Service Manual

[1997Malibu]

Is there a free Service Manual for our car?

I need to find parts with partnumbers.

[RalphP]

Depends on your library, but if you check gmpartsgiant.com - you can usually find most of the part on the exploded diagrams, and get the partial part numbers off of that.

Where are you looking for parts where you need the numbers?

RwP

[1997Malibu]

Originally Posted by RalphP

Depends on your library, but if you check gmpartsgiant.com - you can usually find most of the part on the exploded diagrams, and get the partial part numbers off of that.

Where are you looking for parts where you need the numbers?

RwP

I might need a new steering house
and RR lower arm (some idiot jack lifted the car on this part and it got curved)

I rebuild this car which had been sitting over 5 years.
Just finished overhauling the engine.

[RalphP]

Quite often the ACDelco parts are listed at RockAuto for those parts (I presume steering hose, not house, there ... )

I'd be checking there.

And don't buy a cheap part, either.

Oh! Do you mean the trailing arm (which so far I've only found at dealers)? If so, doesn't matter what part # you want, you'll have to order from a GM dealer.

Which motor does your 'Bu have? Have you done any improvements (like the Alero/Grand Am rear discs, the Grand Prix alignment arms in the back, etc.)?

RwP

[MrRichRod]

I know it's not free, but it's pretty close for the type of work you're doing: Check out AllData DIY.com where you can get a three year subscription for $16.95.

I've personally asked for the 5 year subscription for Christmas which is $44.95. The Helm paper alternative is $200.

[RalphP]

AllDataDIY is good, don't misunderstand me!

But it doesn't touch the factory manuals on both my Cougar and when I was still wrenching on the Malibu (before it died - see signature).

OTOH, it's a lot cheaper than the factory manual was for the Malibu (which I have on DVD, and am keeping, so don't ask! *grins* )

RwP

[1997Malibu]

Originally Posted by RalphP

Quite often the ACDelco parts are listed at RockAuto for those parts (I presume steering hose, not house, there ... )

I'd be checking there.

And don't buy a cheap part, either.

Oh! Do you mean the trailing arm (which so far I've only found at dealers)? If so, doesn't matter what part # you want, you'll have to order from a GM dealer.

Which motor does your 'Bu have? Have you done any improvements (like the Alero/Grand Am rear discs, the Grand Prix alignment arms in the back, etc.)?

RwP

I have a 97' Malibu Base 3.1L V6
My car is full stock, just GM replacement parts in the engine compartment.

Parts I am looking for:
-steering housing
-rear wheel aligment arms

[RalphP]

Originally Posted by 1997Malibu

I have a 97' Malibu Base 3.1L V6
My car is full stock, just GM replacement parts in the engine compartment.

Parts I am looking for:
-steering housing
-rear wheel aligment arms

Check at GMPartsGiant.COM and find out what the parts you're looking for are called.

Steering housing - Would that be the steering column, the steering rack, or something else?

Rear wheel alignment arms - Referring to http://www.genmotorinfo.com/FullImag...020711MN07-004 , are you talking about part 11, or parts 15 and 19?

If 11, it's called a trailing arm, and RockAuto lists the Dormans at http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/rafr...&parttype=7504 .

If 15 and 19, they're called lateral links, and are listed at http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/rafr...parttype=10414 (rear front and rear rear are the front and rear links, on the rear of the car.)

For 15 and 19, a good substitute would be the Grand Prix arms, which almost fit (you would need to make washers for the spindle, since the hole is a bit larger than the Malibu unit was) and which would make the back end stay a bit more "planted" in hard cornering. OTOH, you may not need or want to do that ... which is find, the original GM design, whereas a bit sucky, at least works for what a family flivver would normally be driven as

RwP

[1997Malibu]

Originally Posted by RalphP

Check at GMPartsGiant.COM and find out what the parts you're looking for are called.

Steering housing - Would that be the steering column, the steering rack, or something else?

Rear wheel alignment arms - Referring to http://www.genmotorinfo.com/FullImag...020711MN07-004 , are you talking about part 11, or parts 15 and 19?

If 11, it's called a trailing arm, and RockAuto lists the Dormans at http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/rafr...&parttype=7504 .

If 15 and 19, they're called lateral links, and are listed at http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/rafr...parttype=10414 (rear front and rear rear are the front and rear links, on the rear of the car.)

For 15 and 19, a good substitute would be the Grand Prix arms, which almost fit (you would need to make washers for the spindle, since the hole is a bit larger than the Malibu unit was) and which would make the back end stay a bit more "planted" in hard cornering. OTOH, you may not need or want to do that ... which is find, the original GM design, whereas a bit sucky, at least works for what a family flivver would normally be driven as

RwP

Part 19 is correct; lateral links

I am not sure if steering column is correct, will take drawing to my mechanic to point out.
Steering housing is the part where the rod of steering wheel is connected to.

Thank you very much

[RalphP]

Originally Posted by 1997Malibu

Part 19 is correct; lateral links

I am not sure if steering column is correct, will take drawing to my mechanic to point out.
Steering housing is the part where the rod of steering wheel is connected to.

Thank you very much

At the same site (GMPartsGiant.COM) I hit this picture:



Are you talking about call out 30? If so, that's the steering rack.

If not, is it on this drawing? And if not, can you locate the drawing at GMPartsGiant.COM and see what it's actually called?

RwP