D-body (Cadillac) spindles different than B-body (Caprice) spindles?

[1BadElky]

I came across this thread earlier today while looking at G-body brake upgrades.

http://www.montecarloss.com/communit...&Number=732914



There seems to be some conflicting info as to whether or not the steering arm is different. I know the B-body spindles cause severe bump steer, I was hoping the D-body spindles would work better and still accept the 12" 1LE Camaro rotors.

[gearbanger]

I used Cadilac spindles for my GTO spindle swap with 1LE rotors.
These spindles were on the list of possible candidates for the tall spindle swap when I was gathering my parts. I never noticed any problems with bump steer but as far as I know, they are the same spindle and the B-body. I think the bump steer problems are more theoretical than practical. I think the improvement in camber gain is far more important that optimum bump steer characteristics. But I guess most of us are trying to do the best we can so we should try and improve in all aspects.

[1BadElky]

I could be wrong, but I don't think the swap affects bumpsteer as badly on A-bodies as it does G-bodies.

[406 Q-ship]

The bump steer is bad on both for the tall spindle on the A and the G.

If your looking for bigger brake on your 78-87 G-body find a 98 up 2wd S10/15 truck/Blazer in a wrecking yard. The Spindle is a direct bolt on with 11.5 brakes, the spindle and steering arm are in the same spots as the G-body. Take the loaded spindle the brake line and the bracket that bolts to the frame, that is all that is needed.

The G-body geometry is alot better than the earlier A-body and really does not need a taller spindle for the roll center change. The G-bodies just has the crappest brake ever put in a GM car.

[novaderrik]

The bump steer is bad on both for the tall spindle on the A and the G.

If your looking for bigger brake on your 78-87 G-body find a 98 up 2wd S10/15 truck/Blazer in a wrecking yard. The Spindle is a direct bolt on with 11.5 brakes, the spindle and steering arm are in the same spots as the G-body. Take the loaded spindle the brake line and the bracket that bolts to the frame, that is all that is needed.

The G-body geometry is alot better than the earlier A-body and really does not need a taller spindle for the roll center change. The G-bodies just has the crappest brake ever put in a GM car.

according to the NAPA website, the late Blazer setup has 10.8" front rotors- not much if an upgrade from the stock 10.5" rotors, unless you consider cast iron multi piston calipers and expensive sealed wheel hubs to be an "upgrade".
with a little work, you could put Camaro 1LE brake rotors on the stock spindle and adapt PBR calipers to have a decent 12" front brake setup that doesn't brake (get it???) the bank.

[novaderrik]

...

[1BadElky]

I actually have the Blazer spindles right now. I was just hoping the 12" tall spindle conversion would work without the complication of adding bumpsteer.

so the caddy spindles are the same as the B-body? same problematic steering arm location?

the quote in the original link is wrong? “The spindles are taller, the brakes are bigger, and it has the popular 5 on 5 bolt pattern oval track racers prefer. You will also notice the steering gets a bit quicker as the Cadillac spindles have shorter steering arms.”

[novaderrik]

if the Caddy spindles had shorter steering arms, i'd think the Impala SS crowd would be all over them...

[Randy67]

I have spindles from a 79 Coupe Deville (12"), they have the same length steering arm as my 81 Camaro spindles do. The only difference I can find is the hole for the tie rod is 5/8" out more toward the wheel. Otherwise they are the same (except for the brake mount).

[novaderrik]

I have spindles from a 79 Coupe Deville (12"), they have the same length steering arm as my 81 Camaro spindles do. The only difference I can find is the hole for the tie rod is 5/8" out more toward the wheel. Otherwise they are the same (except for the brake mount).

from what i've been able to gather, the 70-81 F body, 73-77 A body, and 77-96 B/D body spindles are all interchangeable, with maybe a different lower balljoint to make it work. the 94-96 B/D spindles are supposed to be the lightest and strongest of the bunch- i want a set for my 74 Monte Carlo.
i even have this idea of a more HD brake upgrade using stock parts for the big car spindles with 12" brakes- some of the 80's 1/2 ton pickups had a 12" brake rotor that was thicker (1.25") than the B body rotor (either .75" or 1", i forget), and in theory it can be bolted up with the stock bearings and the truck caliper bolted in place of the stock caliper- or even a C4 or newer vette or LS1 F body caliper with a custom bracket. i need to do some junkyard scrounging to see if it all fits together in the real world like it does on paper..

[Randy67]

Sounds like a good idea, let us know how it works out. I believe the B-body rotor is 1.1" thick (same as the 1LE rotor).

I do wish there was a lighter hub/rotor assy to use that didn't cost a small fortune. It probably can be done with stock car stuff, just need to get a hub (or make one from a rotor) and get a rotor with the right spacing. I would like to try this myself, since the Camaro will be an autox car only (not street legal) and I want to keep the weight down if possible. One of CP guys has a 90 Camaro and it has 12" rotors (1.25" wide) with a separate hub and LS1 calipers. I will see if I can find out who he got it from.

[DAK]

i even have this idea of a more HD brake upgrade using stock parts for the big car spindles with 12" brakes- some of the 80's 1/2 ton pickups had a 12" brake rotor that was thicker (1.25") than the B body rotor (either .75" or 1", i forget), and in theory it can be bolted up with the stock bearings and the truck caliper bolted in place of the stock caliper

The 1.25 hd rotor uses a different spindle. Both ld and hd rotors use the same outer A3 set bearings. The hd inner bearing uses set A5 (1.375 bore). The ld rotor uses set A6 (1.25 bore). Wheel seals are the same though..

[Rowdy45466]

Do you know if anyone makes a bracket to use LS1 Camaro brakes on the B-body spindles. Also these new twin piston calipers showing up that go in place of the large GM single piston caliper are they better than the large single piston one?

[novaderrik]

Do you know if anyone makes a bracket to use LS1 Camaro brakes on the B-body spindles. Also these new twin piston calipers showing up that go in place of the large GM single piston caliper are they better than the large single piston one?

for the brackets, check out www.kore3.com

[MonzaRacer]

On a Gbody using the 98up Blazer spindle lets you up grade easier to Corvette C5/C6 brakes very easy, add in tall ball joints and your getting much better handling, use the ZR1 or what ever they call it hub/bearing and it works much better.
I am picking a set up for $35 a side so I can do up grade later and with a bolt in hub/bearing will allow a possible bolt on steering arm upgrade for my Monza(Gbody/S10 steering arm is too long for Monzas but can be used).
But for bigger brakes Kore 3 does also make adapters for upgrading to Corvette brakes.

[Randy67]

Do you know if anyone makes a bracket to use LS1 Camaro brakes on the B-body spindles. Also these new twin piston calipers showing up that go in place of the large GM single piston caliper are they better than the large single piston one?

You could use the Wilwood D52 twin piston calipers instead of the LS1 calipers, then they would bolt onto the B-body spindle without modifications.