Help - drop spindles/disc brakes pushed wheels out 3"???

[100mph]

Hi!

First off I'm no where near a mechanic but am learning and trying...

Anyway, I've got my 69 swb at my friends shop upgrading the front drum brakes to disc along with 2 1/2 drop spindles.

Purchased kit from ABS Powerbrake - they say they put Western Chasis spindles in their kit.

So we got everything back together but now the front wheels have been pushed out almost 3 inches - 2+ inches past the fender!

The wheels that came with the truck are admittedly wide for the fronts being 15x10's but I don't see how that matters if they fit in the fender before the upgrade.

Spoke with owner, Lucio of ABSpowerbrake - all he had to offer was he's never seen it and the phone number for Western Chasis.

Western Chasis said it might push it out a bit but not that much

Both said if everything bolted up then I've got the right kit for my truck.

Is this normal, what else could it be???

THANK YOU!!

[Brad]

The disk brake front end is wider than the drum brake front end by about 1" on each side. But 3" on each side is a bit much along with 15x10 wheels. Most guys run 15x8 or 15x7's.

[LuckyHenriksen]

ya 15x10 is pretty big for the front. doesn't seem like they should be pushed out any further but weird stuff happens all the time

[100mph]

Thanks and yeah I'm starting to figure that out (weird things happening) and that 'bolt on' might mean that part bolts on but doesn't exactly mean everything else around can't get messed up.

Guess thats why they call it a hobby!

[ChevLoRay]

When I did mine, it had 15x8's all around. I found the same thing you did, so I put a pair of 15x7's up front and that solved my issues.

When I ordered new rallye wheels from Wheel Vintiques, I went with a 5x8 wheel up front that has a 4-inch backspace. Out back, I run 15x10's with a 5-inch backspace. Looks good.

[71tahoe]

15x10 with 5"bs stick out from my '71 fenders at stock height. I have a bagged '69 with CPP conversion and 15x8.5s all around with no "outer" fender problems completely dumped.

[leddzepp]

I have a 72 and dropped my front end with Western Chassis spindles. Did it in the garage in one afternoon. Worked great, and did not push my wheels out any further. I have 15 x 7 rallyes up front and 15 x 8 in the back.

[100mph]

Thanks everyone!

So it looks like the 15x10's up front are my problem.

Which brings me to the next dilemma - the truck came with a fairly new/nice set of Boyd Coddington Nemesis wheels.

I spoke with them - they'll happily make me a set of 15x7 or 8's but I'm looking at about $800 for the pair plus new rubber.

The other option is Summit Racing appears to have a good selection of 6 lug wheels and could probably get a decent set of 4 for about the same cost or less of two of Boyds.

If someone could confirm though - the best I can gather is these wheels are 6 lug x 5.5"bolt circle but I'm lost on the backspacing and offset.

Does anyone by chance have a 'fitment guide' for a 69 swb??

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

I have a 72 and dropped my front end with Western Chassis spindles. Did it in the garage in one afternoon. Worked great, and did not push my wheels out any further. I have 15 x 7 rallyes up front and 15 x 8 in the back.

Since you already had disc brake spindles (the stock ones) you would not see any difference between stock and dropped... outside of the drop. The wider track ends up being a factor of disc brakes regardless of drop or stock.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by 100mph

If someone could confirm though - the best I can gather is these wheels are 6lug x 5.5"bolt circle but I'm lost on the backspacing and offset.

They're 6 lug? The pictures I've seen of these- they're all 5 lug.
Fwiw, 6 lug is 6x5.5" and 5 lug is 5x5

They are nice looking wheels.

[67chevyguy]

wow! That's good to know, I have a disk conversion kit sitting in boxes right now for my 67. I have 15x10 wheels on the front and they are about 3/4 inch too wide on each side for my liking already. I didn't realise they would be pushed out another inch. Thanks guys! Looks like some 8 inch wheels are in my future.

[100mph]

Originally Posted by Brad

They're 6 lug? The pictures I've seen of these- they're all 5 lug.
Fwiw, 6 lug is 6x5.5" and 5 lug is 5x5

They are nice looking wheels.

Yeah it seems Boyd's only shows 5 lug but has 6 lug options for at least the Nemesis wheels - but in my opinion they don't look as nice as 5 lug!

[powell72]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

Since you already had disc brake spindles (the stock ones) you would not see any difference between stock and dropped... outside of the drop. The wider track ends up being a factor of disc brakes regardless of drop or stock.

Actually, drop spindles will increase the track over stock spindles, he doesn't notice it on his because his rear wheels are an inch wider.

[ChevLoRay]

Hadn't heard that before. I'm guessing it won't matter whether the spindles are stock height or not, the geometry of the design will add to the width of the front track, compared to drum brake front ends.

The comment about the 5-inch backspacing on 10-inch wide wheels....60-69 rear axle assy's are narrower than the '70-72. So, it would be easy to see that they would extend farther out on the latter models, than on the earlier ones.