Front suspension 1970 c10

[swanga c10]

I have been searching around the forum to see if i can figure it out for myself but since there are so many variables to what you can have as front suspension components i thought it would be easier to upload some pics of what i have to see if it has been changed from standard at all. the truck is a 1970 c10.

cheers
JI

[lolife99]

Is the sway bar bracket welded to the frame?

[LockDoc]

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It certainly doesn't look stock. Here is what a stock one would look like.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1275965751

LockDoc

[swanga c10]

Hmm never really looked at that until now. this looks weird??

[CSGAS]

The aftermarket steel brake line run around the back seems to imply that the crossmember originally had its line in front. If that's true, it should rule out a '70 or earlier crossmember with later parts bolted on...check the links to the FAQs for drum-to-disc conversion from Lolife's sig. They should have info on which crossmembers had the lines up front and which ones behind.

Also measure the diameter of the steering end links, as well as the lengths, and configurations then compare that to the information posted in the same FAQ. If you have a hard time getting an reliable measurement of the diameters of the round pieces, then 1) wrap a measuring tape, or a length of painter's tape around it and mark where reach back to meet; 2) divide the length you marked off for that circumference, by 3.14 (or pi on a calculator). The result should be pretty close to one of the diameters listed.

Also check out the A-arm shafts and bushings. The '70's and earlier should have come with solid (brass or steel) bushings. '73 and later came with rubber bushings that take up a lot more room. I'm not sure when the change was made, so I can't speak to what's on the '71-'72's.

Check to see if the steering arms are bolted to the knuckle, or if the whole spindle is one piece. The former would point to a conversion using drum spindles or Impala spindles. There may even be a stamped name on the casting--Western did a lot of varying height spindles for the factory from '73 and up.

Measure the width of the rotors used. 1.25" rotors were available nearly every year, but light duty 1" rotors were only on later trucks.

That sway bar doesn't look like it was ever intended for a truck--maybe an Impala. The inner brackets are...awful interesting...I think you'd feel more confident in it if you picked up some '73 and up inner bushing brackets and bolting them directly to the frame (no frame brackets, as long as there's no interference with any steering parts). I know if it was me, I'd feel better that way.

In all, though, I don't see anything unsafe. I just can't see enough in the pictures to give you one definite answer. I hope I helped.

[lolife99]

Lots of good info above.
But all the pictures indicate '70 drum brake parts with stock a-arms, crossmember, and brake lines.
What are you trying to find out with this thread?
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[swanga c10]

From what i can see it looks like the spindle is 2 pieces where it bolts to the steering arm.

Im just hoping the disk brake conversion kit i bought will work. i might as well get a new sway bar and mount it correctly too.

[swanga c10]

Thanks guys, all great info, greatly appreciated.

[CSGAS]

Was the conversion kit meant to use drum brake spindles, did it include aftermarket spindles, or did it mention that you "may" have to buy disc spindles yourself?

Sometimes, on a drum spindle conversion, as long as you don't care about a dust shield (which does help direct air into the rotor for cooling) you can get away with trimming down one nub on the drum spindle where the drum backing plate used to bolt to--it depends on the out bearings the kit is designed to use, from what I can tell.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by swanga c10

From what i can see it looks like the spindle is 2 pieces where it bolts to the steering arm.

Im just hoping the disk brake conversion kit i bought will work. i might as well get a new sway bar and mount it correctly too.

Which kit did you buy?

[swanga c10]

https://www.ecklerstrucks.com/chevy-...1963-1970.html this one.
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[lolife99]

Originally Posted by swanga c10

https://www.ecklerstrucks.com/chevy-...1963-1970.html this one.
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That kit will work.
It's sad people are still selling this type of kit.
It requires you to switch to 73-87 spindles, balljoints, and tie rod ends.
CPP sells the same kit.
They make a ton of money convincing people this is what they need.

With the availability of 63-70 conversion spindles (for the same price as 73-87 spindles),...
you shouldn't have to switch all the other associated parts,...
and you really don't.
But this is the kit they sold you.

This kit will work for you.

[lolife99]

I use to say that these kits used 73-87 parts because they were cheaper.
But I just compared prices at my local parts stores online website.
The 1970 suspension components (upper and lower ball joints and tie rods) were cheaper than 73-87 version.
What a shame.

[swanga c10]

Hi Keith

i was just going to do the spindles but being on the other side of the world i thought it would just be best to get a kit with new ball joints and tie rods at the same time. I just bought them from that company as i bought some other stuff as well and wanted to get it all from the same place which in the end didnt really matter as most of it gets sent direct from the supplier anyway.

[swanga c10]

im now looking at the sway bar from cpp??