE CURB HEIGHT POSITION (WEIGHT OF VEHICLE ON AXLE).

2. USING LOWER EDGE OF SILL PLATE AS A GUIDE FOR SCALE/RULER, MEASURE DISTANCE FROM TIRE TO WHEEL WELL OPENING ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE (REFERENCE FIGURE 1).

3. SUBTRACT SMALLER DIMENSION FROM LARGER ONE AND REFER TO CHART BELOW TO DETERMINE AMOUNT HOLES OF AXLE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET ARE TO BE ELONGATED.

SIDE TO SIDE DIMENSION HOLE ELONGATION DIFFERENCE AMOUNT ------------ ---------------

5MM THROUGH 10MM 4MM 11MM THROUGH 15MM 6MM 16MM THROUGH 20MM 8MM

IMPORTANT: HOLES TO BE ELONGATED IN A FORWARD DIRECTION ARE THOSE ON THE REAR AXLE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET, ON THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THAT HAD THE SMALLER DIMENSION MEASURED IN STEP 2.

4. DISCONNECT AND REMOVE REAR STABILIZER SHAFT, IF EQUIPPED.

5. REMOVE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO AXLE ASSEMBLY ATTACHING BOLT AND SWING CONTROL ARM DOWNWARD ON SIDE OF AXLE DETERMINED IN STEP 3 TO REQUIRE HOLE ELONGATION.

6. CUT OUT TEMPLATE ALONG OUTER OUTLINE. CUT OUT HOLE IN TEMPLATE INDICATED AS ORIGINAL BRACKET HOLE. (REFERENCE FIGURE 5).

7. POSITION TEMPLATE ON INBOARD SURFACE OF AXLE CONTROL ARM BRACKET AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 2. ALIGN HOLE IN TEMPLATE WITH HOLE IN BRACKET AND INSURE BOTTOM EDGE OF TEMPLATE IS PARALLEL TO BOTTOM EDGE OF BRACKET.

8. TRANSFER FROM THE TEMPLATE TO THE BRACKET THE AMOUNT HOLE IS TO BE ELONGATED ALONG AXIS INDICATED ON TEMPLATE.

9. POSITION TEMPLATE ON OUTBOARD SURFACE OF AXLE CONTROL ARM BRACKET AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 3. ALIGN HOLE IN TEMPLATE WITH HOLE IN BRACKET AND INSURE BOTTOM EDGE OF TEMPLATE IS PARALLEL TO BOTTOM EDGE OF BRACKET.

10. REPEAT STEP 8.

11. USING A DIE GRINDER OR OTHER SUITABLE TOOL, ELONGATE HOLES.

12. SWING LOWER CONTROL ARM INTO POSITION AND INSTALL ATTACHING BOLT AND NUT AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 4. WITH AXLE ASSEMBLY POSITIONED AS FAR REARWARD AS ELONGATED HOLES WILL ALLOW, TORQUE ATTACHING BOLT TO 190 N.M (140 LB FT) HOLDING NUT WITH A BACKUP WRENCH.

13. POSITION AND CONNECT STABILIZER SHAFT AND TORQUE ATTACHING BOLTS TO 85 N.M (63 LB FT).

14. LOWER VEHICLE.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE: LABOR OPERATION: E5610 USE PUBLISHED LABOR OPERATION TIME.

FIGURES: 5 (2 PAGES)

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.

COPYRIGHT 1995 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.