Need straight info about drop spindles

[WinDancer]

I have a 68 c10 2wd with a big block, converted to front 5 lug disks. After almost a full year the truck is almost done and drivable.

The truck rides so low that the headers are getting banged up in our driveway.

One of the shops I had it to said that the coil springs were heated for lowering and that I needed to replace them with new big block springs. They also said the spindles were stock height.

So I had the big block springs put in, along with upper control arm bushings, new pads and the rotors turned. They said the joints were good and tight.

It raised the headers about 1 inch. I want at least 2 more inches under the headers.

Went by Les Schwabe today and they said the biggest tires that will fit the front will only give me another 1 inch.

Another mechanic told me the truck has drop spindles and that those were the problem all along.

Is there a way for a non-mechanic/novice to tell if the spindles are drop spindles and how much of a drop they are?

From reading and looking at catalog's there appear to be different spindles for different drop amounts?

Are there pictures somewhere that show the different spindles installed side-by-side so you can see where they are mounted and where those mounts lines up on the wheels?

The way it looks now is that the [lower a-arm?] looks to be dead even with the bottom of the wheel.

Would it then follow that stock spindles would be much closer to the top of the wheel and that medium drop spindles would be between the upper end and where mine are now?

I don't want to spend another dime until I know for sure what will get me the extra 2 inches I want.

I am completely lost here and would be very grateful for some serious guidance to get my headers out of the rocks.

Many thanks,

[Captainfab]

I don't have any pics, but I can try and describe the spindles to you. If you look at the backside of the spindle you should be able to see where the spindle itself is pressed into the casting. With stock spindles that will be pretty much centered between the ball joints. On a lowered spindle it will be closer to the upper ball joint. Hope that made sense.

My '66 Suburban with a big block has stock spindles and the original sb springs, and I haven't had any problems with the full length headers hitting. It sits just a little lower than stock with the extra weight.

[N2TRUX]

It sounds to me like the real problem is the headers. If you have long tube headers on it your going to drag. Put some mid length headers on and tuck the exhaust.
Then drop it some more...

[WinDancer]

Whew- that made what to look at clear enough

I grabbed a couple pics from the ECE site:

The top one is a stock height, and the bottom one is a 2.5 drop.

So if I can get a clear view of the machined piece and it is near the end of the casting it is a stock height, and if it is near the center it is a drop spindle?

Thanks!

[WinDancer]

I just paid almost $600 for the super-comp ceramics- and they are now marked up from the driveway. They are going to stay

I try to buy most of my parts here local, so I went to the Classic Heartbeat site and I can't see the different shaft locations:

Top is standard

bottom is dropped?????????????????

Guess I will go see Wes in the morning.... maybe a pic out of place

Thanks, Guys!

[Captainfab]

It looks like I may have given wrong info. I was thinking that the stock spindles were more in the center, but it looks like they are more towards the lower ball joint, and the 2.5" drops are in the center. It's been a while since I've looked at one....sorry for the misinformation.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by WinDancer

I just paid almost $600 for the super-comp ceramics- and they are now marked up from the driveway. They are going to stay

I try to buy most of my parts here local, so I went to the Classic Heartbeat site and I can't see the different shaft locations:

Top is standard

bottom is dropped?????????????????

Guess I will go see Wes in the morning.... maybe a pic out of place

Thanks, Guys!

They don't look different as far as the spindle 'spud' height.

[trkklr77]

those are dropped

stock is at the botom like the first pic posted

i have a set of stock 72's ill sell or trade you.

$120 shipped or ill pay shipping for both mine and yours to me if you want.

[WinDancer]

Well, I found a set of stock spindles from a 71/72 in like-new condition for $75.

Took them and the truck in for the swap and the mechanic called two hours later- the spindles won't fit.

Called Classic Heartbeat and they sent a pair of earlier spindles. The mechanic called a couple of hours later- the earlier one won't fit, either.

Classic had no others in stock.

Sat down with the drop spindles that were removed, and they are stamped 'Trailmaster' '24F2' '903102'.

Trailmaster did not return a call from the mechanic.

Their web site doesn't list drop spindles.

Anyone have any idea about how to ID the year of my 5-lug disk front end in order to get the correct spindles?

Or where to get info about Trailmaster drop spindles?

TIA

[70C10Toejam]

Did the mech say WHY they don't fit????

As for this new fitting problem, have mech. check the ball joints. for the 71/72 spindles you got, you need 71/72 ball joints. if your "original" spindles were from '73-87, then you would have had ball joints from those years.

Were the Classic Heartbeat spindles made to fit the orig. '68 ball joints, like ECE spindles are??? If so, then you need
'68 balljoints for them.

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by 70C10Toejam

Did the mech say WHY they don't fit????

As for this new fitting problem, have mech. check the ball joints. for the 71/72 spindles you got, you need 71/72 ball joints. if your "original" spindles were from '73-87, then you would have had ball joints from those years.

Were the Classic Heartbeat spindles made to fit the orig. '68 ball joints, like ECE spindles are??? If so, then you need
'68 balljoints for them.

X2....should just be a matter of changing the ball joints to the correct ones for the spindles. Sorry I don't know anything about the Trailmaster spindles.

[WinDancer]

Yup, he sure did. After my eyes started to glaze over he finally wound down. Can I tell you what he told me? Nope. The 71/72 won't fit. The earlier model from Classic Heartbeat don't fit.
I am not a mechanic. I usually just point and he takes it from there. He calls when it is finished and then I take my truck back home
I work full-time as a computer tech, make some custom knives on the side, maintain our home on 5 acres and try to sneak in a few hours here and there with a fly rod. Sometime get a couple of hours to take my sweetie for a ride in the truck [she loves burnouts].

I understand 'don't fit'. My understanding stops right about there.

When I first bought my old truck I envisioned a Mr. Goodwrench in the neighborhood. I could take one of the drop spindles to him and he would get out his calipers, take a few quick measurements, look in a book, and then say to me 'These are from a 1974 Chevy/GMC half-ton, two wheel drive.'

Mr. Goodwrench is in the witness protection program and his location is classified beyond my clearance.

I guess I could just keep ordering spindles until I fall on the correct ones, but I am hoping that maybe someone has a magic page from the goodwrench manual that lists the individual year differences [I know they don't change every year]. I have a set of calipers and a decent rule, If I knew what to measure I could do that.

Wes at Classic Heartbeat told me he thought the front end was a 71/72. That Is why I started where I did. Wes's next attempt to help was to send down the only other spindles he had in stock-

"Nope, but what's it gonna to do, not work worse?"

I am not being a smartA$$- I am honestly just lost and have no idea where to go look or measure or ask.

This board has been the closest thing to goodwrench and almost always comes through one way or another.

Thanks to all who have taken their time to share info and make suggestions

[PBFAB.COM]

Dave-

Your experiencing something that many of us have been through... and countless more will encounter as well.

The last time this happened to me (a month or so ago) I had the parts house send me out the different ball joint options from 67-87 and test fit them until I found out which ball joints fit... and hence which year spindles they were. See if your mechanic can do something like this for you... it may be the best, and quickest solution.

[bagged74]

the trailmaster spindles are more than likely 73-87 I dont think they ever made them for 71-72. I will check the casting number on mine tomorrow and let you know if they are the same as what you have. I know mine are for 73-87.

[WinDancer]

Thanks!

[trkklr77]

well that would work even better for me.....

i need the 73-87 anyways.

if you are still considering it.

[WinDancer]

Bagged74, did you get a chance to check the numbers on yours?

trkklr77, that is quite a bit more than I am willing to pay for used stock spindles, but thanks for the offer.

Porterbuilt, thanks for the encouragement and the suggestion. If I don't hear back from bagged74 by Tuesday I will try to find a set of 73 spindles and see how they look and fit. Another local mechanic says the reason the 71/72 won't fit is because the mounting needs to be reamed only slightly. The original mechanic said that they went in just fine but that he was unable to get the nut tightened down far enough to put in the cotter pin- so it sounds like maybe the reamer may be one answer. I still would like the correct ones that just bolt in place.

Thanks for everyone's help with this

[trkklr77]

i will trade you for your drops that dont fit for stocks that do fit and pay shipping both ways, costs you nothing?!?!??!?

[bagged74]

903102 on the right side
903101 on the left side
20E4 on both sides

[WinDancer]

Bagged you just solved the mystery- those are the same as mine- so now I just need a set of 73 to 87 stock spindles and I can get my truck back on the road.
Thanks to all,

[bagged74]

I have several sets if you cant find some local, shipping would brobably be spendy though.

The trade with trkklr77 might be a good deal for both of you unless you are gonna hang on to them for later.

[trkklr77]

i can get you then for $25ea plus shipping from my pnp, or ill trade you a just the same as before.

[WinDancer]

The dropped spindles are not for sale right now. I am not going to burn that bridge until AFTER I see the new stance with the stock spindles on and drive it for a few weeks.

I am going to try to find a set here locally, just to try to skip the shipping delay.

Bagged, thank you again for climbing under your truck to get the numbers for me.

[bagged74]

no problem man, miy truck is up on jack stands anyway with the front cap off.lol

[WinDancer]

To put this to bed, finally
I was able to use the 71/72 spindles and just swapped out the ball joints. Wes at Classic Heartbeat took the time to go look at the truck and them match up the ball joints and deliver them to the mechanic.
I picked up the truck yesterday and it now clears our access road without dragging the full-sized headers on the rocks.
Thanks to all!