I've got a question about the throttle rod from the cable to the throttle body under the intake on my 86.5. Mine came with just a ball socket and circular clip inside it to hold it onto the ball from the throttle body. I see the socket has the holes for fitting a small clip to hold the ball to the socket, but I didn't have that.

Should I? It has popped off and I put it back on. Do I need to just get a screwdriver into the socket and squeeze the circular clip to make a tighter fit, or do I need a the clip that goes through the holes in the socket?

Thanks,
Matt

 

Sounds like my '85 except in my case I don't recall any holes for a clip to go into. On one end the socket was worn enough that it would just fall off. I recall a recent thread where there was a source identifed for replacement rod ends but it was to late for me as I already bought a replacement rod.

In my case it was the rod end with the left hand thread, if yours is the other end I could send you the right hand thread ball end.

 

These rod ends have holes that hold a little spring clip near where the cup joins the shank. If you have some stiff wire you can poke it in the hole and wrap the rest around the shank but a new clip would be better. If you find some I could use one :-)

-Joel.

 

You S4 guys have it lucky with the throttle control outside the intake. The early 32Vs have it underneath, which makes it darn near impossible to get a clip on without having to remove the entire intake. Unless anyone knows an anorexic who needs five bucks. A skinny arm might fit.

That's why I'm not sure if it needs the clip or originally came with one. the PET is no help at all on this. It doesn't even make clear if there is a correct direction the rod goes in.

If I knew I would need those clips, I would have saved the ones off my old hood and hatch shocks.

Matt

 

Matt,

I have three 85-86 cars and all of the rods have holes on the ball cup. Look very close because the hole is very small and hard to see. It should be at the base of the ball socket on the side facing the opening. The idea of the clip is for the wire to go in the hole closing up the hole so it will not slip off. The circle on the clip is just to hold the clip in place. It is the wire going though the hole that prevents the thing from coming loose.

If yours does not has a hole there then you could drill one. Otherwise the clip is useless.

Dan the Poid Guy

 

Thanks, Dan. I am aware it has the holes for the clip. My question is whether it requires the clip for its connection to the throttle body. I have two of the rods and neither had a clip.

For what's it's worth, NAPA and Car Quest sell a better ball and socket connector that doesn't rely on a little clip that could corrode.

Matt

 

The rod on my 86 didn't have clips at either end. I don't remember if there are holes or not; it didn't seem like it. Anyway, it is fairly easy to pop on and off at both ends. It's been that way for at least the past 5 years without any problem.

 

Hey Matt,

When I did my TB/WP I put the rod back on wrong and it popped off at the back. I was able to put it in from the front and push down through the intake manifold with a long 3/8" ratchet extension and pop it back on (aiming flashlight and rod in through front while pushing from top through manifold). It popped back on and hasn't come off again.

With the front it was really worn, but I just spun the little spring clip a little and the worn spot moved 90 degrees and now it stays on just fine.

The thread from a few weeks ago mentioned boating supply stores as a good source for stainless fittings like this, but I think you said your local auto place has them.

 

If you remove the air box and the side intake plenums, you can detach the large middle tube from off of the throttle body and take it out without removing the rest of the intake. It may seem like a big chore, but is it actually pretty simple. (ignore the red arrows)

 

That's correct! The wire clip is there as a safety retainer. I have it on the '85 and the '86.5 parts car. It's been a while since I had it a part, but if I remeber right, the wire clip has to be flipped over and pulled out in order to pop the rod off the ball.

 

During the course of an endless TB/WP process, I found my linkage to be disconnected - somewhere UNDER the intake! I tried removing my center tube as Mr. Kelly suggested a couple of posts ago, but I couldn't get it to come out with the amount of force I was willing to use.

So I looked again and I could actually see the ball well enough to move the linkage back over it and pop it back on. It took quite a while, thought not as much as removal and reassembly of the intake, I am sure.

I do not have the clips on this linkage - at either end (I am assuming this was true on the link at the throttle body because it came off during the TB/WP job). Somebody before me didn't replace them. I am ordering some along with whatever intake gaskets and whatnot might be involved. I will do it when I have the intakes powder coated.

They seem reliable enough for me - it took a good amount of force to get the socket back on, and no amount of wiggling will get it to pop off - I am willing to assume that it will be fine as both ends will be fixed once re-assembled.

Here is a pic of the spot at the front of the engine (right of oil filler cap) that I exploited:

 

I didn't, and still don't, have the clips either. I can't remember if the little ball sockets were drilled for a clip or not.

 

I have two throttle rods. On one, one end has the holes for the retaining clip. On the other, neither end has the holes. So, maybe they used what they had for connectors, but in neither case did I get the clips. And so many people have reported here that they didn't have the clips that they don't seem to be of much value.

Just make sure the circle clip inside the socket is small enough to make a tight fit, I guess.

Matt

 

The clip you want is #900 169 014 02.
Regards, Hammer

 

Ummm, how in the heck did you get it all the way out, but more importantly, back in?

I can't even get mine all the way out, although I got it far enough removed to deal with my throttle body linkage.

I cannot figure out how to get this back in - I don't want to force anything - all of those cast intake pieces are expensive.

Any hints?