CT6 Structural Holding
System
Users Manual
IN20766
© December 2015 by Vehicle Service Group. All rights reserved. CO9545.8
Rev. - 12/16/2015
CHIEF'S LIMITED ONE-YEAR
WARRANTY & LIABILITY
Chief Automotive Technologies warrants for one year from the date of installation and/or
purchase any of its products which do not perform satisfactorily due to defect caused by faulty
material or workmanship. Chief's obligation under this warranty is limited to the repair or
replacement of products which are defective and which have not been misused, carelessly
handled, or defaced by repairs made or attempted by others.
CHIEF AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES DOES NOT ASSUME
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DEATH, INJURY OR PROPERTY
DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE OPERATOR'S NEGLIGENCE OR
MISUSE OF THIS PRODUCT OR ITS ATTACHMENTS. CHIEF MAKES
NO WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY WHATSOEVER
OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
OR OTHERWISE REGARDING THE EQUIPMENT OR ANY PART OF
THE PRODUCT OTHER THAN THE LIMITED ONE-YEAR WARRANTY
STATED ABOVE.
This users manual is designed to assist operators with the safe and efficient use of the Chief CT6 Structural
Holding System. When used with Chief Electronic Measuring, the parts holding system provides operators with
the ability to accurately and securely hold replacement parts during vehicle repair.
IMPORTANT:
This manual only identifies basic usage procedures for the CT6 Structural Holding System, it must be used with
the Chief Structural Holding System. The usage of the system is limited only by the imagination of the technician
doing the work.
The Chief CT6 Structural Holding System is designed for the holding and positioning replacement parts. It is not
designed as a replacement for Chief Anchoring. The CT6 Structural Holding System must not be subjected to
heavy pulling forces. The Chief Universal Anchoring Stands provided with the rack will still serve as the primary
vehicle anchoring.
Because Chief CT6 Structural Holding System works with Chief electronic measuring, special attention should
be given to the replacement of the Structural Holding stands during setup. Best results will be achieved with the
stands located on the perimeter of the vehicle being repaired to prevent shading of measuring targets.
2
PLANNING AND SETUP
The Holding System is a universal system that will adapt to any Chief style systems with rectangular holes in the
deck. The Fixtures are designed to be bolted to any existing threaded bolt or any location there is a threaded nut,
flange or boxed rail on a vehicle. This could be used with suspension (components) that are installed or removed and are designed with an offset to also be used with Chiefs computerized measuring system. The system
includes short vertical fixtures and tall vertical fixtures that will accommodate most bolts or threaded holes from
10mm to 25mm with the use of bushings. The large and tall horizontal fixtures are designed for any bolts or bolt
hole ranging from 10mm to 25mm with the use of bushings that is facing forward, inward, outward or rearward.
Additional attachments will allow for connection of the fixture to the structure in several different methods. The
angle adapter allows for the location of the fixture to be used if the location is at an angle.
Note: All bushings are designed to allow for the correct sizing of the hole for the bolt to be used to allowing for
centering of the Fixture and should be placed on the opposite side of the fixture away from the structure.
A heavy three-ear rigging nut can be placed directly below the foundation adapter. This will serve as a cable tie
off when additional stability is needed.
3
Directly below the foundation adapter is the turnbuckle adjustment mechanism. The foundation adapter threaded stud screws into the top of the turnbuckle center section while the Structural Holding lower adapter screws
into the bottom. A two-ear wing nut is threaded on to the foundation adapter to lock the top half of the turnbuckle
once correct vertical position is achieved. A three-ear wing nut is threaded on the lower adapter to lock that half
of the turnbuckle.
Note: The long threaded portion of the Structural Holding lower adapter utilizes a left hand thread, which is compatible with the bottom of the turnbuckle center section (marked with a v-groove around the outside of the part)
and the three-ear wing nut.
Turnbuckle Assembly
1. Completely thread two-ear wing nut onto
foundation adapter threaded stud.
2. Thread non-grooved end of turnbuckle
center section completely onto foundation
adapter threaded stud.
3. Completely thread three-ear wing nut onto
Parts Holding lower adapter.
4. Completely thread Structural Holding lower
adapter three-ear wing nut assembly into
grooved end of the turnbuckle center section.
The short threaded side of the Structural Holding lower adapter is a standard right hand thread that is compatible with the Structural Holding stand base and extension tubes.
Note: It is not necessary to completely disassemble the turnbuckle section when changing setups or reconfiguring the stand. The fully assembled turnbuckle section can be unscrewed from the rest of the stand system using
the included spanner wrenches.
Note: For best results, always have foundation adapter and the lower Structural Holding adapter threaded into
the turnbuckle center section equal amounts before starting up.
Vertical positioning of the CT6 Structural Holding System, when used in conjunction with the Structural Holding
System, uses a turnbuckle style adjustment over a 4.5” (115mm) range. Additional height can be achieved by
using the extension tubes and extension adapters included with the system. Compare the approximate height
required to the table below to determine how to configure the extension tubes and adapters.
4
502000
SHORT VERTICAL
FIXTURE
502008
TALL VERTICAL
FIXTURE
502019
TALL HORIZONTAL
FIXTURE
4.5
[114]
2.75
[70]
502074
FLAT FIXTURE
502080
CT6 FIXTURE
PEG CT6
502005
LARGE HORIZONTAL
FIXTURE
540102
40mm TORQUE BOX
W/ BRACKET
502077
19mm BOLT
BUSHING MOUNT
502104
PILOT
BUSHING MOUNT
5
540103
25mm TORQUE BOX
W/ BRACKET
502132
A-PILLAR
MOUNT
502143
PILLAR CLAMP
ASSEMBLY
502120
STRUT TOWER FIXTURE
FRONT LEFT
502026
ANGLE ADAPTER
CLAMP
502136
B-PILLAR FIXTURE
RIGHT
502125
STRUT TOWER FIXTURE
FRONT RIGHT
502110
STRUT TOWER FIXTURE
REAR LEFT
502047
STRUCTURAL HOLDING
BASE
6
502140
PILLAR FIXTURE
LEFT
502117
STRUT TOWER FIXTURE
REAR RIGHT
502128
NARROW STRUCTURAL
HOLDING BASE ASSY
502055
SHORT TUBE
BASE STAND
502063
TALL TUBE
BASE STAND
502075
11-1/2” TUBE
BASE STAND
11-1/2”
[292]
5-3/4”
[146]
502082
3-3/4” TUBE
BASE STAND
502147
18” TUBE
BASE STAND
18”
[457]
3-3/4”
[95]
502016
4” EXTENSION
TUBE
502034
TURN BUCKLE
CENTER TUBE
502015
RIGHT HAND
WING NUT
502061
10” EXTENSION
TUBE
502039
ADAPTER HEIGHT
SCREW
502017
12” EXTENSION
TUBE
502032
ADAPTER
EXTENSION
502033
LOWER ADAPTER
SCREW
502014
LEFT HAND
WING NUT
7
502038
RIGGING NUT
41684
M12-1.75 x 30 HHCS
502078
M12-1.75 x 35 SHCS
502112
M10 x 1.25 HEX NUT
502111
M10-1.25 x 30 HHCS
780104
MAGNETIC BOLT
ATTACHMENT 16mm
502085
M12-1.75 x 45 SHCS
502058
RELEASE PIN
502101
THREAD-IN TARGET
ATTACHMENT M12 x 1.75
8
502086
PILOT BUSHING
8mm
502027
PILOT BUSHING
10mm
502028
PILOT BUSHING
12mm
502029
PILOT BUSHING
14mm
502030
PILOT BUSHING
16mm
502035
PILOT BUSHING
18mm
502036
PILOT BUSHING
20mm
502037
PILOT BUSHING
22mm
9
Once the proper configuration has been determined, assemble the required Structural Holding components on
the base stand. The base stand should be loosely secured to the frame machine deck using M20x2.5 hardware
and a UAS fastener plate. The M20x2.5 hardware will be fully tightened after the Structural Holding stand is
located properly. Once the Structural Holding components are assembled, they can be fully tightened using the
included spanner wrenches.
Securing New Part
Secure the replacement part to the Structural Holding stand using the foundation adapter and fixtures. Horizontal adjustment of the part can be made by lightly tapping on the stand base. Once the part is located correctly
in both horizontal directions, torque down the stand base using a 30 mm wrench or socket. Vertical adjustment
of the parts is achieved by turning the clockwise rotation will raise the stand. The turnbuckle section should
turn easily by hand, but there is a provision to use a spanner wrench if necessary. Once the part is at the proper
vertical position, tighten the top and bottom wing nuts to lock the turnbuckle center section in place and insert
the release pin into one of the three hole positions.
Note: For best results, the two-ear and three-ear wing nuts should be threaded away from the turnbuckle center
section when making vertical position adjustments.
10
CT6 Parts-On
Positioning of the vehicle on the deck is very important, and the vehicle should be carefully located on the frame
machine based on the type, severity and location of the damage. Once positioned, refer to your manual for
proper installation and set-up procedures.
1. The initial setup requires four center section locations to be installed. Two in the front of the center section
and two in the rear of the center section. Additionally, at least one set of fixtures must be placed on the front and
rear rails, for a total of eight point holding for entire vehicle, see example below.
POSSIBLE HOLDING
LOCATIONS IN FRONT
SECTION ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
HOLDING LOCATION
IN FRONT OF CENTER
SECTION
HOLDING LOCATION
IN REAR OF CENTER
SECTION
11
POSSIBLE HOLDING
LOCATIONS IN REAR
SECTION
Center Section Base Mounting Locations
1. Torque box bracket adapters will need to be mounted to anchor stands.
2. The top hole facing outward will be used on all four locations of center section.
Center Front Base Mounting Location
1. Front center point uses the 40mm hole to the outside next to the rocker flange.
FRONT BASE POINT
FOR MEASURING
FRONT TORQUE BOX
W/ BRACKET 40mm
540102
12
LOCATE PIN AS SHOWN
ON ALL FOUR ANCHOR
LOCATIONS
Center Rear Base Mounting Location
1. Rear center point uses 25mm hole inside next to rocker flange.
REAR TORQUE BOX
W/ BRACKET 25mm
540103
Bottom View Rear Torque Box
Locate in Hole as Shown
REAR BASE POINT
FOR MEASURING
13
Front Suspension Mounting Location
On the front section, additional holding can be located on the engine cradle bolt locations front, middle, or rear
without main parts removed. With removal of the front bumper cover and absorber, holding can be located at the
end of the rail.
Left Front Parts On
Left Front Parts On
502077
502000
502039
502015
502082
14
Rear Suspension Mounting Location
On the rear section additional holding can be located on the rear suspension bolt locations front or rear without
main parts removal. With removal of the rear bumper cover and absorber, holding can be located at the end of
the rail.
Left Rear Parts On
Left Rear Parts On
15
Left Rear Parts On
502077
502077
502015
502074
502015
502055
502039
16
502055
502000
502039
CT6 Parts-Off
Left Front Parts Off
Left Front Parts Off
502028
502074
502077
502039
502000
502028
502039
502085
502015
502015
502063
502075
17
Left Rear Parts Off
18
Bottom View Left Rear Parts Off
Bottom View Left Rear Parts Off
502028
502085
502008
502039
502015
502028
502075
502039
502015
502063
19
Left Side Front Strut Parts Off
Left Side Front Strut Parts Off
502120 LF
502125 RF
41684
502039
502015
502075
20
Left Side Front Strut Bottom View Parts Off
502120 LF
502125 RF
Left Side Rear Strut Parts Off
21
Left Side Rear Strut Parts Off
41684
502110 LR
502117 RR
502039
502015
502075
Left Side Rear Strut Bottom View Parts Off
502110 LR
502117 RR
22
Right Side A Pillar
502132
502143
502039
502015
502147
23
Right Side B Pillar
502140 LH
502136 RH
502143
502039
502015
502147
24
CT6 Measuring in Genesis
The CT6 vehicle specification in the Chief Genesis application was generated directly from GM CAD data files.
The specification represents the vehicle in a level position, when supported at least 8 points (2 front, 4 center,
and 2 rear locations).
The CT6 can be measured for inspection purposes when supported only in the 4 center section holding points.
In this case, with a fully assembled vehicle, the front section measuring points may show 3-5mm of sag versus
the level vehicle spec. Less sag will appear in the rear section.
To level out the sag from a fully assembled vehicle, front and rear fixtures can be built up to the holding points.
The fixtures can then be raised using the turnbuckle adjustment detailed in the “Planning and Setup” section at
the front of this manual, until the front and rear measuring points are level to the specification.
Always refer to OEM repair procedures for proper repair guidelines.
Measuring from Fixtures
For underbody measurement points, targets may be hung from (502085) M12 x 45mm bolt as shown.
HANG TARGET USING
(780104) 16mm MAGNETIC
BOLT ATTACHMENT
25
Fixture attachment offsets can be selected from illustrations shown earlier in this manual starting on page 5.
After identifying and selecting the required fixture attachment used to hold and position the replacement part,
the Chief electronic measuring system contains matching tools that can be selected from the attachment menus.
Scroll through menus and select tools to match the fixture applied to vehicle. See example below.
Note: When measuring from the oval hole fixture, measurements will appear 2.0mm towards the end of the
vehicle compared to the vehicle spec location.
OVAL FIXTURE
LOCATION
OVAL FIXTURE
BOLT HEAD
26
Note: Fixture offsets cannot be added to end-of-rail measurements. When measuring on the end of a rail,
always place fixture on an opposing hole.
27
Chief Automotive Technologies
996 Industrial Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Phone: 800-445-9262
Fax:
866-275-0173
www.chiefautomotive.com
Chief reserves the right to alter product specifications
and/or package components without notice.