Z bar pivot ball broke. Common? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

67ranchhand · 11-04-2019, 10:58 PM

Went on a slow cruise to scout for deer and while I was out and about, my clutch pedal got easier to push. Made a pop sound and two pushes later, nothing. Now my clutch pedal has always been pretty stiff and I had the z bar off to clean it and put new grease in it. But the pivot ball that threads into the engine block broke off flush with the block. Now I have to get it out of there and replace, which is no big deal, but has anyone else ever had this happen? Any idea why this happened? Thanks everyone!

57taskforce · 11-04-2019, 11:04 PM

I’ve had to do this job before, I got lucky and it was easy to fish the threaded part out of the block. I think it breaks just because it’s a stressed part especially after 50+ years.

**Jason Banks** · 11-04-2019, 11:21 PM

I had an arm break off the Z bar. It was a Big Block 402 3OTT truck.

mrein3 · 11-05-2019, 11:34 AM

I broke one about 20 years ago when my 4x4 was still a three on the tree.

I was just cresting the top of the bridge out of Red Wing, MN to sneak back to my MN house via western Wisconsin. At the top of the bridge I pushed in the clutch and BANG! No more clutch. I coasted to the bottom of the bridge on the Wisconsin side.

I had AAA at the time as I was fishing a lot of bass tournaments - which is why I was down there at the time. I called AAA. I could urinate on MN from where my truck was but because I was on the Wisconsin side they had to call a truck to come 10 miles from the nearest po-dunk Wisconsin village verses a larger town, Red Wing in my rear-view mirror.

After some choice words I convinced the good people of AAA to have me pulled a few feet back to MN where a shop replaced the ball stud.

I sure don't miss the jam-o-matic three on the tree. Especially at the boat ramp.

It probably was simply fatigued after 50 years of you and others pushing on it.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 11-06-2019, 12:37 AM

I have broken arms off the Z-bars on both my '68 C/10 Stepside w/292 L6, and my '71 GMC Jimmy K/1500 4x4 w/350 V8.
Both Z-bars had been heated and the arms bent, slightly, to clear headers.
On the V8 in a 4X4, the pivot stud seems pretty stout, and is threaded into the side of the block. The L6 set-up [on a C/10] had a stud set in a steel strap that's bolted to the block. The end of the stud is bucked down [with an air hammer?] and looks like it could pop under severe stress.

Astro-Balls · 11-06-2019, 12:50 AM

Yes, Broke on on my C20, Squirt some grease in there..

67ranchhand · 11-06-2019, 08:33 PM

Well I took the z bar out and the broken stud backed right out with the end of my index finger. I was happy about that! Ordered the new ball stud and felts today from Classic Parts. I will be back in business hopefully soon! I will be sure to get plenty of grease in there when I get it back together. Thanks to all for your input and support!!!

11-04-2019, 10:58 PM	#1
67ranchhand Registered User Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Tiffin Ohio Posts: 74	Z bar pivot ball broke. Common? Went on a slow cruise to scout for deer and while I was out and about, my clutch pedal got easier to push. Made a pop sound and two pushes later, nothing. Now my clutch pedal has always been pretty stiff and I had the z bar off to clean it and put new grease in it. But the pivot ball that threads into the engine block broke off flush with the block. Now I have to get it out of there and replace, which is no big deal, but has anyone else ever had this happen? Any idea why this happened? Thanks everyone!

11-04-2019, 11:04 PM	#2
57taskforce All about them K’s Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Entrapment Posts: 6,443	Re: Z bar pivot ball broke. Common? I’ve had to do this job before, I got lucky and it was easy to fish the threaded part out of the block. I think it breaks just because it’s a stressed part especially after 50+ years. __________________ Tyler '57 3100 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=813888 '72 K20 Cheyenne: 5” lift, 35’s, front dana 60 blah blah blah… http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=662879 ‘69 K10 SWB: 4” lift 33”s… in a million pieces http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=805206 '98 Silverado LT K2500HD ECLB Vortec 454/4l80E: 6" lift 35x12.5x20’s

11-04-2019, 11:21 PM	#3
Jason Banks Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: TX Posts: 1,607	Re: Z bar pivot ball broke. Common? I had an arm break off the Z bar. It was a Big Block 402 3OTT truck.

11-05-2019, 11:34 AM	#4
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,253	Re: Z bar pivot ball broke. Common? I broke one about 20 years ago when my 4x4 was still a three on the tree. I was just cresting the top of the bridge out of Red Wing, MN to sneak back to my MN house via western Wisconsin. At the top of the bridge I pushed in the clutch and BANG! No more clutch. I coasted to the bottom of the bridge on the Wisconsin side. I had AAA at the time as I was fishing a lot of bass tournaments - which is why I was down there at the time. I called AAA. I could urinate on MN from where my truck was but because I was on the Wisconsin side they had to call a truck to come 10 miles from the nearest po-dunk Wisconsin village verses a larger town, Red Wing in my rear-view mirror. After some choice words I convinced the good people of AAA to have me pulled a few feet back to MN where a shop replaced the ball stud. I sure don't miss the jam-o-matic three on the tree. Especially at the boat ramp. It probably was simply fatigued after 50 years of you and others pushing on it. __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN

11-06-2019, 12:37 AM	#5
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,423	Re: Z bar pivot ball broke. Common? I have broken arms off the Z-bars on both my '68 C/10 Stepside w/292 L6, and my '71 GMC Jimmy K/1500 4x4 w/350 V8. Both Z-bars had been heated and the arms bent, slightly, to clear headers. On the V8 in a 4X4, the pivot stud seems pretty stout, and is threaded into the side of the block. The L6 set-up [on a C/10] had a stud set in a steel strap that's bolted to the block. The end of the stud is bucked down [with an air hammer?] and looks like it could pop under severe stress. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

11-06-2019, 12:50 AM	#6
Astro-Balls Registered User Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 822	Re: Z bar pivot ball broke. Common? Yes, Broke on on my C20, Squirt some grease in there.. __________________ 1968 C20 Fleetside 396 4sp PS PB AC CST . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWK8GgWD4uA

11-06-2019, 08:33 PM	#7
67ranchhand Registered User Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Tiffin Ohio Posts: 74	Re: Z bar pivot ball broke. Common? Well I took the z bar out and the broken stud backed right out with the end of my index finger. I was happy about that! Ordered the new ball stud and felts today from Classic Parts. I will be back in business hopefully soon! I will be sure to get plenty of grease in there when I get it back together. Thanks to all for your input and support!!!



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