[TexasRatTrap]

I'm buying a 47-54 truck axle & springs, I think its out of a 1950 3100. My question is... Will the 49-54 chevy car spindles that Speedway sells fit?

 

[Marks63PontiacGasser]

If I am correct the spindles from the car have a different camber angle than the truck. So if you use the car spindle on the truck axle you have a really bad tilted wheel. I think others will chime in to confirm or deny. Mark L

 

[Str8axle]

Why go with car spindles when there are plenty of disc brake conversions for the truck spindles? Most of the conversions change the lug pattern from 6 to 5x4.75 GM car pattern anyway. IMHO no need to swap em anymore.
This applies to 55-59 truck axle as well.

 

[1937Austin]

You can also put Chev 49-54 drums right on the truck axle. They use the same bearings and races that the trucks used. So you've got options for either drums or discs in 5x4.75"

 

[Str8axle]

You can also put Chev 49-54 drums right on the truck axle. They use the same bearings and races that the trucks used. So you've got options for either drums or discs in 5x4.75"

That's exactly what I did on my axle. Used '55 Chevy car drums and the hubs from my '60 wagon, but probably gonna change them to '61-'68 Impala hubs 'cause they're roller bearing.

 

[1937Austin]

That's exactly what I did on my axle. Used '55 Chevy car drums and the hubs from my '60 wagon, but probably gonna change them to '61-'68 Impala hubs 'cause they're roller bearing.

Didn't know the '55 drums also fit! That's good information!

 

[TexasRatTrap]

Thanks guys. Does anyone have info on where to buy new truck spindles and brake conversions

 

[406Rich]

Here you go TRT http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/ca/full.aspx?Page=57

 

[Str8axle]

You beat me to it, Rich!

There are plenty of others, just do a search. Check eBay also.

I believe the conversions use your spindles. They consist of calipers, brackets, and rotors.

 

[1937Austin]

Are the spindles bad on the axle? No reason to replace them to change hubs or go to discs, unless they're bad.

 

[406Rich]

Are the spindles bad on the axle? No reason to replace them to change hubs or go to discs, unless they're bad.

X2-- you can get everything you need thru most all truck sites, bearing change over discs / drums.

 

[TexasRatTrap]

Thanks guys for all the info on the brake conversions and I found Speedway even carries the brake conversions for truck, but I do not have spindles for the axle yet & am having trouble finding truck spindles...Is a 3100 a 1/2 ton? Oh while on the subject, 1 side of the axle where the king pin goes through is cherry smooth the other side is crusty-kinda pitted. Should I run a wheel cylinder hone through it 1st, then is there some sort of bushing that is tapped into the axle then the king pin is slid into the bushings? I'm cornfused... Sorry for all the jumbled up questions.

 

[Str8axle]

Yes, 3100 is half ton. If it's a six lug, it's half ton. You'll have to buy a king pin kit which will have everything you need mount the spindle to the axle. The pins may have to be "fitted" to the axle, which may require going to a machine shop depending on your resources.

Have you looked for a more complete axle? Or maybe spindles on eBay?

 

[1937Austin]

Yes, 3100 is half ton. If it's a six lug, it's half ton. You'll have to buy a king pin kit which will have everything you need mount the spindle to the axle. The pins may have to be "fitted" to the axle, which may require going to a machine shop depending on your resources.

Have you looked for a more complete axle? Or maybe spindles on eBay?

Yes! Look for a more complete axle. It will probably be cheaper than buying everything your axle is missing. You could be in several hundred more if you buy part individually.

 

[TexasRatTrap]

Dang it! If I woulda known it was this hard to find 1947-54 truck spindles, I woulda never bought this axle & springs & bought a complete axle.... Well Live & Learn. I was looking in the local junk yard inventory and there is a 57 & 62 ford F-100, I don't know if they have complete axles under them but wouldn't hurt to look.

 

[Str8axle]

Car spindles should work, but are probably even harder to find than truck ones. Not positive, but '55-'59 truck may be the same.

Did they give you a reason why your axle was missing them when you bought it?

 

[1937Austin]

I believe that car and truck spindles wont interchange. I they will fit, but they will lean in so far at the top that they'll wear tires out and drive weird.

 

[Str8axle]

Yeah, I wasn't sure on that. I do know they get used on tube axles a lot.

 

[TexasRatTrap]

Yeah I think I read somewhere that the car spindles have different king pin inclination, but do y'all think I could fix this with shims...... do you mean lean in changing the caster or camber, because if its caster I deffinitely can fix it with shims, but I don't think I can if it changes the camber. They didn't give me a reason why it was missing spindles & I really didn't think about it at the time cause I was going to order new ones, the axle & springs came off a parts car someone probably had already snagged the spindles.

 

[Marks63PontiacGasser]

Yes I'm pretty sure it's a difference in camber. So shimming won't work. Sorry. MArk L