spindle/suspension/drop question
 

i could use a little guidance on part selection. i have a 68 c10 that somebody converted to 5-lug disc brakes using 71-72 spindles and brake parts. i bought a pair of mcgaughy's classic drop spindles (PN's 6072L and 6072R). i plan on installing the drop spindles but keeping all the 71-72 brake parts. i'm also replacing all the suspension parts (tie rods, ball joints, etc). my questions are:

1. will all the bearings and brake parts bolt right onto the drop spindle?
2. what year tie rods/sleeves and ball joint parts do i need (67-70 or 71-72)?
3. i ASSUME my center link is the original 68. is there a way to verify that? i think the answer to question 2 depends on this...

thanks

Re: spindle/suspension/drop question
 

Everything has to match the YEAR of the spindle you bought.
What year spindles did you buy?
The part numbers you list is the numbers cast on the spindles, not the application.
Those same casting numbers are used on 60-62, 63-70, and 71-72 spindles.
If the previous owner switched to 71-72 brake parts, he SHOULD have used all the steering parts also. The 63-70 outer tie rods do not fit the 71-72 spindles correctly.
Are you sure they aren't 73-87 parts?
Can you post some pics of the suspension?

Re: spindle/suspension/drop question
 

hmm. ok that complicates things. i got the spindles in a trade so i don't know what year they are. the current spindles (pn 3969461) and calipers (pn 5471172) are definitely 71-72. here are some pictures. everything looks equally greasy so it's hard to tell what was replaced by the po.

Attachment 1476667

Attachment 1476668

Attachment 1476669

Attachment 1476670

Attachment 1476671

Re: spindle/suspension/drop question
 

so i realize i need to figure out the ball joint and tie rod end issue. but will the 71-72 brake parts fit the drop spindles regardless of the spindle year?

Re: spindle/suspension/drop question
 

You need to find out what year the drop spindles are for to determine if your brake parts will work with them. If I remember correctly the 71-72 disc brakes are different than the 73-87 disc brakes and are not interchangeable.

Just take one of the drip spindles to an auto parts store and see which ball joints and tie rod fits the 71-72 or 73-87.