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Replacing Relay Arm & Relay Lever [message #298221]

Mon, 28 March 2016 10:16

Jon payne

Messages: 495
Registered: May 2008

Karma: 1

Senior Member

Hello all,

This Spring I will be replacing both the relay lever and relay arm, the last two components in the steering and suspension to be replaced. Looking at the manual it seems straight forward to remove and replace but just looking for any insight and/or difficulties to be aware of from those that have replaced them in the past.

Jon

Jon Payne
76 Palm Beach
Westfield,IN

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Re: Replacing Relay Arm & Relay Lever [message #298226 is a reply to message #298221]

Mon, 28 March 2016 11:22

Hal StClair

Messages: 971
Registered: March 2013
Location: Rio Rancho NM

Karma: -12

Senior Member

The relay arm bolt might be a REAL pain. Suggest you try to get some penetrant on it, 50/50 mix of acetone and ATF works as well as anything. AND a BIG wrench with cheater.
Good luck,Hal

"I enjoy talking to you. Your mind appeals to me. It resembles my own mind, except you happen to be insane." 1977 Royale 101348, 1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered, 1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout, Rio Rancho, NM

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Re: Replacing Relay Arm & Relay Lever [message #298228 is a reply to message #298221]

Mon, 28 March 2016 11:52

RF_Burns

Messages: 2277
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada

Karma: 3

Senior Member

My experience:
To pass the safety check when I bought the coach, the GMC experienced mechanic ordered a list of stuff including a new relay arm and idler arm from Cinnabar. I drove to Cinnabar and picked it up to save shipping time.

My first driving experience was not too impressed with the steering. In troubleshooting the front end I noticed the ends of the intermediate arm moved up and down a significant amount allowing to the wheels to move back and forth by an inch or more. Looking closer I found the relay arm was rocking on its spindle. I got a replacement relay arm from Dave Lenzi and found it tightened the front end considerably. I learned that Cinnabar manufactures the parts to OEM specs, where Dave Lenzi rebuilds them to tighter specs.

I then got a replacement idler arm from Dave and it tightened the passenger side significantly as well, although I still can move the passenger wheel about 1/2".

So my suggestion is to get your relay and idler arms from Dave Lenzi.

Just my experience.

Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that

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Re: Replacing Relay Arm & Relay Lever [message #298231 is a reply to message #298221]

Mon, 28 March 2016 12:58

JohnL455

Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL

Karma: 12

Senior Member

1/2" is a huge amount at the tire. Where is the slack component? That much slop should be easy to spot with someone moving the steering wheel while you look under.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

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Re: Replacing Relay Arm & Relay Lever [message #298234 is a reply to message #298221]

Mon, 28 March 2016 13:21

RF_Burns

Messages: 2277
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada

Karma: 3

Senior Member

I should say it's +/- 1/4" for a total of 1/2".

Its easier to see if you drive the front wheels onto a pair of folded up HD garbage bags on a smooth concrete floor. Then get out and grab the front wheel and twist it back and forth. Better yet have someone else do that while you look at the end of the intermediate rod. You will see it move up and down slightly.

Here is what it looked like with the Cinnabar relay and idler arms before I replaced with with Dave Lenzi units.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLiySgnK1uw

To be fair, I'm using a jack here to take some of the weight off the wheels, so the steering gear is hanging a bit, but still.....

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Re: [GMCnet] Replacing Relay Arm & Relay Lever [message #298235 is a reply to message #298231]

Mon, 28 March 2016 13:22

Emery Stora

Messages: 959
Registered: January 2011

Karma: 4

Senior Member

John

A few years back I replaced the relay arm. The new one had about 1/2” of play at the wheel.
I had to put a shim (very thin washer with a hole in it) over the top of the new relay arm to correct the problem.
I couldn’t find one thin enough so I ended up using a conduit size adapter for an electrical box and filing the hole larger.

Emery Stora

> On Mar 28, 2016, at 11:58 AM, John R. Lebetski wrote:
>
> 1/2" is a huge amount at the tire. Where is the slack component? That much slop should be easy to spot with someone moving the steering wheel while
> you look under.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
> Source America First
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Re: [GMCnet] Replacing Relay Arm & Relay Lever [message #298239 is a reply to message #298235]

Mon, 28 March 2016 16:02

jimk

Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA

Karma: 9

Senior Member

Our relay arms have the same tight fit as Dave L.
We Keep up dated with all the latest.

On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 11:22 AM, Emery Stora wrote:

> John
>
> A few years back I replaced the relay arm. The new one had about 1/2” of
> play at the wheel.
> I had to put a shim (very thin washer with a hole in it) over the top of
> the new relay arm to correct the problem.
> I couldn’t find one thin enough so I ended up using a conduit size adapter
> for an electrical box and filing the hole larger.
>
> Emery Stora
>
>> On Mar 28, 2016, at 11:58 AM, John R. Lebetski
> wrote:
>>
>> 1/2" is a huge amount at the tire. Where is the slack component? That
> much slop should be easy to spot with someone moving the steering wheel
> while
>> you look under.
>> --
>> John Lebetski
>> Woodstock, IL
>> 77 Eleganza II
>> Source America First
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502

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