Another Disk Brake option (80-90lbs lighter)

[Super73]

I recently posted this in the racing section but wanted to get it out there for others.

I have recently put a Mustang II spindle on my 63 pick up and but a set of Wilwood Dynalite brakes on it. Here is what I did..


I used QA1 Upper and lower ball joints:
1210-101 = Standard height for the upper

Press in housing for our lower arms 1210-510
Ball Joint for lower MII taper that fits that housing is 9029-229
QA1 does not sell that combo together currently.

This provides the correct taper to fit the Mustang II spindle and fits both our upper and lower control arms.


You can see from the pictures in this post that the lower required a spacer and the upper I just used a hardend washer. A slight taper on the inside is required on the upper as there was a slight lip where the threads stopped, they came through the spindle ever so slightly.


My truck already had a later model disk brake swap with 2" drop spindles. The tie rod ends fit the later 1982 Chevy pick up (not sure what other years)
I decided to ream the Mustang II spindle to accept Tie Rod part number ES409RT outer tie rod end. Normally this spindle is a bottom tie rod feed and now is a top feed like our trucks.
My drag link uses inner tie rod ES409LT


Brakes are Wilwood 140-11017-D. This is the biggest disk Wilwood recommended with a 15" wheel. Keep in mind, I do limited street driving. I wanted to go with 140-10440 but Wilwood was not convinced they would fit a 15" wheel.

I had to massage the lower control arm with a cut off and flapper wheel around the ball joint so it did not hit the rotor.


I am guessing total weight savings is about 80-90lbs as I forgot to actually weigh the new complete set up before installing it.



Could a person use a stock Mustang II brake too? It is possible as it will obviously fit the spindle, not sure if the same mods will be needed for the lower control arm, I am going to guess so. I don't know how big/thick they are and not sure if I would recommend it.


Before I get beat up about the strength of the spindle keep in mind, my truck last weighed 3,200lbs with me in it and seas mostly track use.


I hope others will find this of use.

[Super73]

Couple additional comments..

Drop spindle weighs 24lbs
MII spindle weighs 7lbs

Old 11.75" rotor weighed 28.8lbs with bearings and dust shield
Old caliper weighed 11lbs

I did not actually weigh the Wilwood brake parts, but guessing total weight per side is 20lbs for the full brake assembly vs 40lbs per side previously.

My old drop spindles are 8" 11/16" tall where the MII ones are 7" 5/8" tall. At my current ride height the upper control arm is slopes down towards the frame (higher at the upper ball joint) where the lower is level. The reduction in spindle height will likely flatten out this slope keeping camber in a negative state through out the full arc. Previously it would go through a negative-positive-negative transition as the front would rise.

The other thing to note is a stock Mustang II spindle will likely raise the front of my truck back up 2" or so as the hub center line is roughly 2" closer to the lower ball joint. I will know more on this once I mount the wheels and get the truck on the ground (some time next week).

So at the end of the day on a lowered truck using just a front lowering spring, no drop spindle; the ride height will likely be the same static height but could benefit from a better camber curve.

Mustang II drop spindles are available. I may purchase a set later, depending on where the truck sits.

[SierraMtns]

Awesome write up. Thanks for sharing the info.

Please keep us update on pics of the ride height.

Do you have any plans on doing disc brakes in the rear?

Thanks

[Super73]

Rear just got Willwood too. I swapped out the truck 12 bolt for a 9"

I had 4th gen f body calipers with caprice rotors on the 12 bolt. I had backing plates water jetted out for that set up. It all went with the 12 bolt.

[PGSigns]

Have you got it aligned yet and looked at the camber gain and bump steer when the a arms drop? We would do this on the drag cars to see where the limiters needed to be set to keep the cars from having bad habbits on launch and when the wheels come back down.
Jimmy

[Super73]

Jimmy,

I have not yet, still waiting on the new front wheels and need to mount them.

[PGSigns]

On cars with a lot of travel we would also pull them down on the alignment rack to simulate hard braking. Always nice to know where they are going to go.
Jimmy