L&H A-body spindles

[beater65]

Anyone know if they are still in business? Valid Website or contact info?

I have 2 numbers I found in random threads neither have worked. (503)-668-2833 and (503)-819-9043 Luke cell... Im looking to find out more information about their product and pricing of course.




I have a 65 Malibu.



Been looking at suspension solutions. I found some threads with guys using these spindles. They look appealing because is looks like I can use my current 11" disc brake conversion without jumping into Vette brakes right away. As well as 2" drop option vs ATS spindle your stuck with hub bearing and C5 brakes.


Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

[csouth]

I don't think they have been making these for a cpl years now. Being "stuck" with C5 brakes and bearing assembly is not a bad thing.... CHassisworks is supposed to have a billet spindle coming out, but their site has no pricing so I'll assume its not ready yet.

http://www.cachassisworks.com/c-1339...oem-style.aspx

[69cutlassrkt]

global west has a spindle. Don't think its out yet.
http://www.globalwest.net/kit423-neg...1-spindle.html

[beater65]

Being "stuck" with C5 brakes and bearing assembly is not a bad thing.... CHassisworks is supposed to have a billet spindle coming out, but their site has no pricing so I'll assume its not ready yet.

http://www.cachassisworks.com/c-1339...oem-style.aspx

It is when you want to drive your car and don't have extra $1000 to drop on brakes.

I've seen their spindles, no prices posted without calling. Which I haven't yet. But theirs looks exactly like the L&H, so its on my call list lol

EDIT: CA spindles are still not available yet, nor is pricing released.

[csouth]

It is when you want to drive your car and don't have extra $1000 to drop on brakes.

I've seen their spindles, no prices posted without calling. Which I haven't yet. But theirs looks exactly like the L&H, so its on my call list lol

EDIT: CA spindles are still not available yet, nor is pricing released.

There is a set of c5 calipers front and rear on ebay right now for $299. You need to look there and on the corvette forum. You can swap the front's first and wait on the back of you don't want to spend for the rear rotors. Another $100 for rotors and $50 for pads... That swap is not a $1000...

[jarretts70]

Beater, did you contact CA to find out when these spindles might be available? I'be been going crazy trying to figure out a tall spindle/control arm combo that allows me to keep my original lower control arms/original type disc brakes. Everything else I've found I have to buy lower control arms I don't want (Detroit Speed), totally different brakes (anything that uses the ATX spindle), or apparently has bump steer issues when used in an A-Body (ridetech/Fatman fab) because the spindles were designed to be optimized for an F body. These CA spindles & arms look like the bomb!

[beater65]

Beater, did you contact CA to find out when these spindles might be available? I'be been going crazy trying to figure out a tall spindle/control arm combo that allows me to keep my original lower control arms/original type disc brakes. Everything else I've found I have to buy lower control arms I don't want (Detroit Speed), totally different brakes (anything that uses the ATX spindle), or apparently has bump steer issues when used in an A-Body (ridetech/Fatman fab) because the spindles were designed to be optimized for an F body. These CA spindles & arms look like the bomb!

Yes I did.

Rep told me HOPEFULLY by end of March they will be receiving them. Originally their website says January... so already a month behind. Also they haven't got pricing released. I did also call Global West to gather info, their spindle is not at versatile as CA because they have a built in brake caliper bracket, again stuck with using C5 and or aftermarket Wilwood etc.

After researching most of day yesterday. I am REALLY bummed I can't get an L&H, it seems to be most versatile spindle imo. CA looks to be a almost identical copy, but hard to tell with the limited info on it. I absolutely do NOT want an ATS spindle, its absurd the cost ($1500). I would be ok with $1000 for spindle and steering arm and keep my current brake setup for now.

[jarretts70]

Man, you are thinking the exact same thing as me. I'm in Canada, so I've got to contend with paying exchange rates which adds about 25% to the cost. Then shipping / border charges. So I'd wind up paying almost 3 grand (Canadian dollars) for a set of spindles & upper control arms? Plus new Corvette brakes? The ATS spindles look awesome but I just don't get why they cost so much. Csouth pointed out that you can do the corvette brake swap more cost effectively by doing the e-bay thing but being out of the continental US really limits those options.

I've flipped back and forth way too many times. To me it seems like it should be a no-brainier for someone to manufacture a spindle/steering arm combo optimized for an A-body that doesn't require a few thousand dollars worth of additional parts. These spindles / arms seem like the first ones I've seen that fit the bill. If Detroit Speed sold individual parts I'd use their uppers & spindles but they only sell kits. I don't want or need $700 (which works out to like $900 Canadian...damn exchange rate...) worth of lower control arms. I've got a perfectly good set of rebuilt factory arms that are perfectly adequate for the intended use of this car...And I could care less about having tubular control arms for the bling factor. I'd do the ridetech or Fatman spindles but after reading Mark Savitske's book I'm concerned about bump steer when using these spindles on an A-body.

Good thing for me is I'm a ways from having this thing on the road so I can wait for a while....

[csouth]

L&H spindles were nice when you could get them. I originally ordered a set from Marc at SC&C, waited 6wks to only receive a pair of steering arms. I was told the uprights were still coming, so I changed mine to the ATS spindles. Luke couldn't keep up with trying to have his parts machined and building cars. I definitely understand not wanting to spend the money, but its a VERY well built product. I'm pretty sure the Chassisworks will fill the void, guessing it will come in @ 1k.

[beater65]

Man, you are thinking the exact same thing as me. I'm in Canada, so I've got to contend with paying exchange rates which adds about 25% to the cost. Then shipping / border charges. So I'd wind up paying almost 3 grand (Canadian dollars) for a set of spindles & upper control arms? Plus new Corvette brakes? The ATS spindles look awesome but I just don't get why they cost so much. Csouth pointed out that you can do the corvette brake swap more cost effectively by doing the e-bay thing but being out of the continental US really limits those options.

I've flipped back and forth way too many times. To me it seems like it should be a no-brainier for someone to manufacture a spindle/steering arm combo optimized for an A-body that doesn't require a few thousand dollars worth of additional parts. These spindles / arms seem like the first ones I've seen that fit the bill. If Detroit Speed sold individual parts I'd use their uppers & spindles but they only sell kits. I don't want or need $700 (which works out to like $900 Canadian...damn exchange rate...) worth of lower control arms. I've got a perfectly good set of rebuilt factory arms that are perfectly adequate for the intended use of this car...And I could care less about having tubular control arms for the bling factor. I'd do the ridetech or Fatman spindles but after reading Mark Savitske's book I'm concerned about bump steer when using these spindles on an A-body.

Good thing for me is I'm a ways from having this thing on the road so I can wait for a while....

Seems we are on the same page.

Except I am attempting to remedy ill functional suspension I purchased before I really started to uncover all the suspension pitfalls these cars have, and made it worse to point of eating tires with no fix to issue without changing parts.

I am planning to do powertour longhaul with my car this year, so I need to line it out before June. At this rate I'm just gonna wait on CA stuff to hit street and see what cost is.

[jarretts70]

Out of curiosity what kind of suspension are you using now that you are unhappy with? If you don't want to name names I understand, I'm just looking for real world opinions of what works and what doesn't.

[beater65]

My current suspension consists of Ebay Chinese tubular control arms, Hotchkis 2" drop springs, 2" drop spindles, unknown brand big sway bar, kyb shocks.

basically I just compounded the bumpsteer issues with car being lowered 4" and no correction built into any of chosen parts. So, plan is SPC uppers, billet spindles. and not sure what I want to do with lowers yet. Howe ball joints and SPC lowers seem hot, but the whole having to weld in the ball joints deal still bothers me.

Will upgrade brakes/shocks later. Just want car not to eat tires on my 3000+mile trip in June.

[jarretts70]

The last pro touring car I built was back in the mid 2000's. I think I was buying parts around 2004, before there were all these options. I did the B-body spindle swap with Hotchkiss upper arms and super stiff Moog springs I learned about on some forum, can't remember the part number. I cut them a bunch to lower the front, which would have increased the spring rate even more. Car looked and handled great but was pretty rough riding, and was a little "twitchy" in a straight line. I had never heard of bump steer but in hindsight that was probably the issue...

Good luck, I've never done P-tour but it looks like a blast.

[csouth]

The last pro touring car I built was back in the mid 2000's. I think I was buying parts around 2004, before there were all these options. I did the B-body spindle swap with Hotchkiss upper arms and super stiff Moog springs I learned about on some forum, can't remember the part number. I cut them a bunch to lower the front, which would have increased the spring rate even more. Car looked and handled great but was pretty rough riding, and was a little "twitchy" in a straight line. I had never heard of bump steer but in hindsight that was probably the issue...

Good luck, I've never done P-tour but it looks like a blast.

I had some b body spindles and Hotchkis uppers i was going to do years ago before I talked to Marc. He told me that while B Body spindles fix the positive camber issue, they actually make bump steer worse on an A body because they put the steering arm in the wrong position. Good thing was I got mine from an eBay auction and was able to sell them locally for what I had into them.

[rickpaw]

How about ridetech spindle?

[Josh@Ridetech]

How about ridetech spindle?

http://www.ridetech.com/store/ridete...dles-pair.html

Our spindles are built for a factory A body disc brake setup, they're a tall spindle, and are a 2" drop.

[beater65]

http://www.ridetech.com/store/ridete...dles-pair.html

Our spindles are built for a factory A body disc brake setup, they're a tall spindle, and are a 2" drop.

Josh, can you give me some more info about your product.

I took a look at your link, couple questions. Is your spindle going to retain a stock steering arm? If so, is bumpsteer issues still going to be a concern?

I currently have ebay tubular arms, not sure what that does for geometry good/bad when paired with your spindle. which I assume will be the question mark on my bumpsteer question.

I was going to ask for a price on complete set of arms price, but I plan to retain my current Hotchkis coil spring, looks like your arms are only setup for coilovers.

Thanks

[jarretts70]

I tried to research both the ridetech spindle and the Fatman Fabrications spindle. I think they are the same part, they look the same & any specs I can find are the same. Plus from searching their website it seems Fatman Fab uses some ridetech stuff in their custom chassis, so there must be some degree of co-operation between the two companies.

Either way, all I was able to learn was what Josh has stated. The spindles are tall, dropped, and accommodate stock-type brakes - all this is good. What I specifically want to know is what effect do they have on bump steer when installed on an A-body - I'd like a more detailed answer than just "it improves it". Actual data please!

I hope Josh chimes in on this. I'd actually be happy to use a combination of Ridetech spindles / upper control arms if the bump steer is manageable.


...

[jarretts70]

Beater, I'm not trying to hijack your thread but I've been thinking about the whole bump steer thing:

Here's what I'm thinking: why can't we simply heat & bend the steering arms up or down as required? I know that seems like a crazy idea at first but before laughing consider this: the stock steering arms are forged steel. Hot rodders have been heating and bending forged steel axles for ever, that's how you make a dropped axle. They also heat & bend forged steering arms, shock mounts, etc. all the time. In fact, the way to adjust the camber angle on vehicles with solid axles (like a vintage Ford) was to bend the axle in a press. I think this is still how it's done on solid axle vehicles (like a heavy truck).

[beater65]

Beater, I'm not trying to hijack your thread but I've been thinking about the whole bump steer thing:

Here's what I'm thinking: why can't we simply heat & bend the steering arms up or down as required? I know that seems like a crazy idea at first but before laughing consider this: the stock steering arms are forged steel. Hot rodders have been heating and bending forged steel axles for ever, that's how you make a dropped axle. They also heat & bend forged steering arms, shock mounts, etc. all the time. In fact, the way to adjust the camber angle on vehicles with solid axles (like a vintage Ford) was to bend the axle in a press. I think this is still how it's done on solid axle vehicles (like a heavy truck).

I don't mind at all. We are both looking for same answers.

While I understand it, I think it would be tough to get each arm bent exactly same. I have at least 5 friends that are machinists, I would opt to have one of them design and cnc me a new arm in the position I wanted it for whatever control arm/spindle setup I ended up with. But custom steering arm would basically solve any issue with any setup I would think. bumpsteer wise.