Blue Juice

I finished full strip down and re-build of the driver's side Trailing Arm recently.
No great surprises.

On to passenger side today.
Pulled the arm and dismantled. Found this...





I am guessing that I got lucky that it didn't shear.

Now I have to place another overseas order to Zip which incurs pesky import tax, which I then have to pay purchase tax on (tax on tax!!!), but here is my query;

The spindles on each side are different, but which is original (if any) and which one failed?

Both sides had evidence of being torn apart previously (no shims in the bearing spacer on the driver's side and standard bolts instead of the splined, push fit "bolts" holding the bearing carrier to the TA on the passenger side).





Passenger side with no tabs on the inner circumferance





Drivers side with tabs on the inner circumferance

So, any spindle experts out there?

I suspect that some will recommend upgrading both spindles, but if the original is the good, driver's side, then I am happy to replace like for like.
Also I would rather not strip down the drivers side again, I got all my bearing tolerences spot on and don't want to risk damage to a bearing by pulling apart again.

So any thoughts or similar tales?

1976 car, 383ci/420HP, TKO-600, 3.72:1 Rear.
The car does not get hard launched, but is driven with gusto on twisty country roads.

redvetracr

my opinion...bottom pic (with tabs) is an original GM spindle, top one is the twisted one...BEWARE there is some real junk out there being sold

Shark Racer

I'd go with spindles from Tom's Diffs and not think twice about it. A little more $$, but unless you start drag-racing the thing with some good torque and sticky tires you likely won't see your first picture again...

Blue Juice

If I hadn't already rebuilt one arm, then I may have bought a pair.
As it is, I really need to limit the number of parcels I bring into country due the cost of carriage and import tax.

I could do with some other bits and bobs from Zip but nothing else from Tom's.

Good advise though, I hope don't regret passing on it.


Yeah, that's what I thought too. Hopefully the Zip spindle is as good as an old GM one.

Thanks for responses

Shark Racer

Seconded redvetracr - the original spindles on my car had the tabs.

redvetracr

It ain`t cheap but if your interested I have one brand new genuine GM spindle left...send a PM if you or anyone else is interested

Shark Racer

Looking at the picture of redvetracr's spindle and the twisted one, the twisted one doesn't appear to be hardened at all.