Upgrade 62 Fleet to disc WITHOUT getting rid of the Torsion Bar

[milworker]

I don't know about anybody else, but IMHO, the torsion bar setup is a much better ride. I liked it so much in my 62 that I bought a 2006 Yukon for that reason alone. I've had plenty of coil sprung Chevy's over the years, and the ride, in comparison is just rough. So, what spindles, etc, will work so I can upgrade to disc brakes w/o getting rid of the torsion bar?

BTW, I like GM's 2006 setup so much, I've considered buying a rolled '06 Yukon just so I can use the chassis (they went to four-link coil rear suspension in '06). That could also get me a 4WD '62 without changing the ride height too much.

Back to the question at hand...little help here? I already have the mount for the booster on order from Captain Fab, have the booster, proportioning valve and lines, just need to get spindles, rotors and associated bearing and potentially ball joints, tie rod ends, etc.

If someone knows about a freshly rolled '06 Yukon...

[fleetsidelarry]

I'm another who likes the torsion bar setup. I am thinking about the CPP spindles that are offered for our application. They come stock heigth or dropped 2" and utilize later model components (rotors, calipers, etc) which are readily available for a reasonable cost. I've seen the spindles offered for $209.

This does leave us with the original ball joints which are expensive but, as has been pointed out before, we're not likely to have to ever change them out again.

[peterpan]

i have a 61 and bought the 2.5'' drop spindals from cpp a couple years ago the are western spindals very nice parts

i have not put them on yet i bought a new lower ball joint from checker its a rare parts ball joint for around 80 bucks if i remember right

pricey but like was said before how often will i need to change them they lasted from 61 to now and i am sure it will be used alot nicer than it was used over the last 49 years

[markeb01]

I liked the way mine handled and rode with the torsion bars. If I had known at the time I could get rid of the ball bearing wheel bearings with a simple hub swap, I'd probably still have the torsion bars in mine.

[chevytrucknut61]

I used early classic 2 1/2 dropped spindles on my 61. With power steering it rides AWESOME!

[LostMy65]

This thread is more than a year and a half old.
Still good info.

Any updates / suggestions / tips on converting to discs and keeping the torsions?

[m455sx]

Why would you need to buy dropped spindles if you can lower by the turn of a screw?? Just wondering as i do not know the answer.

[markeb01]

Because there are practical limits to how far you can lower by loosening the adjuster bolts. With enough drop the adjuster arms at the rear of the bars hang down far enough to become a road hazard, and the torsion bars themselves lose spring tension reducing their effectiveness. By using drop spindles the ride remains identical to factory soecs.

[m455sx]

thnx as i didnt know

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

This thread is more than a year and a half old.
Still good info.

Any updates / suggestions / tips on converting to discs and keeping the torsions?

Any updates / suggestions / tips on converting to discs and keeping the torsions?

[LostMy65]

I'm thinking of getting drop spindles, because I'll need spindles for discs anyway, so I might as well get drop spindles. Then I need/want to keep my wheels, so I'll need the 6 lug discs.
Then I'm thinking I'll get everything else off a 73-87.
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[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Because there are practical limits to how far you can lower by loosening the adjuster bolts. With enough drop the adjuster arms at the rear of the bars hang down far enough to become a road hazard, and the torsion bars themselves lose spring tension reducing their effectiveness. By using drop spindles the ride remains identical to factory soecs.

I have done this and speed bumps can be an issue for the adjuster bolts hitting them.

[LostMy65]

POL is having a sale:
60-62 Drop Spindles for $206.09

Just choose 60-62 in the dropdown selection.

Use Code: 0212

http://www.performanceonline.com/196...dle-Set-16683/

[LostMy65]

I just ran across a post somewhere else in the forums...

Why would I buy disc spindles for a 1960-62 truck using expensive 1960-62 ball joints, when we could just upgrade our ball joints to newer model ball joints and then just use newer disc spindles?

[Captainfab]

I don't know that the newer ball joints will fit the '60-'62 lower control arms. There was another recent post stating that the '60-'62 lower ball joints can now be purchased for a reasonable price. IIRC they were around $40.00 each, although I don't know what the quality is like. Seems to me POL has them.

[LostMy65]

Maybe I misunderstood the post I read for swapping the balljoints. Mine may be fine. And yes, they have come down quite a bit in price at a couple places. Also, as was posted above: once they're replaced, I probably will be good for the rest of my life.
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