Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

nu2-72 · 11-03-2005, 02:21 PM

I have torn down a few Dana 44's and this is the first time I have seen this spacer. It was between the knuckle and the spindle.
Anyone have any knowledge of these?
I can only guess that something was not machined correctly but I really do not know what. Knuckle face too short, spindle too short, or axle too long?
Who has the info?

Mudder · 11-03-2005, 02:55 PM

Looks like a wheel spacer.

nu2-72 · 11-03-2005, 07:04 PM

Found the answer. Called Randy's Ring and Pinion. Turns out that after I cleaned it up, it is wedged shaped. .035 on the thin side and .108 on the thick. It is used alot on the West coast it seems. This is for camber alignment. Randy's says that a lot of trucks that see airborn time, knock the fronts out. This is one way to compensate for a bent knuckle "or" some shops use them to make up for a bad ball joint.
I have put everything back into this front end NOS so I see no need to put it back in at this time. If it was used for a bad balljoint I will have it covered. If the knuckle is bent, well, I guess we find that out at alignment time and I already have the shim.
Learn something new every day.

**special-K** · 11-03-2005, 07:08 PM

Yep,not too often they need it.But that`s how the camber is adjusted in Front drive axle.I`ve never needed to use them.

nu2-72 · 11-03-2005, 10:16 PM

Randy's suggests to rebuild without it and use an eccentric ball joint instead. Had not heard of that one either.

1976K5CHALET · 11-04-2005, 04:18 AM

Correct it is a camber adjusting wedge.
The other way to do it is the eccentric sleeve and washer for the top
ball joint which i do not recommend as the damn washer allways breaks
in two after some light duty wheelin. I have allways used the spindle
wedge myself and never had an issue with them. Plus the top balljoint
sleeve is torqued to 70 ft lbs...kinda hard to get that spec when you
are trying to get the camber setting you want.

Doug W.

**kwmech** · 11-04-2005, 11:01 AM

In my opinion those are much better than using an eccentric ball joint. There should be a number on it somewhere indicating what the degrees are. That looks like the steel version.

nu2-72 · 11-04-2005, 11:46 AM

Thanks guys. I will keep it just in case the alignment is out when the truck is done. That should be about 5 more years at this rate.

soleeagle · 11-05-2005, 12:43 AM

Where would a person get one of these spacers from? I need one for the Burb.

1976K5CHALET · 11-05-2005, 04:25 AM

I'd start at napa to find them....or a good local parts store...not the chains.
When doing an alignment i allways try to get it as close as possable..so i allways use the spacers. Course now i am converting to cross over steering so i am venturing into unknown territory for a change...lol.

DW

nu2-72 · 11-05-2005, 09:46 AM

Since it is actually an alignment wedge, I would try the tire/alignment shops around you that deal with older 4x4's.

LONGHAIR · 11-05-2005, 10:28 PM

If you really "need" one of those to get your alignment right.....something is bent or a ball-joint is shot. This is a "band-aid" ...not a proper repair.
One would hope that if a repair person was in deep enough to put a shim under the spindle that they would find/replace a bad ball-joint. Unfortunately the problem is usually a bent axle housing or a crack where the tube enters the casting of the differential itself.
If the shim is used, it only solves the problem of the wheel alignment, it does nothing about the misalignment of the axle where it enters the spindle, or the axle where it enters the splines of the side gear or the inner axle seal.
I would have the housing checked.........

11-03-2005, 02:21 PM	#1
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? I have torn down a few Dana 44's and this is the first time I have seen this spacer. It was between the knuckle and the spindle. Anyone have any knowledge of these? I can only guess that something was not machined correctly but I really do not know what. Knuckle face too short, spindle too short, or axle too long? Who has the info? Attached Images __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide

11-03-2005, 02:55 PM	#2
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Re: Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? Looks like a wheel spacer.

11-03-2005, 07:04 PM	#3
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	Re: Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? Found the answer. Called Randy's Ring and Pinion. Turns out that after I cleaned it up, it is wedged shaped. .035 on the thin side and .108 on the thick. It is used alot on the West coast it seems. This is for camber alignment. Randy's says that a lot of trucks that see airborn time, knock the fronts out. This is one way to compensate for a bent knuckle "or" some shops use them to make up for a bad ball joint. I have put everything back into this front end NOS so I see no need to put it back in at this time. If it was used for a bad balljoint I will have it covered. If the knuckle is bent, well, I guess we find that out at alignment time and I already have the shim. Learn something new every day. __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide

11-03-2005, 07:08 PM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? Yep,not too often they need it.But that`s how the camber is adjusted in Front drive axle.I`ve never needed to use them. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

11-03-2005, 10:16 PM	#5
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	Re: Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? Randy's suggests to rebuild without it and use an eccentric ball joint instead. Had not heard of that one either. __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide

11-04-2005, 04:18 AM	#6
1976K5CHALET Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Grand Junction, Colorado Posts: 610	Re: Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? Correct it is a camber adjusting wedge. The other way to do it is the eccentric sleeve and washer for the top ball joint which i do not recommend as the damn washer allways breaks in two after some light duty wheelin. I have allways used the spindle wedge myself and never had an issue with them. Plus the top balljoint sleeve is torqued to 70 ft lbs...kinda hard to get that spec when you are trying to get the camber setting you want. Doug W. __________________ Doug Wright aka K5NUTT over @coloradok5.com Owner of http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChevyK5BlazerChalets Certified K5 Nut

11-04-2005, 11:01 AM	#7
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,650	Re: Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? In my opinion those are much better than using an eccentric ball joint. There should be a number on it somewhere indicating what the degrees are. That looks like the steel version.

11-04-2005, 11:46 AM	#8
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	Re: Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? Thanks guys. I will keep it just in case the alignment is out when the truck is done. That should be about 5 more years at this rate. __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide

11-05-2005, 12:43 AM	#9
soleeagle Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Shelbyville, Indiana Posts: 614	Re: Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? Where would a person get one of these spacers from? I need one for the Burb. __________________ Chuck '85 Chevy Silverado 4X4 '91 Chevy 4X4 Suburban http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/545941

11-05-2005, 04:25 AM	#10
1976K5CHALET Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Grand Junction, Colorado Posts: 610	Re: Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? I'd start at napa to find them....or a good local parts store...not the chains. When doing an alignment i allways try to get it as close as possable..so i allways use the spacers. Course now i am converting to cross over steering so i am venturing into unknown territory for a change...lol. DW __________________ Doug Wright aka K5NUTT over @coloradok5.com Owner of http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChevyK5BlazerChalets Certified K5 Nut

11-05-2005, 09:46 AM	#11
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	Re: Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? Since it is actually an alignment wedge, I would try the tire/alignment shops around you that deal with older 4x4's. __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide

11-05-2005, 10:28 PM	#12
LONGHAIR just can't cover up my redneck Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 11,414	Re: Have you ever seen a spindle spacer? If you really "need" one of those to get your alignment right.....something is bent or a ball-joint is shot. This is a "band-aid" ...not a proper repair. One would hope that if a repair person was in deep enough to put a shim under the spindle that they would find/replace a bad ball-joint. Unfortunately the problem is usually a bent axle housing or a crack where the tube enters the casting of the differential itself. If the shim is used, it only solves the problem of the wheel alignment, it does nothing about the misalignment of the axle where it enters the spindle, or the axle where it enters the splines of the side gear or the inner axle seal. I would have the housing checked.........



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