C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Rear Spindle Twisted, Original or Replacement?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 22, 2015 | 08:23 AM
  #1  
Blue Juice's Avatar
Blue Juice
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 118
Likes: 25
From: Killearn Scotland
Default Rear Spindle Twisted, Original or Replacement?

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.
Reply
Old May 22, 2015 | 09:16 AM
  #2  
redvetracr's Avatar
redvetracr
Race Director
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Default

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
Reply
Old May 22, 2015 | 01:04 PM
  #3  
Shark Racer's Avatar
Shark Racer
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Default

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...
Reply
Old May 22, 2015 | 05:04 PM
  #4  
Blue Juice's Avatar
Blue Juice
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 118
Likes: 25
From: Killearn Scotland
Default

I'd go with spindles from Tom's Diffs
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.


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

Thanks for responses
Reply
Old May 22, 2015 | 05:10 PM
  #5  
Shark Racer's Avatar
Shark Racer
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Default

Originally Posted by Blue Juice
Yeah, that's what I thought too. Hopefully the Zip spindle is as good as an old GM one.
Seconded redvetracr - the original spindles on my car had the tabs.
Reply
Old May 22, 2015 | 06:48 PM
  #6  
redvetracr's Avatar
redvetracr
Race Director
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Default

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

Reply
Old May 22, 2015 | 06:58 PM
  #7  
Shark Racer's Avatar
Shark Racer
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Default

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

Get notified of new replies

To Rear Spindle Twisted, Original or Replacement?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:51 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE