G-body aftermarket front hub

[BigBlockOlds]

I'm building an '87 Olds Cutlass currently and have modified my stock spindles for the C5 corvette brake conversion.
I've also cut down my stock brake rotors and turned them into hubs but the more I look at them, the more I'd rather have a set of steel hubs to fit my spindle.
My problem is that I am having trouble finding anyone who sells hubs to fit my stock spindle. I've been told they exist but haven't found them.

Thanks,

[astroracer]

Well Andrew, I don't know why you would have a problem with your custom hubs. They WILL do the job and, once you get the rotor, caliper and wheel on you won't be able to see them anyway... I will be doing the exact same thing with the Bad Ast front brakes and I know I'll be happy with mine because... I built them myself...
Mark

[Siroadrnr]

I agree with Astro, I'm doing the same thing, and don't see a shortcoming with the custom made-by-me hubs. What makes you uncomfortable?

[BigBlockOlds]

Well, I've just seen a lot of discussion back and forth about the durability and safety of using the stock rotor cut down. Mostly due to it being cast iron and not a forged steel.

In my mind it doesn't seem like it should really matter because I would think the hub would still be carrying the same load as it did before, just without the rotor surface.

My other problem is finding studs for them. I bought a set of ARP P/N# 7708's which are supposed to be roughly a 1/4" longer and the correct knurl.

I test fitted them into my cut down rotors and they dropped right through up to the flange. There would definitely be no press fit with these.

I measured the ARP studs knurl and it came out to around 4.90" in diameter. The ARP catalog says they should be 5.09".

Then I measured my rotor/hubs holes and they came to be around 5.05". These are the stock rotors that came off the car originally with metric 12mm x 1.5 studs.

I'm hoping to take them to the local Carquest or Napa and see if they have a stud that will fit and give me the length I need.

Thanks,

[ProTouring442]

I cut down my hubs too, I don't see a problem with it. Only reason I will get away from the cut down hub is when I go to the AFX spindle.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
'72 442 "Inamorata"

[vintageracer]

Were the stock rotors you "cut down" original GM rotors or aftermarket replacement rotors? I have found that althought replacement China rotors have the correct 12mm x 1.5 lug studs to mount the wheel, the wheel stud used in offshore rotors has a different sized knurled end on the wheel stud than a GM stud. Result is that true correct GM wheel studs will not work with some, particularly offshore, replacement rotors. This is not a problem for anyone except those such as us who modify the rotor since the wheel studs come with new replacement offshore rotors. This may be why you are having trouble making a correct stock GM dimension wheel stud work correctly in the rotor/hub you have cut down.

[jerome]

does anyone have a link to instructions on how exactly to modify the spindle and make the hubs? I have a s10, but it should be basically the same process as a g-body. Also, what machining tools are necessary, and is it difficult to do? I will be doing this to a brand new drop spindle, so if it is tought to get right, then i wont want to do it myself.

thanks
Jerome

[Samckitt]

Another option is the 98-02 S10 2WD Blazer front knuckles. They use a 2 piston caliper & an 11" slip on rotor. These knuckles are a bolt on to the G body suspension & a simple bracket with 4 holes will allow you to mount the Vette C5 caliper "saddle bracket" to the S10 knuckle. No other machining required (except for a little clearance grinding) to mount 13" C5 Vette rotors & calipers. I did replace the studs with seom from Moser.

Scot

[GBodyGMachine]

Hmm

[jerome]

what are the pro/cons of using s10 spindles (sealed hub design) and 98+2wd blazer spindles (divorced spindle/hub).

can anyone explain to me what the differences in the hubs are? i dont really get what sealed and unsealed means.

for brakes, the normal spindles need brackets and hubs, but the blazer spindles just need brackets, so that would be the easier route, i just want to make sure im making the right choice as to which is actually a better spindle.

thanks,
jerome

[Samckitt]

The 98-02 "spindles" have a bolt on bearing assy that has the 5 bold pattern for the rotor to slip onto & wheel to bolt to, similar to the Vette & F bodies.

The normal S10 has a slip on rotor with the 5 studs on it. Then the bearings are on the spindle & a nut that holds the rotor on.

[jerome]

so which is the better choice to start with. the normal takes more work to adapt, so is the 98+ better? or is the normal a better design?

confused

[vintageracer]

The 98-2005 2WS S10 spindle swap is great for someone who is looking for bigger/better brakes just by doing an EASY spindle swap. If you are going to upgrade to much bigger C5 Corvette brakes, the only real difference between the 2 spindles is the bearing setup. If you think the late model bearing package is better the old school bearing setup for your application, then the 98-2005 2WD S10 spindle is for you. You are going to have to buy the all the parts to convert to C5 brakes with a stock G body spindle or the 98-2005 2WD spindle so I really do not see the benefit in purchasing the late model S10 spindles if your main goal is upgrading to C5 brakes. The 98-2005 2WD S10 spindle offers no benefit at all as far as improved suspension geometry over the stock G body spindle.

Factor in the cost of purchasing 98-2005 2WD S10 loaded spindles ($200-$350 + shipping on Ebay) and it is still cheaper to use the stock G body spindles that require a little more work/parts to convert to C5 Brakes than the S10 spindles. I have not seen ANYONE willing to break up a set of 98-2005 2WD spindles/brakes just to sell the spindles separately since the spindle/brake package sells very good at this time.

The late model sealed bearings are much more expensive to replace than the old school bearing setup IF they go bad.

[XCESSIV]

I found a tread over at the Turbobuick we site on this with the guy that sells the brackets for the calipars
www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186861