how do you install disk brake spindles...?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

tripleblack · 04-20-2006, 09:35 PM

i was wondering if anyone could help me. I got new upper and lower ball joints installed and am having trouble intalling my disk spindels. I was wondering do you just keep tightening the ball joint bolts until you can fit the cotter pin through the nut and bolt hole? Thanks for the help

pebbleboy · 04-20-2006, 09:38 PM

If you can get the spring to compress enought to get the nuts on just tighten.

Threre is a torque setting if you wanna get all techinical

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ghlight=torque

krue · 04-21-2006, 12:49 AM

With my truck secure on jackstands I put a floor jack under the lower control arm and jacked it up with a friend lining the ball joints studs up in the spindle. Be careful if you do it this way 'cuz you are compressing a big a$$ spring.

Joe67 · 04-21-2006, 08:03 AM

Head up and rent a spring compressor for some added protection

bigjimzlll · 04-21-2006, 09:54 AM

if you are installing newer 71-72 spindles in a 67-70 a arm you will need to use 71-72 ball joints....and have fun with the Tie rod ends.....they will take some adapting

troy destroy · 04-21-2006, 10:16 AM

if a spring compressor is unavailable you can take a chain through the spring and the control arm and run a bolt through it. thats what i did "just in case". that spring flies out something bad is bound to happen.

you will want the truck raised about a foot or two. once the ball joints are in the control arms put the spindle in the bottom ball joint and get the nut started. next step is alot easier with a buddy. you will need to jack up the lower control arm(under the lower ball joint or spring seat) slowly while holding the spindle in line for the top balljoint. jack up untill you can start the nut on the top balljoint. after getting the nut started jack up untill the truck starts to raise of the lift/jack stands. then you should be able to secure both balljoints to the point you can get the cotter pins in. DO NOT leave the cotter pins out.

good luck. with an extra set of hands this shouldnt take long at all.

pebbleboy · 04-21-2006, 08:58 PM

I had a problem getting mine spring to compress enough without lifting the truck off tha jack stands. A fat friend might help in a bunch

krue · 04-21-2006, 11:16 PM

Only I was the fat one of the two of us.

tripleblack · 04-21-2006, 11:32 PM

i had that problem too.

**GMCPaul** · 04-22-2006, 05:10 AM

We've seen the location height wise where they drill the hole for cotter pin on ball joints to vary within the same brand let alone from one brand to another, many times when installing new ball joints in stock spindles or new drop spindles we find that once they are torqued to the proper spec you are still unable to install castle nut far enough to get cotter pin in hole and twice the hole was almost above the castle nut, if castle nut does not tighten quite far enough on to get cotter pin in hole we sand a little off the bottom of the nut, the 2 times I had it where the hole was almost above the castle nut we used a washer under it, doesn't seem to matter if its top of the line moog or mcquay/norris etc... on the ball joints.
GMCPaul

04-20-2006, 09:35 PM	#1
tripleblack short sell Ford stock Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 104	how do you install disk brake spindles...?? i was wondering if anyone could help me. I got new upper and lower ball joints installed and am having trouble intalling my disk spindels. I was wondering do you just keep tightening the ball joint bolts until you can fit the cotter pin through the nut and bolt hole? Thanks for the help

04-21-2006, 12:49 AM	#3
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: how do you install disk brake spindles...?? With my truck secure on jackstands I put a floor jack under the lower control arm and jacked it up with a friend lining the ball joints studs up in the spindle. Be careful if you do it this way 'cuz you are compressing a big a$$ spring. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

04-21-2006, 08:03 AM	#4
Joe67 67 is sold Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Troy, Michigan Posts: 6,738	Re: how do you install disk brake spindles...?? Head up and rent a spring compressor for some added protection __________________ Joe - Formerly 67c10step ------------------------------- 1967 Chevy Stepside - ECE 4/6, fuelcell, 5lug - SOLD gr8lakes - My ebay auctions Click here to order forum apparel :: Click here to become a subscribing member

04-21-2006, 09:54 AM	#5
bigjimzlll Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Redding,CA...USA Posts: 4,736	Re: how do you install disk brake spindles...?? if you are installing newer 71-72 spindles in a 67-70 a arm you will need to use 71-72 ball joints....and have fun with the Tie rod ends.....they will take some adapting __________________ It's called "drag racing" if they called it "tic..tic..WHAM!..BANG! F&K!!!", they'd have to keep the magazines under the counter with the other men's publications click the clicky to join the site.... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php 67 lwb..first hotrod in 25 years..540 best ET is 9.45 @ 141.44 Anderson,CA Last edited by bigjimzlll; 04-21-2006 at 09:55 AM.*

04-21-2006, 10:16 AM	#6
troy destroy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 49	Re: how do you install disk brake spindles...?? if a spring compressor is unavailable you can take a chain through the spring and the control arm and run a bolt through it. thats what i did "just in case". that spring flies out something bad is bound to happen. you will want the truck raised about a foot or two. once the ball joints are in the control arms put the spindle in the bottom ball joint and get the nut started. next step is alot easier with a buddy. you will need to jack up the lower control arm(under the lower ball joint or spring seat) slowly while holding the spindle in line for the top balljoint. jack up untill you can start the nut on the top balljoint. after getting the nut started jack up untill the truck starts to raise of the lift/jack stands. then you should be able to secure both balljoints to the point you can get the cotter pins in. DO NOT leave the cotter pins out. good luck. with an extra set of hands this shouldnt take long at all. __________________ -------------------- Troy Destroy / Dallas,Tx 1963 Chevy C-10 SWB stepside ------------------- http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ruck/oldie.jpg Last edited by troy destroy; 04-21-2006 at 10:18 AM.

04-21-2006, 11:16 PM	#8
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: how do you install disk brake spindles...?? Only I was the fat one of the two of us. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

04-21-2006, 11:32 PM	#9
tripleblack short sell Ford stock Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 104	Re: how do you install disk brake spindles...?? i had that problem too.

04-22-2006, 05:10 AM	#10
GMCPaul Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Rockville,In. USA Posts: 3,718	Re: how do you install disk brake spindles...?? We've seen the location height wise where they drill the hole for cotter pin on ball joints to vary within the same brand let alone from one brand to another, many times when installing new ball joints in stock spindles or new drop spindles we find that once they are torqued to the proper spec you are still unable to install castle nut far enough to get cotter pin in hole and twice the hole was almost above the castle nut, if castle nut does not tighten quite far enough on to get cotter pin in hole we sand a little off the bottom of the nut, the 2 times I had it where the hole was almost above the castle nut we used a washer under it, doesn't seem to matter if its top of the line moog or mcquay/norris etc... on the ball joints. GMCPaul __________________ Secure Online Catalog for-GMCPauls Truck Parts Email- GMCPAULS@GMAIL.COM



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