Three questions : 1-Can this spindle be repaired? 2- Would repair be cost prohibitive? 3-Am I still looking ? Thanks for your replies, Jim/Rott
Junk it. There are enough parts around that you don't need to mess with metal temper and possible future sudden failure.
Jim,I have a few not disk spindles,I sold them to guy's for disk brakes,with a small mod on them,so if you need one here I'm.Bruno.
I have my original drum spindles. I have heard that you can grind a "nub" off and use them? Is this true? If so, any pics?
Here's a set for a little less; http://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-1972-G...ash=item33b1e8d757:g:DpwAAOSwwbdWITbA&vxp=mtr Looks like they need to be bought in pairs, maybe someone else needs the other side you can sell to them or go in halfsies? Derek
I'm not looking for originality. My car is getting further and further away from correct everyday. No disrespect gentleman/women. Appreciated, but I have heard that the drum spindles can be "converted" with a grinder to disc use, so I would like to explore that avenue . If I can leave my new ball joints unmolested that would be great. No pulling of shock, no use of coil spring compressor, s'all good ... Looking for advice , especially with pictures if possible, of modification of drum spindle. Although, I imagine that I will be able to deduce what is required by comparing the two as I start the teardown of the drum brake system. Thanks Jim/Rott
Oh, those ARE sexy! Appreciate your response. Read post above if you would , re: Drum spindle conversion. Hoping I can refrain from popping ball jounts. JIM
yes you can machine the drum spindles to accept caliper brackets. I've done a few sets. exactly 1/2" needs to be cut off and the hole needs to be drilled to accept the larger bolt. i built a jig to machine the spindle in a bridgeport and another to center the drill. i was able to determine the 1/2" with depth mic, so that is exact..
I don't possess the ability nor do I have access to the tools to perform the necessary modifications, so perhaps the "sexy" pair will be the answer to this equation. Break out the,forks and spring compressors.....Jim/Rott
You don't just want to "grind" off the extra material from the boss! That boss needs to be square or the backing plate won't bolt properly to the spindle. Just went through this with Mart when he converted his brakes, the amount needed to be removed is .610" from everything we found on the internet in the description from this kit and what Steve Caruso(UNDERDOG) said; http://www.ebay.com/itm/Speedway-Mo...ash=item58eb23f4b7:g:kyAAAOSwEzxYZBTU&vxp=mtr Here's what it says in the notes of the kit in the link; Notes Kit will not work with 14" wheels. Must be 15" wheels or larger. Kit must be used with original GM disc brake spindles our our new spindles # 910-34900. The difference between disc brake and drum brake spindles is at boss at the top where the barcket would mount. On drum brake spindles, this boss stuck out farther than disc brake spindles. Approximately .610" would have to be removed from this boss to work with these spindles. We recommend using brake booster/master cylinder combo 910-31978 with this front disc brake kit. Stock single reservoir 4-wheel drum brake master cylinders do not have the capacity to supply the proper amount of pressure for front disc brakes. Combo 910-31978 also includes an adjustable proportioning valve which is to be installed in the rear brake line circuit. The proportioning valve modulates pressure to the rear brakes which is necessary to prevent the rear brakes from locking up in an emergency stop situation If Joe actually measured 1/2" then perhaps his measurement is closer? Measure twice, cut once, that way you won't say I cut it twice and its still to short! Derek
You don't need a spring compressor or a pickle fork, all you need is a floor jack and a BFH(big hammer). Put the jack under where the shock is and hammer the spindle until the ball joints release. The upper one after it releases the control arm will lift up and you move the spindle so it is no longer aligned to the ball joint's manhood and knock the lower one up out off of the lower ball joint's manhood. Then simply bolt the new spindle in to install the cotter pin and done. The trick is to not put to much pressure on the floor jack so the spring helps the spindle and ball joint to release. The shock will hold the spring in, the floor jack is for safety. Was over Mart's house to help him install his disc brake kit about a week ago and basically just drank beer and watched him, looked very easy. I did move the jack in position though and helped him drink a beer(no one should have to drink alone). If the ball joints are old then it would be a good time to replace those while things are that far apart. Mart's were fairly new so he wanted to save them, the BFH technique worked out good, just be careful when your swinging it in the wheel house and try not to dent anything. GL Derek
Been shopping round, found Chevelle disc spindles at GroundUp for $70 apiece. Ordered new hardware as well , with a discount code, total was $148 shipped. Been piecing/ pricing parts for this. All I need now is proportioning valve , rebuild kits for the calipers, pads and rotors (Summit) . I am assuming that wheel bearings are interchangeable between drum/spindle. Is this true? My car has not seen the road yet , so they are all new. Jim/Rott
Hey since you're on the spindle/disc topic, anyone know if those fiber/ cardboard washers behind the grease seal need to be there? They are on the original GM spindles, but the conversion kits don't supply them. Plus the 47 year old material isn't worth trying to save. They tend to crumble apart. Maybe Steve Caruso knows something about this?
Are you saying the spindle isn't square and bent? Car must have been in a wreck to do that. Or are you worried about the pitting between the bearing journals? Which means nothing. Replace if bent. If inner and outer journals are to size, they can be used. Yep you need a Bridgeport to modify boss and re-tap the drum spindles accurately and correctly. Just went thru all this last week.
I bent a drum spindle on my skylark. my buddy and I were on the highway driving from Missouri to buffalo. i was sleeping in the back seat. he woke me up when the car picked up a vibration. one of the wheel bearings let go. the spindle was so hot that the grease was dripping out like it was water. the spindle bent like a banana in the process. we trailered it from there!
Spindle is definitely bent, pitting not the issue. As I said , I bought 2 new spindles from GroundUp. Thanks for all the replies, links, appreciated. JIM/ROTT
You can get them on eBay. Inline tube makes them. I found that without them my drum backing plates didn't fit as square are they did, but I don't think it really made a difference. I made a set using an original as a template. I was too impatient to wait for the online tube ones to get to me.
Well, after buying a pair of spindles from the board, one is pictured above and then buying a new pair from GroundUp (396.com) to discover that one of those was manufactured incorrectly, I finally have all the parts I need for my disc brake conversion. GroundUp was very courteous as was the board member I purchased from with refunds/exchange. Jim
