Good stock spindles

[another69]

I'm having a tough time finding good used spindles for my 1st gen camaro. They are usually worn at the bearing area or ball joint tapers, so that eliminates them before they even get magnafluxed. I'm also seeing 2 different styles, with 1 being "beefier" than the other. I would really like to buy new replacements, but afraid of the quality of whats out there. ATS and LH are too pricy for me, and everything else is dropped 2", so what to do?

[another69]

Can anybody recommend a GOOD new stock height spindle that is not dropped? I would love the LH spindles, but the cost keeps them out of reach for now. There seems to be alot out there, but is one better then the other? I want the strength to be the same or better than stock.

[6spdcamaro]

I have no personal experience with these, but Chassisworks seems to be one of the the only reputable companies that makes a non dropped stock style spindle.

http://www.cachassisworks.com/p-1213...-body-not.aspx

[CamaroAJ]

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performan...64000/10002/-1

[another69]

Thanks, guys- but these are like most other new replacements that I have found. Jegs and Chassisworks are great, but they won't provide the actual manufacturer of the spindles. That to me can't be good. At least the originals are time tested, but of the 4 I have, all have some sort of wear or damage. I actually have a "no name" new spindle, made in China I'm sure, and it actually LOOKS much better than the GM stuff, and "rings" the same when hit with a hammer, but I don't know if it has a big void in it or if it will fail at 75 MPH. Its kinda a critical piece and I'm really surprised that nobody has stepped up to make a quality replacement.

[67rally]

I have no personal experience with these, but Chassisworks seems to be one of the the only reputable companies that makes a non dropped stock style spindle.

http://www.cachassisworks.com/p-1213...-body-not.aspx

Are the A-body and F-body spindles interchangeable?

[6spdcamaro]

According to the website they will fit an F-body. I think the only difference is the steering arms, but i'm not positive on that.

[another69]

Yeah- the spindles interchange but they are not actually made by chassisworks

[monteboy84]

Its kinda a critical piece and I'm really surprised that nobody has stepped up to make a quality replacement.

They have, but you said they're too pricey. They're a spendy product to develop and put into production.

-matt

[another69]

They have??? who?? The closest thing out there to a forged stock style spindle is Heidt's, and they are dropped 2". If they had a stock height, with the tall spindle, I would have bought it years ago. If you are referring to LH customs or the ATS spindles, they are awesome, but a bit too pricey at the moment. They are on a whole different level- i'm talking about a stock style & height. Heidt's sells their's for about $300, which I don't think is pricey, but the drop won't work with what I have. Am I missing something, Matt?

[67rally]

Have you looked at the Global West spindles? They are about $200 for the pair. I don't know anything about them, but they may be able to tell you where there made.

http://www.globalwest.net/ss-6769.html

[another69]

Thanks- I'll look into the GW spindles. There seems to be a major visual difference between mid 60's and late 60's/ early 70's spindles. Anyone else notice that? Is there a strength difference? The aftermarket seems to "copy" the later style.

[67rally]

Thanks- I'll look into the GW spindles. There seems to be a major visual difference between mid 60's and late 60's/ early 70's spindles. Anyone else notice that? Is there a strength difference? The aftermarket seems to "copy" the later style.

Let me know what you find out. I need to get a new set of spindles as well.

[Apogee]

Thanks- I'll look into the GW spindles. There seems to be a major visual difference between mid 60's and late 60's/ early 70's spindles. Anyone else notice that? Is there a strength difference? The aftermarket seems to "copy" the later style.

There were several different forgings used during that era, with most of the later spindles being slightly beefier with the web-gussets on either side of the lower cross. I don't think this was specific to either the disc or drum applications as I've seen them used in both, just an evolution of the earlier design as they started throwing heavier and higher HP cars on top of them. Given the choice, I'd choose the gusseted spindle over the earlier design. That said, I wouldn't hesitate to run the earlier one either if it was still in good condition.

Tobin
KORE3

[another69]

I've seen the earlier ones used on heavier cars like chevelles, but have surprisingly never heard of the later ones being preferred over the early design. The later ones LOOK beefier, but in the few cases of failures that I've seen, they break at the spindle seal area, not the web gusset area. Both designs are the same at the spindle seal area - go figure. Maybe if it had a bigger radius it would help, but the aftermarket versions don't have a bigger radius either.

[Ron.in.SoCal]

Thanks- I'll look into the GW spindles. There seems to be a major visual difference between mid 60's and late 60's/ early 70's spindles. Anyone else notice that? Is there a strength difference? The aftermarket seems to "copy" the later style.

Not sure if those GW spindles in the link above are the same as included w their Cat 5 set up, but call them to be sure. The Cat 5, while a great system and more budget friendly than some others, is proprietary to GW; what i mean by that is they require the use of their PN Wilwood caplipers (I think it's actually a rear Wilwood caliper). A buddy of mine thought they might be early Impalla spindles but who knows? There are probably other areas to check out - steering arms, etc. - so it'd be best to call them.

I have a ton of respect for GW. They're a bunch of experts and their stuff is great, but they do this 'proprietary' design on other stuff as well such as their subfr connectors require their subfr bushings. :smh:

[another69]

Well, I have 2 sets of stock style spindles, old and new- both drum. The newer beefier style weighs 5# 15.5oz, the older 5# 9oz. Thats no surprize, but the weird thing is when I weighed the aftermarket disc spindle, which appears to have less material, came in at 6# .9oz- does this mean that it is somehow denser than the others?

[monteboy84]

If you are referring to LH customs or the ATS spindles, they are awesome, but a bit too pricey at the moment. Am I missing something, Matt?

Nope, my bad, I was referring to LH customs. My rule of thumb in general is to go with factory wherever possible, and then just inspect (beadblast and magnaflux) them to make sure I'm not going to get a surprise at 70mph through a cortner.

-matt

[another69]

The problem I'm running into is finding used spindles that are in good shape in the machined area. Most I see are pitted, worn bearing surface, or ball joint taper damage.

[David Pozzi]

I haven't read of any breakage of Repro spindles. It would be a good idea to have them rockwell tested, but I don't know what the spec for them would be. I did hear of a ball joint breaking due to a bad taper. The spindle was stamped RMK, or something similar near the top.