Hi all - this is my first post - my step dad has a 79 Camaro (will post pics in the near future) it has a 502 / auto trans / 4:11’s - currently he is redoing the front suspension / steering - ordered all Moog ball joints etc - keeping mostly to stock with the control arms etc - where is a good source for spindles? He seems to think that it used 78 Camaro parts as well - is there a Difference between 78 / 79 2’nd gen f body spindles? (Please let me know if I have the terminology correct as I’m only use to Oldsmobile’s) any help is much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

71-78 outer wheel bearings have a smaller inner diameter (thicker spindle snout) than 79-81 spindles. inner bearings are the same.

 

are you looking for a stock replacement part or? there are options for bigger brakes (protouringfbody.com) or drop spindles to lower the ride height (speedway and others)

 

Thanks for the quick reply Kamaro Kid - he’s looking for stock - no drop - I will have him measure the Diameter of the spindle puters to see where he’s at. I’m sure he’s not looking to redo bearings / rotors at the point - any ideas of the measurements between the 78 and 79 Outer bearing inner diameter so he can determine which one he has? And any sources on where to get a quality non chinesium repro?

 

Spindle measures 1.250" at inner bearing on all gen 2's, measures .750" at outer bearing for 70-78, .850" for 79-81. A couple of months ago I was in the market for stock 79-81 spindles and did not find anything that pleased me. I posted a WTB in the swap meet section on another forum site NastyZ28.com and up popped a guy who works for one of the well known suspension parts manufacturers/installers. They get original take-offs from time to time when they have customer cars being upgraded to the latest trick stuff. One step up the ladder from fleabay because they have the means to check them before selling. It worked for me, happy hunting.

 

I will say with a 502 and 4.11 cogs he should consider some improvements in the brake package...or a better insurance policy.

 

Thanks Kamaro Kid! Exactly what I was looking for - appreciate the help! I will do my best to update any success stories after the hunt

 

I agree about the brake upgrade. He was only doing quarter miles with it in the past - I’m trying to talk him into 3.73s so he can drive it - which I thinks working - that and upgrading his bicycle tires on the front wouldn’t hurt either 😜

 

re-reading my first post I mis-spoke, the 70-78 has a THINNER spindle snout but the later quoted dimensions cleared that up. and yes if he has radically different tire sizes front / rear the brake bias needs to be addressed or the relative tire sizes need to be normalized. cheers

 

Understood - thanks again!