1959 CHEVROLET FEATURES

For 1959, the Chevrolet Passenger Cars are "All New All Over Again." Featuring an entirely new body and longer wheelbase (119"); the entire chassis has many refinements to add safety, durability and comfort. The 1959 line of trucks has been expanded with added models, engines and transmissions; plus across the line improvements in other components. The Corvette has a clean approach to styling with important changes in body construction and sealing as well as in the drive line and suspension systems. The new service features are covered below, in the order that these items appear in the Chevrolet Shop Manual.

Frame and Suspension

PASSENGER CAR

Frame

A rear crossmember added to the frame interconnects the sidemembers in the area of the rear suspension tire rod attachment to the frame. On Sedan Delivery and six-passenger Station Wagon models this crossmember is bolted to the frame to permit removal for field replacement of the gasoline tank.

Front Suspension

The front suspension features a 1.5" increase in tread width for increased vehicle stability. New service brakes necessitated a change in the steering knuckles. Front spring capacities and rates are changed in accordance with the increase in vehicle weight, as in the valving in the shock absorbers. Service operations remain basically the same as 1958.

Rear Suspension

Rear wheel tread is increased 1/2" and the rear suspension (Fig. 1) is modified to provide improved vehicle stability, and riding comfort.

The relocated upper control arm allows axle vertical movement and helps control axle windup, while a separate transverse link, named the rear axle tie rod, is specifically designed to control lateral movement of the axle.

The upper control arm is pivot mounted at the front to the right frame sidemember, at the rear to the banjo area of the right axle housing tube.

The rear axle tie rod is pivotally mounted, at one end, to the right axle housing tube and at the other end, to the left sidemember. As the axle moves up and down as required for ride, it also moves laterally at slight amount as dictated by the 32-inch travel radius of the are axle tie rod.

The three control arms have larger rubber bushing which contribute to a more effective impact cushioning and reduced telegraphing of drive line noise. The rear axle tie rod is also rubber bushed.

New tools are required for control arm bushing replacement due to the increase in bushing diameter. The rubber bushing in the rear axle tie rod will be serviced only as part of the replacement tie rod assembly.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20