Mustang Spindle question

Eljaro · #1 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 09:37 AM

This has nothing to do with my Cobra, which is up on the lift waiting for the day I finally decide to take out the engine and do the crankshaft removal and regrind.
For now I am busy with my recently purchased 1965 Mustang GT Fastback with a 289 SB. So I am asking for help here from dear Club Cobra members.
Being in Spain it is difficult to get advice on the issue. A recently downloaded Mustang shop manual has not helped me much either.
Like usual when you buy such an old car you start discovering

things which are not right.
One of these things which isn't is the front wheel bearings. They were lose and so the spindle shaft got worn out and there is no way to keep the outer conical bearing tight on the shaft.
New spindles have to go in. But which ones?
The car apparently has the 6 cyl engine spindles while it should have the V8 ones for obvious reasons. The VIN # says it is came with a 8 cyl A type engine.
It has 4 pot calipers with 11.375" disks , and four holes on the spindle to hold the caliper bracket.
Where can I get those 6 cyl spindles or should I install the ones for the 8 cyl model anyway ? All the aftermarket spindles I have found have only three holes to hold the caliper bracket and the splash shield. With them I would not be able to use the original calipers.
Where can I find spindles with 4 holes? Which ones can I adapt and what extra hardware is needed to get them mounted right?
I would like to keep the original calipers and disks, because the only kit I can fit with the available 14" rims comes with a 10.75" disc with Dynalite caliper (offered by Hotrodheaven). I do not think this to be much of an improvement over what the car allready has.
What do you suggest?
Stefan

tcrist · #2 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 09:42 AM

You could try Mustangs Plus. They are in stockton California. You could e-mail them pictures and they could tell you what you have and sell you the parts that you need. Make sure that the pictures are from every angle that you can take.
www.mustangsplus.com

Woodz428 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 12:37 PM

You didn't state WHY you thought they were 6 cylinder spindles. I mention this because the 8 cyl spindles up until 1968 used the same 4 bolt mounting. The disc brake adapter( OEM) was attached to the 4 bolts much as you describe. They used 4 piston calipers in the early cars much like the Lincoln/T-bird calipers at the time, they may even have been the same. The forging # on the spindle will determine which it is. What you have described sound almost like the stock Disc brake option.

Eljaro · #4 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 03:02 PM

tcrist,
thanks, but mustangplus has everything imaginable but the spindles.

woodz428,
I saw in ebay a spindle offered for a 6 cyl Mustang ,and the markings match the ones on my spindle C3DZ 3106 for the LH side. That is how I found out.
I would prefer using the ones for an 8cyl car. But who has those for 4 bolts?

Woodz428 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 04:43 PM

You have several options, if you indeed have 6 cyl spindles. All drum brake spindles until they went to Discs, used 4 bolts to hold the brake backing plate on, They are the same bolt pattern. You could find some early ones, I believe until '67, that use the same balljoint and tie rod ends or '68 and later and swap to the heavier tie rod ends. I believe Mustangs Plus offers the adapter parts to swap the later spindles on to the early car.
If you decide to go that way, I have several sets of late model drum brake spindles.
In addition, those spindles are also the same as a Falcon of the era, that's what they made the Mustang from, so most chassis pieces are the same.

Clois Harlan · #6 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 05:02 PM

Woodz is correct they both used the same backing plate configuration. They have replacement spindles on ebay now that you could order. I have replaced many wheel bearings on the older Mustangs and a couple spindles.

Clois

Woodz428 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 05:03 PM

I will look at my Master Interchange book in a few minutes when I go back to the shop to shoot some clear, but the smaller one I have in the house says that the 6and 8 cyl. spindles of that year are the same. I have found some mistakes in this one over the years that's why I will check the Master one.

tcrist · #8 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 05:58 PM

Wow, Sorry to mislead you. Who would have thought they would not have them?

They have everything else you could think of. I'll call them tommorrow and find out why. I know the guy that is in charge of the parts catalog and the web site.

Terry

Woodz428 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-03-2007, 07:39 PM

Much as I suspected, the Master Interchange shows the 6 and 8 cyl. use 2 different spindles. The listed part # for the 8 cyl. spindle was apparently updated in '69 because it is listed as C9ZZ-3105-C-6C. Personally, since it appears that it is not stock, I would upgrade to the later spindles, they are much stronger. In the morning I will look at the 1970 Ford master parts book and see how it is listed there.