How to tell 71-72 spindles from 73-87 spindles

[cris well]

i've bought 2 different sets of tie-rod ends for my 68 with disc brakes.

first i bought 71-72 ends and sleeves. the outers fit good but the inner wouldn't fit thru the hole in the center drag link.

then i took my old ones with me and matched them up to 68 inners and outers and sleeves.

now i've been reading up that depending on what year spindles were used, you need different outers to match the spindles along with using an outer 68 for an inner so the threads will be right again.

so i need to know if you can tell by looking at them if i have 71-2 or 73-87 spindles so i can get the right outers this time around.

the guy i got the truck from evidently used the old 68 stuff on the disc brake spindles incorrectly. i drove the truck around some and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary though.

[john]

Unless you use the 71-72 center link you have to use an adapter sleeve for the tie rod ends. One end fits the smaller threads of your 68 ends and the other the larger threads of your 71-72 ends. CPP and ECE sell these sleeves.

[cris well]

yes i found out what i have to do by using a 68 outer tie-rod end for the inner tie-rod end and using the conversion sleeve and the disc brake outer tie-rod ends but i don't know if they used 71-72 spindles or 73-87 spindles.

so now i'm trying to figure out which spindles i have by looking at them.

also, what would happen if i just used the 68 outer tie-rod end in the disc brake spindles? like i said, i drove the truck around for a while like that with no adverse effects.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by cris well

first i bought 71-72 ends and sleeves. the outers fit good but the inner wouldn't fit thru the hole in the center drag link.

You have 71-72 spindles if the outer tie rod ends fit them.

[cris well]

so the 71 outers wouldn't fit in the 73 spindles?

are the 71 tie-rod ends too big to fit thru the hole on the 73 spindles?

[cris well]

i figure it probably is 71-72 spindles but i'm still not sure.

now i'm kinda worried that the PO just swapped the spindles and kept the 68 a-arms and ball joints because all the ball joints are old and the shims in the top a-arms look like they have been there for a while--nothing looks like it's been wrenched on.

i'm not sure how long ago it was converted to discs tho--maybe a long time ago.

i'll post some pics tomorrow.

[lolife99]

The only difference between the 71-72 spindle and the 73-87 spindle is the upper balljoint and the outer tie rod.
The lower ball joints are the same.
Buy a 73 upper ball joint or a 73 outer tie rod.
If they fit,... they are 73-87.
If they don't,... they are 71-72.

Sounds like you need new ball joints and tie rods anyway.

[cris well]

to lolife99:

if the PO did keep the 68 a-arms and ball joints and just swapped the spindles what would the adverse effects be if i just left it like it is and use the 68 tie-rods back on the disc brake spindles like he had it?

is it dangerous? could i ever get an alignment that would keep?

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by cris well

to lolife99:

if the PO did keep the 68 a-arms and ball joints and just swapped the spindles what would the adverse effects be if i just left it like it is and use the 68 tie-rods back on the disc brake spindles like he had it?

is it dangerous? could i ever get an alignment that would keep?

I wouldn't do it.
I would imagine everything would be real sloppy.
Fix it with the right parts.

[stsalvage]

I got one for ya all I've got a 1968 long horn well I'm converting to back to 1/2 ton But i don't want to change to the smaller ball joint I've been told you can hone out the hole in the spindle to make the bigger ball joint work

Now i need to know the negative about doing that one guy told me if you do that over time it might split or crack the forged steel or cast iron spindle let me know