How to Replace the Center Link on a 1988 Chevy Silverado

The 1998 Chevy Silverado is built on the C/K General Motors truck platform. It is available in a number of cab configurations as well as in two-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive. All Silverados use center links to connect the steering knuckles on the front wheels. The center link uses tie rods with ball joints to connect to the steering knuckles so that it can flex with the truck. Over time the center link can break and need to be replaced.

Instructions

1

Park the truck on a level surface, in a location thats free of traffic where you have plenty of room to work around the front end. Place the truck in Park and pull the emergency brake before turning the truck off. Disconnect the black wire from the battery. Jack the front of the truck up with the car jack and lower the vehicle onto jack stands

2

Locate the center link that connects the two front steering knuckles. Use a wrench to loosen the tie rod on the right first. Unscrew the bottom cup joint by hand. Then unscrew the bottom cup joint from the left side of the center link. Pull the center link out from under the truck and use a rubber mallet to knock the cups off the balls on each end of the center link.

3

Knock the cup joints on to the balls on the new center link with the rubber mallet. Then lift the right side of the center link up and screw the right cup joint back into the tie rod by hand. Then, lift the left side and screw in the left cup joint by hand. Once the new center link is supported, use the wrench to tighten the tie rod cup joints.

4

Use the jack to lower the truck off of the jack stands. Have a friend watch the front wheels as you turn the steering wheel to make sure they both turn at the same rate. If not, then retighten the tie rods with a wrench.