different tie rod ends, disc brakes and drum brakes etc.

[vegaschevy]

I have a complete brand new steering set up that came off a disc brake chassis with 2" dropped spindles. I believe they were ECE but not sure.

Here is my problem. I just got my Mcgaughy dropped spindles and the steering set up does not fit in the wholes at all on the new spindles.

My questions are I know drum-disc the tie rod and different steering components are different, what is different ?

Has anyone used these spindles and know what components Ill need to get this stuff to work? maybe I just need outer tie rod pieces and the rest of the new pieces I have will work.

Looking to pick everyones brain on what they have noticed, know about or have pics to show... I am sure with all the different dropping going on that someone has run into this problem or will soon..

I would rather know I have all the parts to make the switch on my truck in a weekend without having to order more parts... Grrr

As you can see from the pics, the spindles hole is to small for the tie rod end to fit in to.

Heres pics of the spindles and the steering set up.

Mcgaughy Spindles part number 63176 on the box, and 6072R and 6072L on the spindles

[leddzepp]

What year truck are the new spindles that you purchased for?

If they are replacement drop spindles for a 71-72 truck, you will need 71-72 ball joints and tie rod ends. If they are disk brake conversion drop spindles for a 67-70 truck, you will need 73-up balljoints and tie-rod ends(readily available at parts stores).

[lolife99]

Those spindles are 71-72 specific according to the part number.
Here's a good reference chart from McGaughy's:

http://www.mcgaughys.com/newproducts.html.

You need 71-72 outers, inners, and all the other steering components from a 71-72 truck.
The steering parts you have must be 63-70 parts.

71-72 tie rods have 11/16" threads, and
63-70 tie rods have 5/8" threads where they connect at the adjusting sleeve.

Buy all 71-72 stuff to bolt to your 71-72 center link and you will be fine.

[leddzepp]

lo life deciphered your parts numbers. Good deal.

Oddly, based on the box part number they are 71-72...but I would have guessed they were conversion style based on the 6072 individual parts numbers on the spindles.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

What year truck are the new spindles that you purchased for?

If they are replacement drop spindles for a 71-72 truck, you will need 71-72 ball joints and tie rod ends. If they are disk brake conversion drop spindles for a 67-70 truck, you will need 73-up balljoints and tie-rod ends(readily available at parts stores).

I don't think this is correct.
"Conversion" spindles allow you to use the same year (63-70) ball joints and tie rods.
At least the ones I have installed do. (ECE conversion spindles)

[vegaschevy]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

lo life deciphered your parts numbers. Good deal.

Oddly, based on the box part number they are 71-72...but I would have guessed they were conversion style based on the 6072 individual parts numbers on the spindles.

That is what I am wondering. THey say specific for 71-72 but the 60-72 would lead me to believe for all years of this chassis.

Also the threaded portion of the tie rods that I have are to large to fit in the holes of the spindles which would also lead me to believe that I have 71-72 steering components and earlier "conversion" spindles based on the 11/16" and 5/8" measurements. If the holes are smaller then what I have then I would say they are 5/8" for the earlier steering stuff and the steering stuff I have is 11/16"

I guess I could get under the truck and try to eyeball what is on there.

any other feedback.k Im calling mcgaughys right now to pick there brain

[vegaschevy]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Those spindles are 71-72 specific according to the part number.
Here's a good reference chart from McGaughy's:

http://www.mcgaughys.com/newproducts.html.

You need 71-72 outers, inners, and all the other steering components from a 71-72 truck.
The steering parts you have must be 63-70 parts.

71-72 tie rods have 11/16" threads, and
63-70 tie rods have 5/8" threads where they connect at the adjusting sleeve.

Buy all 71-72 stuff to bolt to your 71-72 center link and you will be fine.

My biggest problem is the joint itself, know off hand what the joint size would be between the two? seems the 71-72 ball joint on the outers is a bit smaller then the older ones. Do you know offhand?

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by vegaschevy

That is what I am wondering. THey say specific for 71-72 but the 60-72 would lead me to believe for all years of this chassis.

The 60-72 designates the casting design of the spindle. (shape) Thats all. They are then drilled for the correct tie rod size and ball joint size.

McGaughy's sells 3 different spindles with this one casting design.

60-62 (torsion bar trucks)
63-70
71-72

I have a new 63-70 tie rod.
I will go measure the "joint end" thread size.
Be right back.

[vegaschevy]

Originally Posted by lolife99

The 60-72 designates the casting design of the spindle. (shape) Thats all. They are then drilled for the correct tie rod size and ball joint size.

McGaughy's sells 3 different spindles with this one casting design.

60-62 (torsion bar trucks)
63-70
71-72

I have a new 63-70 tie rod.
I will go measure the "joint end" thread size.
Be right back.

cool, im headed to carquest in a few to see if they have both to compare. Seems by what is going on that the earlier tie rods would be larger. Not sure.
Hope to have an answer tonight or tomorrow.

Ill be comparing the complete set up I have with what is on my truck if I determine that the set up I have is for earlier style trucks. I am hoping the center drag link is the same as I have not found a reproduction yet... checked LMC and Classic Industries.

[lolife99]

Ok, Vegas,...
Here's a quick way to identify which tie rods you have.

The 63-70 ties rods:
inners:
5/8-18" RH threads at the adjusting sleeve. 7/16-20" at the spindle joint.

outers:
5/8-18" LH threads at the adjusting sleeve.

The 71-72 tie rods will be the opposite.
Inners will be LH threaded
Outers will be RH threaded at the adjusting sleeve.

[vegaschevy]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Ok, Vegas,...
Here's a quick way to identify which tie rods you have.

The 63-70 ties rods:
inners:
5/8-18" RH threads at the adjusting sleeve. 7/16-20" at the spindle joint.

outers:
5/8-18" LH threads at the adjusting sleeve.

The 71-72 tie rods will be the opposite.
Inners will be LH threaded
Outers will be RH threaded at the adjusting sleeve.

there still would be the size issue on the joint going in to the spindle. THere has to be a size different there as well..... not just the thread size but the taper as well, the threads will not fit through the pindle hole with the one I have leaving me to think that is the earlier threads on the joint are 7/16" then the newer ones would have to be 3/8" or 5/16"

[lolife99]

71-72 centerlinks are different than the 63-70 centerlinks,... and not available as far as I know.
I reused the one on my blazer because I couldn't buy a new one.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by vegaschevy

there still would be the size issue on the joint going in to the spindle. There has to be a size different there as well..... not just the thread size but the taper as well, the threads will not fit through the spindle hole with the one I have leaving me to think that is the earlier threads on the joint are 7/16" then the newer ones would have to be 3/8" or 5/16"

The taper is different, for sure.

[vegaschevy]

Originally Posted by lolife99

71-72 centerlinks are different than the 63-70 centerlinks,... and not available as far as I know.
I reused the one on my blazer because I couldn't buy a new one.

OK some pics with updated info as well. Help me understand what we have going on here......

71-72 Trucks
The upper hole for the tapered part of a ball joint is 5/8"

The threaded portion must be 3/8" as that is the size of the lower hole.

[lolife99]

Take your spindle with you to the parts store.

I wonder if you got the wrong spindle in the "correctly marked" box?

[vegaschevy]

hope this info might help someone identify some parts.

Now I have a complete brand new disc brake steering rack to sell to someone as it wont work for mine

[vegaschevy]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Take your spindle with you to the parts store.

I wonder if you got the wrong spindle in the "correctly marked" box?

I think it is the correct spindle and that is the sizes of the 71-72 tie rod ends ball joints.

[lolife99]

That lower hole is 1/2" in your picture.

[lolife99]

Keep us posted on the out come of your trip to the parts store.

Are you back yet?
Ha.

Just for the sake of checking,... I measured the holes on my 73-87 spindles.
Top side: 3/4".

Bottom side: 9/16"

So they aren't 73-87 spindles.

[vegaschevy]

Originally Posted by lolife99

That lower hole is 1/2" in your picture.

errr uh ya.... DUH~~~~

then that means my center rack may have 73-87 tie rod ends. i wonder if they thread in to the earlier stuff

have dimensions of center drag link, end to end? on the 60-70 and the 73-87

[lolife99]

I believe the 73-87 outers will thread into the 71-72 adjusting sleeve.
That's what I had to do 20 years ago. (before they made 60-72 drop spindles)

I had a '69 'burb with 73-87 drop spindles, 71-72 centerlink, 71-72 inner tie rods, and 73-87 outer tie rods.

Kind of a pain,... but that's waht you had to do back then to get drop spindles on the drum brake trucks.

The "end to end" measurement of the 73-87 centerlink is 31.5".

[white 67]

I had this problem with my 67, i used the stock 67 center link and inner tie rods with stock 72 outer tie rods. But i have a differant brand of drop spindels. I

[vegaschevy]

I did not have luck at the auto parts store.... grr, I think these are 73 and newer outers, as they are bigger then 1/2" and real close to 9/16"

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I don't think this is correct.
"Conversion" spindles allow you to use the same year (63-70) ball joints and tie rods.
At least the ones I have installed do. (ECE conversion spindles)

I am not sure on McGaughys spindles, but every other manufacturer I have seen they used 73-up ball joints/tie rods on their dropped spindles, if the spindles were not for 71-72.

Best bet as suggested would be to go to a parts house with the spindle and compare all of them.

[lolife99]

72BlckButy's ECE drop kit used the original '69 ball joints and tie rod ends.