DJM, or any 3" spindles questions

[gasmn1620]

Do anybody have 3" drop spindles on their truck, even 2 inch, DJM specifically. If so could you post some pics of them on with your wheel off. I have 1.25 rotors, so the heavy duty brakes. I can't get the caliper to go on correctly. I took the first set back because I thought they had been boxed wrong but they look the same as the new set. I'm stumped. Everything else lined up perfect and bolted in correctly.



This is the only difference I can see in the stock vs. drop spindles. Everything else measures out the same.

[MikeB]

Got this from the DJM website:

You will have either a 1″ or 1.25″ rotor. If you have a 1″ use the kit with the L in the part number (above) or if you have a 1.25″ rotor use the kit with the H in the part number.

Your have the "H" kit right?

[Bigstevex4]

The brake lines have to be bent down to get calipers on. mine were cheap cts had to giind tab off caliper to get them on. have yo tryed them up on bench wouldnt be brake lines

[gasmn1620]

Yes. I have the h kit and the 1.25 brakes, thought I made that clear. Brake lines don't matter. When I tried to bolt the caliper up it wouldn't bolt up and go over the rotor. I'll get some more pics tomorrow.

[kevinr1970]

Have you tried DJM; send them the picture you posted.
My first inclination is to say they are mis-packaged spindles for 1" brakes, but if this is your second set, that seems unlikely, but maybe they mis-packaged a lot of them?
Is the part # cast into the spindle with the L or H?

[gasmn1620]

Just got off the phone with them. They told me the casting number in the spindle means nothing and that the only difference is the size of the axle shaft.

[gasmn1620]

Anybody with any pics?

[Bigstevex4]

with new disc new pads even with pistons pushed all the way in it can still be close. Or a little snug.

[gasmn1620]

Wasn't just close or a little snug... we're talking an inch or more off.

[Bigstevex4]

Wow!

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by gasmn1620

Just got off the phone with them. They told me the casting number in the spindle means nothing and that the only difference is the size of the axle shaft.

Hmm. I know for a fact that the standard duty brakes from 1-2 years in the mid-80s used a totally different spindle, rotor, AND caliper. No way would the HD calipers work on those spindles. I went through this with two parts stores many years ago when installing 1986 spindles on a 1969 pickup. I finally found a counter guy who figured out what I had. He had to order the calipers and rotors for me, and said he could not remember selling them before.

Found this from my notes back then:

Standard duty brakes were called JB1 or JB3 and had 1.04" thick rotors
Trucks with these brakes also had 2" wide rear brake shoes, and that will sometimes be a part of the disc brake parts description.

HD brakes were called JB5, JD3, or JD5 and had 1.23" thick rotors
These were used with 2-3/4" wide rear brake shoes.

Spindles, calipers and rotors for the two types of brake systems are different!

Pads are the same

Hope this helps.

[Oldriginal86]

Looks to me the rotor is not on the spindle all the way. Is the bearing going all the way down? Is the seal too small and not allowing the rotor on?

[gasmn1620]

It's on all the way..... and no.

[greg64]

I'll concede that I don't know anything about these particular spindles. But I think your picture shows it all; the casting is wrong. It's clear that the wider caliper used by the 1-1/4 rotors is not going to fit properly.

[MikeB]

I'm new to square bodies, but the more I look, the more I think something is wrong with the new spindles. If the new rotor is 1.25" thick, that tells me the actual machined steel "spindle" itself is designed for the 1.25" rotor and its bearings. However, I'd almost bet the cast iron part of the spindle (steering knuckle) is made to fit the std duty calipers, which won't fit on the 1.25" rotors.

I suggest taking the DJM spindle to the parts store to see if a std duty caliper will fit. If it does, that would mean DJM accidentally built you a hyrbid spindle.

Of course, I could be way out in left field here!

[gasmn1620]

again.... does anybody have a picture of there drop spindles installed with 1.25 rotors? That would sure answer a lot of questions for me

[piecesparts]

My trucks all have Bell Tech lowered spindles on them and I did not have any issues with the fitment that you have pictured on yours. I have the 1.25 rotors on my trucks, also.

[gasmn1620]

I compared the belltechs right beside the DJMs on the counter at Summit and they were identical. Can you post some pics of your belltech spindles. How the calipers are bolted on... etc. Any help would be appreciated. Can you take a pic of how the rotor sits against the tab that I pictured above?

[Mr_Shamrock]

I will probably have mine apart this weekend if noone else comes through with a pic by then. Have you tried taking the assembly to the auto parts store and seeing if a new caliper bolts up - just thinking that maybe someone changed your caliper or spindle down the line somewhere.

[Mr_Shamrock]

I found this picture from when I painted my spindles and they definitely look like the lowering spindles you have. Mine are the 1.25" rotors as well. I think someone swapped out your spindles/calipers at some time.

[gasmn1620]

My truck is a silverado, came with 1.25 brakes ( HD brakes). All my stock stuff measures out as it should. What model are your spindles?

[gasmn1620]

Do you remember what size your inner bearings are?

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by gasmn1620

Do you remember what size your inner bearings are?

What number are your new inner bearings? Are they the same as the old ones? Looks like it should be A5 or BR5 (1.375" ID) for HD brakes, and A6 or BR6 (1.250" ID) for std duty. However, I don't know if the smaller bearing will even start to go on the larger spindle.

I may have missed this, but are you able to bolt the HD calipers on the drop spindle with the rotor removed?

[Mr_Shamrock]

The spindles in the picture are from Spindle Source, but I have used Belltech and DJM in the past (haven't noticed a difference on the square body trucks except for price). The Suburban uses the same spindles as the C-10's. I don't remember the part number on the bearings, but they were Timken from Oreilly's and went right on. I know this has already been mentioned but the brake line will keep the caliper from slipping over if they aren't bent away first. I'll dig my stock spindles out and see how they compare to your measurements.

[Mr_Shamrock]

I just measured my stock spindles and they are like yours - 2 1/4".