I'm at a loss with this front end! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jimmydean · 09-21-2006, 02:12 PM

I am trying to do these spindles and nothing will come off! Looking at the walkthrough on Classic Trucks, it looks liike everything fell off once it was unbolted.

I have all the castle nuts removed from the tie rod end, upper and lower ball joints, but the thing won't budge! I am headed to Autozone for a puller even though one wasn't used in the walkthrough.

I have soaked everything in WD40 in hopes that would help. Any advise before I beat things to hell?

68haywagon · 09-21-2006, 02:18 PM

It took a BFH to get my spindles to seperate from the ball joints. A few whacks on the side of the spindle where it connected to the ball joint did it for me.

Mike

Jim_PA · 09-21-2006, 02:23 PM

I'm assuming you have the lower control arm supported, and you have a chain or spring compressor holding the spring in there? Otherwise, it could come flying out, and ruin your day bigtime!!

All it took for me was a BFH as well. I just left the castle nuts on there loosely, and gave them as good of a shot as I could.

67ChevyRedneck · 09-21-2006, 02:26 PM

I did the same. BFH all the way! I too left the nuts on some so nothing would fly out (I also used a spring compressor, but it is not necessary.)

68haywagon · 09-21-2006, 02:34 PM

I did leave the nuts on about half way.

BowTieOgre · 09-21-2006, 03:31 PM

Im going to agree with the others, I tried to finesse mine out but it all came back to the BFH.

ChevyDude · 09-21-2006, 03:41 PM

BFH....it's the ticket!

70GMCer · 09-21-2006, 03:45 PM

An for those of you who do not know what a "BFH" is, I cannot say that on here.....lol

cdowns · 09-21-2006, 03:51 PM

it just amazes me the money people will spend on parts on these trucks , BUT not the $25 to buy a service manual to learn how to do it right // just beat it with a hammer good idea

jimmydean · 09-21-2006, 04:22 PM

I have the service manual, but they make it look like it just slides ride off.

I put a jack under the arm to support the spring, then I got the fork from Autozone and that did the trick for all three (upper, lower, and tie rod). I guess I need a BIGGER FH

70c10 · 09-21-2006, 04:48 PM

jimmydean, I got the same kit from Paul and hope to start on it next month. That article makes it look too easy. If you run into any little problems could you let us know what to expect?. I saw a post recently about possibly having to do some grinding or something to make the spindles fit. I will have to search for that again to see what the fix was. Keep us posted and snap a few pics if you can. Good luck man!

67ChevyRedneck · 09-21-2006, 04:53 PM

If you use stock 71-72 spindles on stock 67-70 A-arms the bump stop on the spindle will hit the bump stop on the A arm. You just need to grind a little off the "tit" to get your full lock to lock steering (may want to count how many times your wheel turns lock to lock.) If you buy spindles in a kit, I think they compensated for this in the kits so no grinding is necessary.

jimmydean · 09-21-2006, 05:47 PM

So far it has been somewhat easy. The only advise I can give at this point is to soak the whole setup in a good degreaser (I use an orange based non-toxic cleaner) the day pr night before, then power wash the hell out of it.

37 years of crap is tough to get through. You will also want to soak bolts in liquid wrench or something too. Getting the brake lines off was a PITA. I will be running all new lines soon. I also want to pull the rhole front end apart, but I don't have time to do that this round.

72 CustomCamper · 09-21-2006, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70GMCer

An for those of you who do not know what a "BFH" is, I cannot say that on here.....lol

BFH= Big Freaking Hammer

09-21-2006, 02:12 PM	#1
jimmydean Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 3,728	I'm at a loss with this front end! I am trying to do these spindles and nothing will come off! Looking at the walkthrough on Classic Trucks, it looks liike everything fell off once it was unbolted. I have all the castle nuts removed from the tie rod end, upper and lower ball joints, but the thing won't budge! I am headed to Autozone for a puller even though one wasn't used in the walkthrough. I have soaked everything in WD40 in hopes that would help. Any advise before I beat things to hell?

09-21-2006, 02:18 PM	#2
68haywagon I'm watching you! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 1,822	Re: I'm at a loss with this front end! It took a BFH to get my spindles to seperate from the ball joints. A few whacks on the side of the spindle where it connected to the ball joint did it for me. Mike __________________ 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 4WD 1993 Chevrolet C-1500 W/T - Blue - 4.3L V-6, 4 speed auto - Dad's (RIP) 1992 Chevrolet S10 - LS swap project 1968 Chevrolet C-10 longbed fleetside - sold

09-21-2006, 02:23 PM	#3
Jim_PA Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 2,696	Re: I'm at a loss with this front end! I'm assuming you have the lower control arm supported, and you have a chain or spring compressor holding the spring in there? Otherwise, it could come flying out, and ruin your day bigtime!! All it took for me was a BFH as well. I just left the castle nuts on there loosely, and gave them as good of a shot as I could.

09-21-2006, 02:26 PM	#4
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: I'm at a loss with this front end! I did the same. BFH all the way! I too left the nuts on some so nothing would fly out (I also used a spring compressor, but it is not necessary.) __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

09-21-2006, 02:34 PM	#5
68haywagon I'm watching you! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 1,822	Re: I'm at a loss with this front end! I did leave the nuts on about half way. __________________ 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 4WD 1993 Chevrolet C-1500 W/T - Blue - 4.3L V-6, 4 speed auto - Dad's (RIP) 1992 Chevrolet S10 - LS swap project 1968 Chevrolet C-10 longbed fleetside - sold

09-21-2006, 03:31 PM	#6
BowTieOgre Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 1,461	Re: I'm at a loss with this front end! Im going to agree with the others, I tried to finesse mine out but it all came back to the BFH. __________________ 1986 C10 - LWB, 305/700r4, posi, vortec heads

09-21-2006, 03:41 PM	#7
ChevyDude Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 3,071	Re: I'm at a loss with this front end! BFH....it's the ticket!

09-21-2006, 03:45 PM	#8
70GMCer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joppa, Maryland Posts: 4,408	Re: I'm at a loss with this front end! An for those of you who do not know what a "BFH" is, I cannot say that on here.....lol __________________ 1997 GMC Sierra Ext 1965 Mustang

09-21-2006, 03:51 PM	#9
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: I'm at a loss with this front end! it just amazes me the money people will spend on parts on these trucks , BUT not the $25 to buy a service manual to learn how to do it right // just beat it with a hammer good idea __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

09-21-2006, 04:22 PM	#10
jimmydean Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 3,728	Re: I'm at a loss with this front end! I have the service manual, but they make it look like it just slides ride off. I put a jack under the arm to support the spring, then I got the fork from Autozone and that did the trick for all three (upper, lower, and tie rod). I guess I need a BIGGER FH

09-21-2006, 04:48 PM	#11
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,856	Re: I'm at a loss with this front end! jimmydean, I got the same kit from Paul and hope to start on it next month. That article makes it look too easy. If you run into any little problems could you let us know what to expect?. I saw a post recently about possibly having to do some grinding or something to make the spindles fit. I will have to search for that again to see what the fix was. Keep us posted and snap a few pics if you can. Good luck man! __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

09-21-2006, 04:53 PM	#12
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: I'm at a loss with this front end! If you use stock 71-72 spindles on stock 67-70 A-arms the bump stop on the spindle will hit the bump stop on the A arm. You just need to grind a little off the "tit" to get your full lock to lock steering (may want to count how many times your wheel turns lock to lock.) If you buy spindles in a kit, I think they compensated for this in the kits so no grinding is necessary. __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! Last edited by 67ChevyRedneck; 09-21-2006 at 04:53 PM.

09-21-2006, 05:47 PM	#13
jimmydean Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 3,728	Re: I'm at a loss with this front end! So far it has been somewhat easy. The only advise I can give at this point is to soak the whole setup in a good degreaser (I use an orange based non-toxic cleaner) the day pr night before, then power wash the hell out of it. 37 years of crap is tough to get through. You will also want to soak bolts in liquid wrench or something too. Getting the brake lines off was a PITA. I will be running all new lines soon. I also want to pull the rhole front end apart, but I don't have time to do that this round.



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