disc brake cars to look for for spindles?

[photon]

I have the chance to pick up a dodge diplomat for a real cheap price.  I have been reading up on the various cars that may have the correct spindles on it for a conversion to a 2nd gen charger.  I realize that darts have what I need.  One post stated that a mid 80s newyorker may work as well.  Will a dodge diplomat work for the correct spindle geometry?  Do you guys have a list of other cars that may fit?  What year of aspen would work?  Thanks

[bull]

The deal with the Diplomat/Aspen spindles is that the height of the spindle centerpoint is taller than the Dart spindles which are the same as the Charger's. Some say this is bad, some say it's good, some say it has no effect either way. The article everyone refers to regarding this issue is the Mopar Action Disc-o-Tech article which warns against using the taller, Diplomat/Aspen-type spindles.

http://www.moparaction.com/tech/archive/disc-main.html

But to answer your other question, '73-'74 E-body and '73-'76 A-body spindles is what has received the blessing.

[HPP]

The most vocal opponent to using the tall spindles has been Rick Ehrenberg, who wrote the mopar action article. This past year, he has actually backed off his position and said that the tall spindles may not be so bad after all.

best write up I've seenon them is over on bigblockdart.com http://www.bigblockdart.com/techpages/spindles.shtml

[bull]

The most vocal opponent to using the tall spindles has been Rick Ehrenberg, who wrote the mopar action article. This past year, he has actually backed off his position and said that the tall spindles may not be so bad after all.

best write up I've seenon them is over on bigblockdart.com http://www.bigblockdart.com/techpages/spindles.shtml

Yea, there is/was a long debate or debates on moparts about Ehrenberg's opinion. I'm thinking one reason he condemned them was to cover his butt just in case the taller spindles created a dangerous steering issue. I think I may have posted once or twice on one of those threads but I didn't have the patience to wade through it all so I just got the Dart spindles since everyone was ok with those.

[69DodgeCharger]

I'm parting a '74 Valiant with disc brakes right now. Which parts should be kept from the Valiant for the disc brake swap besides the spindles. This was a power brake car and I have already sold the booster and master cylinder.

[b5blue]

Keep everything even the flex line off the body.

[bull]

That is, if you want to go with the small rotors. If not about the only thing usable is the spindles. Additionally, if the hoses, calipers, pads, etc., have been sitting around for years I wouldn't use them anyway but the spindles will be fine.

[69DodgeCharger]

That is, if you want to go with the small rotors. If not about the only thing usable is the spindles. Additionally, if the hoses, calipers, pads, etc., have been sitting around for years I wouldn't use them anyway but the spindles will be fine.

Well actually it was a good running/driving car until my brother in law did a sideways slide and launched it up and over a 5 foot snowbank at 60 MPH last winter. The subsequent landing ripped the drivers side upper control arm from the frame from front towards the back. Should I be worried about the spindle being damaged? It looks ok?

[bull]

That is, if you want to go with the small rotors. If not about the only thing usable is the spindles. Additionally, if the hoses, calipers, pads, etc., have been sitting around for years I wouldn't use them anyway but the spindles will be fine.

Well actually it was a good running/driving car until my brother in law did a sideways slide and launched it up and over a 5 foot snowbank at 60 MPH last winter. The subsequent landing ripped the drivers side upper control arm from the frame from front towards the back. Should I be worried about the spindle being damaged? It looks ok?

Worried? Probably not. Those spindles are pretty friggin' bulletproof. But look at it closely and make sure. Did any of the other brake parts on that side get damaged?

[69DodgeCharger]

Nope, just the contol arm damage

[bull]

You should be ok. Just clean it all up and give it a good look. Maybe get new pads and rotors while you're in there.

[200MPH]

so provided you run the correct ball joint you can use the late B,M, R body spindle on a 70 Charger?

[elacruze]

I bought these upper control arms after a lot of research-

http://www.firmfeel.com/tubuca_b.htm

They resolve any possible upper ball joint binding issue with the tall spindles, which I have in my setup.
Mother Mopar made the spindles taller for a reason, my suspicion is that more modern tires and driving requirements made more roll camber desirable, which a taller spindle provides. With any argument about binding resolved and reviewing the geometry for both, I preferred and found the tall spindles.
On a legally-driven Charger, I don't think it makes any difference at all-I've yet to see anyone prove that binding is an issue even with the tall spindle on earlier control arms.

Eric

[200MPH]

   i will look more into this

[HPP]

I'm parting a '74 Valiant with disc brakes right now. Which parts should be kept from the Valiant for the disc brake swap besides the spindles. This was a power brake car and I have already sold the booster and master cylinder.

Since it is a '74, keep everything between the balljoints and the hose. These are the larger ball joint, larger bearing A body variety that is most desireable. That also means that a change in caliper adapters will allow these to use the large 11.75 rotors as well.

I've yet to see anyone prove that binding is an issue even with the tall spindle on earlier control arms.

Binding is not an issue. As a matter of fact, the mopar style ball joint allows such a great degree of mis-alignment and will withstand so much abuse that a vast majority of current oval track chassis builders spec this ball joint for installation in their upper control arms.

[Chatt69chgr]

There are several choices once you have the spindles.  10.87 inch rotors or 11.75 inch rotors.  And pin calipers or sliders.  The calipers themselves are available rebuilt and are pretty inexpensive.  The general concensus is that the taller spindles will work just fine and might even be better.  I am using the 73-76 A-Body spindle along with 11.75 inch slider caliper adapters.  It has been said on this forum that there are not any really good brake pads for the pin calipers.  This is one reason I went with the sliders as there is a real good Bendix pad for them.